1 Kings 20

1 Kings 20:1

BEn-hadad] The son of him that spoiled sundry cities in Israel, Chap. 15. 20.

kings] Of counties or provinces, such as Joshua destroyed in Canaan, Joshua 12:7, &c.

went up] For Samaria was on an hill, Chap. 16. 24.

1 Kings 20:2

sent messengers] Being confident of victory.

1 Kings 20:3

is mine] Is at my command and disposing, v. 5, 6.

1 Kings 20:4

my lord, O king] An acknowledgement of subjection.

according to thy saying] As I conceive the purport of thy message to be.

I am thine] As tributary to thee.

all that I have] I hold in fealty under thee. Fear made him take his enemies demand in the first sense, and so to yeeld to his demand.

1 Kings 20:5

Although I have sent] Though my message be so interpreted by thee, as if I intended no more then homage and fealty to be yeelded by thee to me, yet my purpose is to have the possession of all, as v. 6. Ben-hadad observing Ahab to stand in fear of him, grows more and more upon him

1 Kings 20:6

search] To see what is laid up therein, that they may bring it to me.

pleasant] Heb. desireable.

pleasant in thine eyes] Thou desirest to keep, and art loth to part withall.

put it in thine hand] Take it up from thee, to bring it to me.

1 Kings 20:7

all the elders] His ancient grave counsellours that were with him in the city. See Chap. 8. v. 1.

seeketh mischief] Not victory and soveraignty onely over us, but our utter ruine and destruction.

I denied him not] Heb. I kept not ack from him; That which at first I conceived him to aim at, namely, to make me and mine tributary to him.

1 Kings 20:8

and all the people] For Ahab propounded his case to the elders in the audience of the people.

nor consent] To his later demand: stand it out rather to the uttermost.

1 Kings 20:9

my lord the king] Vers. 4.

at the first] Namely, that I and mine should be tributary to thee.

this thing] To put all presently into thine hand.

1 Kings 20:10

The gods do so to me] Chap. 19. 2.

if the dust] A proverbiall insolent peech, whereby he boasts of the multitude of his souldiers, to affright his enemy therewith: it is as if he had said, I swear that I will bring more souldiers into Samaria, then there are handfulls of dust therein.

follow me] Heb. are at my feet, Exodus 11:8. Judges 4:10.

1 Kings 20:11

Let not him, &c.] Another proverbiall speech, which shews that the issue of war is uncertain; and that it is a point of folly, to triumph before the battell is ended.

1 Kings 20:12

message] Heb. word.

drinking] To excesse (v. 16.) as men too confident of victory.

the kings] That assisted him, v. 1, 16.

pavilions] Or, tents.

Set your selves in ardy] Or, Place the engines: And they placed engines.

1 Kings 20:13

came] Heb. approached.

and thou shalt know] This was the end why God foretold the deliverance and victory following, lest he should ascribe it to his idolls, or to chance So v. 28.

1 Kings 20:14

by the young men of the princes] Who were either their sons, or their pages and attendants. In mans opinion such were most unfit for such a work; but God so ordered it, that the victory might more manifestly appear to be from him. So Judg. 7. 2.

order] Heb. linde, or tie.

Thou] Meaning the king himself, that so the young men might the more willngly undertake that task, as 2 Sm. 17. 11.

1 Kings 20:15

two hundred and thirty two] Which were to be captains and leaders.

all the people] That were left in Samaria.

1 Kings 20:16

at noon] The time wheren it was likely that the enemy would more think of eating and drinking then of warring. See v. 12.

1 Kings 20:17

sen out] Having intelligence that some marched out of the city, as the words following shew.

1 Kings 20:18

for peace] It was against the law of arms to surprise ambassadours of peace: their message should have been heard, if they had come for peace.

take them alive] That I may deal with them as I see cause: he thought that they were no way able to withstand him.

1 Kings 20:19

young man, &c.] See v. 14.

1 Kings 20:20

every one his man] Both the young men, and the rest of the people that followed, slew seven thousand two hundred and thirty and two at the least; even as many of the enemies that came to apprehend them, as they themselves were in number.

1 Kings 20:21

went out] With such troops of horse as he had.

1 Kings 20:22

the prophet] That foretold this victory, v. 13.

and said] Having, by divine revelation, knowledge of the enemies purposes, as 2 Kings 6:52.

strengthen thy self] Every way, both by externall preparations, and by seeking divine assistance.

return of the yeer] When the time is seasonable for warre, 1 Chronicles 21:1. See on 2 Samuel 11:1.

1 Kings 20:23

of the hills] Dwelling on hills, and protecting their dwelling places. This they say, because of the many high places which the Israelites had on hills.

in the plain] For Samaria (about which they fought before) was on a mountain.

and surely] Heb. if not. A concise speech ordinarily used in forms of oaths: for making up the sense, something must be supplied; as see, or trie if we prove not stronger. So Genesis 14:23.

1 Kings 20:24

the kings] For kings use not to be expert and hardie enough for difficult and dangerous exploits, nor so submissive to military discipline as captains.

captains] Of thine own dominions, and under thy subjection, which are like to stand out the battell more couragiously.

