1Ben-hadad king of Syria, not content with Ahab's submissive homage, warreth against Samaria. 13By a prophet's direction the Syrians are smitten. 22According as the prophet had forewarned Ahab, the Syrians next year come against him in Aphek, in confidence of better success in the plain than on the hills. 28A prophet declaring it beforehand to be a special judgment on them, they are again defeated with a great slaughter. 31They entreat submissively to Ahab, who receiveth Ben-hadad kindly, and sendeth him away with a covenant of peace. 35A prophet, having first by a parable brought Ahab to condemn himself, denounceth God's judgment against him for his unseasonable lenience.
1AND Ben-hadad the king of 1Syria gathered all his host together: and there were 2thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
1 Hebr. Aram, that is, Syria; and so in the sequel. See Gen. 10 on verse 22; Gen. 22 on verse 21.
2 Undoubtedly not such great kings as was Benhadad. Compare the annotation at Gen. 14 on verse 1.
2And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,
3Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are 3mine.
3 That is, belong to me as my own, and therefore you must send them to me as soon as possible, if you desire peace from me, and have me cease from besieging your city. That this was his intent and meaning, some do gather from verses 5, 6. Although Ahab seems to have interpreted the words of Benhadad only by the sovereign and supremacy which he sought to have over him, his wives, his children, and his estate by this siege; as appears by verses 4, 7, 9.
4And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am 4thine, and all that I have.
4 That is, your vassal or debtor, acknowledging you to be my sovereign and lender.
5And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, 5Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
5 As if he had said: It is true, as I have summoned, and you have likewise to acknowledge, that all yours belongs to me; but it was understood that you should have forwarded the same unto me right away without delay. Seeing you have not done this, I shall tomorrow about this time, etc.
6Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of 6thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is 7pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.
6 Some perceive that he hereby aggravates his first demand, perceiving the faint-heartedness of Ahab by his answer, mentioned in verse 4; for, he not only now desires Ahab’s, but also the goods of his servants.
7 That is, whatsoever you see with pleasure, with the desire to keep the same.
7Then the king of Israel called all the 8elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh 9mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him 10not.
8 See Lev. 4 on verse 15.
9 That is, mine and my kingdom’s ruin; not being content with the reasonable conditions that I have offered him.
10 Namely, in subjecting all mine and my estate unto him as my sovereign and protector, though not delivering up the property thereof.
8And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
9Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All 11that 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 12him word again.
11 Which Ahab understood of the sovereignty or supremacy in civil jurisdiction, and not of the property and the use. See the annotation on verse 3.
12 Namely, king Benhadad.
10And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, 13The gods do so unto me, and more also, 14if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people 15that follow me.
13 See 1 Kings 19 on verse 2.
14 The meaning is: he had so much people in his camp, that there was not dust enough in Samaria if every one of his men would take an handful of it.
15 Hebr. that are at my feet. See Exod. 11:8; Judges 4:10 with the annotations.
11And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, 16Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
16 That is, let him, who arms himself for the battle before he hath gotten the victory, not carry himself as he who disarms himself after he hath had the victory. It is a proverb of like sense, as when we say, The song of triumph is not to be sung before the victory.
12And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, 17Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
17 Namely, your weapons and all instruments of war, to put yourselves in array, to storm the city, and to take it by force.
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; 18and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
18 Also verse 28. This is the end of all the benefits of God, that He be rightly acknowledged; seriously thanked, and faithfully served.
14And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even 19by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall 20order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
19 Understand by these the servants and pages of the princes of the provinces and tribes, or the young noblemen, sons of the lords of the land, who lived with the king, who were practiced in arms.
20 That is, as some translate it, bind the battle, or as others, Who shall begin the battle, namely, we Israelites? Or shall we wait till the Syrians fall upon us? The like phrase is also, 2 Chron. 13:3.
15Then 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.
16And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; 21and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
21 The meaning is: that he, having understood by his guard that some men showed themselves about the city, sent to enquire what they were. The report was that they were men who marched out of the city.
18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army 22which followed them.
22 Hebr. that was after them.
20And 23they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
23 Namely, every one of the Israelites slew one of the Syrians, who came to take the Israelites alive.
21And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22¶And 24the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou 25doest: for 26at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
24 Of whom mention is made verse 13.
25 Namely, not only by using human means, but especially by obtaining the Divine assistance through true repentance.
26 That is, at the arrival of the summer, when the camps are wont to take the field, to enjoy the opportunity of food and victual. Also verse 26. Compare 2 Sam. 11:1; 1 Chron. 20:1; 2 Chron. 36:10.
2327And the servants of the king of Syria said unto 28him, Their gods are 29gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, 30and surely we shall be stronger than they.
27 This was made known to the prophet, either by some report which came to him, or by revelation from God, whereof see an excellent example, 2 Kings 6:8.
28 Namely, unto their king.
29 That is, dwelling upon mountains, (as they perceived) who can only help their people there, and not in the plain.
30 Add herewith the concealed curse or punishment; as: perish we must, or, become infamous; or, or we, etc. Namely, do show, or, what is true! Other, Shall we not be stronger? also verse 25. See Gen. 14 on verse 23.
24And do this thing, Take the 31kings away, every man 32out of his place, and put 33captains in their rooms:
31 Namely, whose help he previously had used, verses 1, 16.
32 That is, out of the command which they had in your army.
33 That is, lords and princes of your own land, which are better known to you, and will be more trustful to you.
25And number thee an army, like the army 34that thou hast 35lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, 36and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
34 Hebr. of or out of thee; that is, who, being in your service, were slain before this by the Israelites. See above verses 20, 21.
