1 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and [there were] thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
3 Thy silver and thy gold [is] mine; thy wives also and thy children, [even] the goodliest, [are] mine.
4 And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I [am] thine, and all that I have.
5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
6 Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, [that] whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put [it] in their hand, and take [it] away.
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this [man] seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
8 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not [unto him], nor consent.
9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off.
12 And it came to pass, when [Benhadad] heard this message, as he [was] drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. And they set [themselves in array] against the city.
13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.
14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, [Even] by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, [even] all the children of Israel, [being] seven thousand.
16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
25 And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, [and] surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And [so] it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.
30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and [there] a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men [that were] left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel [are] merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and [put] ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, [Is] he yet alive? he [is] my brother.
33 Now the men did diligently observe whether [any thing would come] from him, and did hastily catch [it]: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
34 And [Benhadad] said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then [said Ahab], I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded [him].
38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So [shall] thy judgment [be]; thyself hast decided [it].
41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he [was] of the prophets.
42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of [thy] hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
Summary of 1 Kings Chapter 20
1 Kings 20 narrates the conflict between Israel, under King Ahab, and Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria). The chapter details the military confrontations, the prophetic interventions, and the eventual outcomes of the battles. It highlights themes of divine sovereignty, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of prophetic guidance.
Key Events
- Ben-Hadad’s Threat: The chapter opens with Ben-Hadad assembling a coalition of thirty-two kings to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel. He sends messengers to Ahab, demanding tribute and threatening war if his demands are not met.
- Ahab’s Response: Initially, Ahab responds by agreeing to Ben-Hadad’s demands, but he later consults his elders, who advise him to resist. Ahab decides to confront Ben-Hadad.
- Prophetic Assurance: A prophet delivers a message from God to Ahab, assuring him of victory over Ben-Hadad. This divine assurance emphasizes that God will demonstrate His power to both Israel and Aram.
- The Battle: The two armies clash, and Israel, under Ahab’s command, defeats Ben-Hadad’s forces. The chapter describes the strategy employed by Ahab and the role of the Israelite soldiers in achieving victory.
- Ben-Hadad’s Plea: After his defeat, Ben-Hadad seeks refuge and pleads for mercy. Ahab, influenced by the counsel of his officials, spares Ben-Hadad’s life, which leads to significant consequences.
- Prophet’s Warning: A prophet confronts Ahab again, condemning him for sparing Ben-Hadad. The prophet delivers a grim prophecy indicating that Ahab’s actions will lead to his downfall and the loss of his kingdom.
Thematic Analysis
- Divine Sovereignty: The chapter illustrates God’s control over the affairs of nations. Despite Ahab’s shortcomings as a king, God intervenes to assure victory, demonstrating His sovereignty over Israel and the surrounding nations.
- Consequences of Disobedience: Ahab’s decision to spare Ben-Hadad, despite God’s command to destroy him, highlights the theme of disobedience. The chapter emphasizes that disobedience to God’s directives leads to dire consequences.
- Prophetic Authority: The role of the prophet in this chapter is crucial. The prophets serve as God’s mouthpieces, delivering messages that guide the king and the nation. Their authority is underscored by the fulfillment of their prophecies.
- Human Weakness: Ahab’s character is depicted as weak and indecisive. His choice to spare Ben-Hadad reflects a lack of faith and a desire for political expediency rather than adherence to God’s will.
Character Analysis
- King Ahab: Ahab is portrayed as a conflicted leader. He shows moments of bravery in battle but ultimately fails to follow God’s commands. His decisions are influenced by political considerations rather than divine guidance.
- Ben-Hadad: Ben-Hadad is depicted as a formidable adversary who underestimates Israel. His arrogance leads to his downfall, and his plea for mercy reveals a shift from aggression to vulnerability.
- The Prophet: The unnamed prophet serves as a crucial figure in the narrative, embodying the voice of God. His boldness in delivering difficult messages to Ahab underscores the importance of prophetic integrity.
Conclusion
1 Kings 20 serves as a powerful reminder of the dynamics between divine authority, human leadership, and the consequences of choices made in the face of God’s guidance. The chapter encapsulates the tension between faithfulness to God and the allure of political pragmatism, ultimately illustrating the importance of obedience to divine commands.