1 Kings 20:25

like] In number, in prowesse, in all furniture.

that thou hast lest] Heb. that was fallen.

in the plain] Whither their gods will not come down to help them. See v. 23.

1 Kings 20:26

at the return of the yeer] When it was fit to bring an a my into the field. See v. 22.

Aphek] A city in the tribe of Asher, bordering upon 〈◊〉 Sidonians (Joshua 13:4. and Joshua 19:30.) Here sundry o the 〈◊〉 naanites continued to dwell, Judges 1:31. at this time the Syr had some command therein. See v. 30.

to fight against Israel] Heb. to war with Israel.

1 Kings 20:27

were all present] Or, were victualled. It may be meant of persons or things: all that were appointed came to the battell; or, all necessaries were provided for them.

two] Divided into two armies.

little flocks] Few in number, compared to the huge host of the Syrians.

of kinds] Weak; not furnished with such warlike provision as the Syrians: so as in number of souldiers, and warlike preparations, the Syrians much exceeded the Israelites.

1 Kings 20:28

a man of God] The prophet, mentioned, v. 13, 22.

God of the hills] See v. 23.

shall know] See v. 13.

1 Kings 20:29

seven dayes] So long they continued in battell-aray one against the other (as 1 Sam. 17. 2, 3.) and one of those days must needs be the sabbath, as Joshua 6:15.

an hundred thousand] Many more then every one his man, as verse 20.

1 Kings 20:30

to Aphek] This sheweth that Aphek was now in the Syrians power. See v. 26.

fell] As Luke 1:3. 4. This might be by some earth-quake.

into an inner chamber] Or, from chamber to chamber. Heb. into a chamber within a chamber; Where he might best hide himself. See Chap. 22. 25.

1 Kings 20:31

mercifull kings] Heb. kings of mercy.

put sackcloth] In token of sorrow for taking up arms against Israel.

ropes] In token of our desert of death.

1 Kings 20:32

my brother] Of the same calling whereof I am, and one whom I respect as a brother. A foolish courtesie. See v. 42. See Chap. 9. 13.

1 Kings 20:33

any thing] That they might work upon.

hastily catch it] Heb. hastned and catched; Presently took the word out of his mouth.

Thy brother] He whom thou vouchsafest to call brother, yet liveth.

1 Kings 20:34

from thy father] Baasha thy predecessour, Chap. 15. 20.

streets] Places for thy people to walk and trade in; or markets, out of which thou mayest, as thou pleasest, have toll: or places where thou mayest appoint judges to hear thy peoples causes: or garisons of souldiers.

I will send thee away] Herein he dealt too remisly, as appears, verse 42.

1 Kings 20:35

sons of the prophets] See Chap. 18. v. 4. He is called a prophet, v. 38.

in the word of the Lord] By the LORDS command, which he made known unto his neighbour, as appears, v. 36.

Smite me] So as the stroke may be seen, and they that look on me may perceive that I have been smitten.

1 Kings 20:36

voice of the Lord] Made known unto him, v. 35.

a lion] As Chap. 13. 24.

1 Kings 20:37

so that in smiting he wounded him] Heb. smiting and wounding; So as blood followed upon the smiting: this a servant of God was willing to endure at Gods command: so Chist, Isaiah 53:5.

1 Kings 20:38

with ashes] So sprinkled or laid on his face besmeared with blood, as it could not readily be known who he was. The Hebrew expositors say, That he disguised himself with a cover on his face. See Chap. 14. 2. and 22. 30.

1 Kings 20:39

Thy servant] He relateth this in way of a parable, to bring Ahab to give judgement against himself, as 2 Sam. 12. 1, &c.

a man] A commander under whom I served.

brought] A captive or prisoner taken in the warre.

by any means he be missing] Heb. missing he be missed.

thy life, &c.] Thou shalt die for him, Exodus 21:23.

pay] Heb. weigh.

a talent] Three hundred seventy and five pounds. See the Notes on Chap. 16. 24. and on 1 Chronicles 22:14.

1 Kings 20:40

he was gone] Heb. he was not; The prisoner slipt away.

So] As thou hast said, either to render thy self, or a talent of silver.

thy self hast decided it] By testifying that thou tookest the prisoner on the condition expressed.

1 Kings 20:41

took the ashes] By wiping his face clean.

discerned him] In that he knew him before; or by some gesture and habit proper to prophets.

1 Kings 20:42

Because thou hast let go out of thy hand] Chap. 22. 73.

a man] Ben-hadad, an implacable enemy of Israel.

whom I appointed, &c.] Heb. of my curse. It is probable that the prophet who foretold the victory (v. 28.) gave it also in charge, that the king and all should be destroyed: if not, yet the law expresly enjoyned as much, Deuteronomy 7:2. The word wherby Achans sin is set forth is here used, Joshua 7:1. See 1 Samuel 15:18, &c.

thy life shall go for his] Verse 39. Thou and thy people shall be destroyed. See this accomplished, Chap. 22. 34, &c.

1 Kings 20:43

displeased] At the prophets words, whereby the joy and glory of the victory was turned away, as 2 Samuel 19:2. See Chap. 21. 4.

and came] When he came