35 That is, perished in battle. See Gen. 14 on verse 10.
36 See on verse 23.
26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to 37Aphek, to fight against Israel.
37 A city situated in the tribe of Asher, which the Syrians in this expedition (as appears by the following 30th verse) seem to have obtained in their power. See of this city, Joshua 13:4; 19:30; Judges 1:31.
27And the children of Israel were numbered, and were 38all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like 39two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
38 Other, were found in full number.
39 To these the army to the Israelites, divided in twain, is compared; to show, that they were not only few in number, but also weak in warlike preparation and arms in comparison to the Syrians.
28¶And there came 40a 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, 41and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
40 Namely, the prophet, of whom mention is made, verses 13, 22, or some other.
41 See on verse 13.
29And 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.
30But the rest fled to 42Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, 43into an inner chamber.
42 See on verse 26. It seems by this, that the Syrians had taken this city.
43 Also 1 Kings 22:25. The meaning is: Benhadad, being much dismayed at his great defeats and fearing for his own person, fled from one chamber into another, not knowing where to hide himself. Other, into a chamber inner-chamber; understand a secret room or hidden place, made in some chamber for safety.
31¶And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are 44merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth 45on our loins, and 46ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save 47thy life.
44 Hebr. kings of mercy or lovingkindness.
45 They would signify by this sign that they had deserved death, and begged for mercy, as with great sorrow and humility of heart. See Gen. 37 on verse 34.
46 Sometimes the malefactors must also have this around their necks, as a sign that they are worthy of death.
47 That is, person; also in the sequel. See 1 Kings 19 on verse 4.
32So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my 48brother.
48 That is, to whom I, as a brother, am ready to show friendship.
33Now the men did diligently observe 49whether any thing would come from him, 50and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, 51bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
49 That is, whether the word brother came from an upright heart, and whether he meant true brotherhood or his speech was only a deceitful feigning of the mouth.
50 Hebr. and they hasted and they caught it; namely, that the king of Israel had called their king his brother; holding it to be a sign of his good affection toward Benhadad. Other, gathered it up, cut it off, namely, from Ahab’s words.
51 Hebr. take him; that is, take him and bring him. See Gen. 12 on verse 15.
34And 52Ben-hadad said unto him, 53The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make 54streets 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.
52 Or, he.
53 See of these cities 1 Kings 15:20.
54 Understand marketplaces, out of which Ahab would gather some tribute; or places of judicature, in which the supreme judgment would belong to him; or certain ingresses, and frontiers of the land, that would be in his power.
35¶And a certain man of the 55sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour 56in the word of the LORD, 57Smite me, I pray thee. And the man 58refused to smite him.
55 Which were young men, instructed by the prophet in the true doctrine, directed to the pure religion, and exhorted to the uprightness of life. They had their colleges, wherein the prophets were as their fathers, 2 Kings 2:12, and they as their children; as they are likewise so called here, 1 Sam. 10:12; 2 Kings 2:3, 5; Isa. 8:18. Compare Judges 17 on verse 10.
56 That is, by God’s command, with which he acquainted his neighbor of this.
57 The word smite does not signify here slaying or killing, as it does in the following verse, but beating with the fist, stick, rope, etc. so that death does not follow upon it; as verse 37; Exod. 21:15, 18; Prov. 23:13.
58 In which he did amiss since he had understood that it was commanded of God.
36Then 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 59slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
59 That is, kill, slay. Also verse 20; Gen. 32:11; Lev. 24:21, etc. See Gen. 8 on verse 21.
37Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that 60in smiting he wounded him.
60 That is, he smote him a long while and very much, so that he hurt and wounded him.
38So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and 61disguised himself 62with ashes 63upon his face.
61 The Hebrew word signifies properly to change oneself so as not to be known; which this prophet did by strewing ashes upon his face, or, (as others translate it) by putting a covering upon his eyes. It signifies in 1 Kings 22:30, to change and disguise a man’s self by changing his apparel. Compare 1 Kings 14:2.
62 Other, with a scarf, or, covering.
63 That is, on the head, and further in the face.
39And as the king passed by, he 64cried 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 65man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if 66by any means he be missing, then shall thy 67life be for his life, or else thou shalt 68pay a 69talent of silver.
64 As having some matter to tell him.
65 Meaning a prisoner, to keep him in order that he would not run away.
66 Hebr. missing be missed.
67 That is, your life is for his life; that is, you shall die for him. Also verse 42. Likewise, Exod. 21:23.
68 Hebr. weigh.
69 See of the value hereof, 1 Kings 16 on verse 24.
40And as thy servant was busy here and there, 70he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy 71judgment be; thyself hast decided it.
70 Namely, the imprisoned man.
71 That is, such is your own judgment. Understand the judgment by reference, whereby a man is pronounced guilty, and worthy of punishment. So is the word judging also taken, Luke 19:22; John 12:48; 1 Cor. 6:2. The sense is: You bring your own verdict or sentence along with you, seeing you did undertake to keep the man upon the condition already related by you.
41And he hasted, and 72took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
72 See verse 38 and the annotation thereon.
42And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a 73man whom I appointed to utter destruction, thereforea thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
73 Namely Benhadad. Hebr. the man of my accursing, that is, whom I would have to be slain, and utterly destroyed. See Deut. 2 on verse 34.
a 1 Kings 22:37, 38.
43And the king of Israel went to his house 74heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
74 That is, peevish, discontented, fretful.