1 Kings Chapter 20
1 Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
2 He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, "Ben Hadad says,
3 'Your silver and your gold is mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.' "
4 The king of Israel answered, "It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have."
5 The messengers came again, and said, "Ben Hadad says, 'I sent indeed to you, saying, "You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;
6 but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house, and the houses of your servants; whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away." ' "
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, "Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn't deny him."
8 All the elders and all the people said to him, "Don't listen, and don't consent."
9 Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, "Tell my lord the king, 'All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I cannot do.' " The messengers departed, and brought him back the message.
10 Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me."
11 The king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'Don't let him who puts on his armour brag like he who takes it off.' "
12 When Ben Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, he said to his servants, "Prepare to attack!" They prepared to attack the city.
13 Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, "The LORD says, 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
14 Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "The LORD says, 'By the young men of the princes of the provinces.' " Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."
15 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16 They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
17 The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, "Men are coming out from Samaria."
18 He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
19 So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
20 They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
21 The king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22 The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you."
23 The servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let's fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.
24 Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place.
25 Muster an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are." He listened to their voice, and did so.
26 At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27 The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats; but the Syrians filled the country.
28 A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, "The LORD says, 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys;" therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.' "
29 They encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day.
30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner room.
31 His servants said to him, "See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life."
32 So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, "Your servant Ben Hadad says, 'Please let me live.' " He said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."
33 Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, "Your brother Ben Hadad." Then he said, "Go, bring him." Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
34 Ben Hadad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." "I", said Ahab, "will let you go with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.
35 A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the LORD's word, "Please strike me!" The man refused to strike him.
36 Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the LORD's voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you." As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.
37 Then he found another man, and said, "Please strike me." The man struck him and wounded him.
38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
39 As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, "Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over, and brought a man to me, and said, 'Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.'
40 As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." The king of Israel said to him, "So shall your judgement be. You yourself have decided it."
41 He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognised that he was one of the prophets.
42 He said to him, "The LORD says, 'Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.' "
43 The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.
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1 Kings Chapter 20 Guide
Here begins the actual movement in the downfall of Ahab. Ben-hadad, drunken, profligate, despotic, came in the pride of arms against Samaria. By the voices of prophets Jehovah spoke to Ahab, who, acting under their direction, gained complete victory over his enemies.
Then followed his failure in the very moment of triumph. He made a covenant with the man whom God had devoted to destruction. Pity which produces disobedience to the divine command is sin. In consequence of his disobedience his own doom was uttered, and we are told the king returned heavy and displeased, which we may express as sad and angry. The only way in which any man is able to take advantage of opportunities for repentance offered in the circumstances of his life is by return in heart and soul to loyalty to God. This return Ahab never made.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Kings Chapter 20 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Benhadad besieges Samaria. -- (1-11)
- Benhadad's defeat. -- (12-21)
- The Syrians again defeated. -- (22-30)
- Ahab makes peace with Benhadad. -- (31-43)
Verses 1-11
Benhadad sent Ahab a very insolent demand. Ahab sent a very disgraceful submission; sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of the Divine protection. If God do not rule us, our enemies shall: guilt dispirits men, and makes them cowards. Ahab became desperate. Men will part with their most pleasant things, those they most love, to save their lives; yet they lose their souls rather than part with any pleasure or interest to prevent it. Here is one of the wisest sayings that ever Ahab spake, and it is a good lesson to all. It is folly to boast of any day to come, since we know not what it may bring forth. Apply it to our spiritual conflicts. Peter fell by self-confidence. Happy is the man who is never off his watch.
Verses 12-21
The proud Syrians were beaten, and the despised Israelites were conquerors. The orders of the proud, drunken king disordered his troops, and prevented them from attacking the Israelites. Those that are most secure, are commonly least courageous. Ahab slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another.
Verses 22-30
Those about Benhadad advised him to change his ground. They take it for granted that it was not Israel, but Israel's gods, that beat them; but they speak very ignorantly of Jehovah. They supposed that Israel had many gods, to whom they ascribed limited power within a certain district; thus vain were the Gentiles in their imaginations concerning God. The greatest wisdom in worldly concerns is often united with the most contemptible folly in the things of God.
Verses 31-43
This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves before God; Have we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from an apprehension of the mercy of God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most haughty in prosperity often are most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will thus affect a man in both these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab, success is ill bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophet designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punished for sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sorer punishment should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enemy and God's, when God said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy and displeased, not truly penitent, or seeking to undo what he had done amiss; every way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. Alas! many that hear the glad tidings of Christ, are busy and there till the day of salvation is gone.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.