CHAPTER XX _Ben-hadad, king of Syria, and thirty-two kings, besiege_ _Samaria_, 1. _He sends an insulting message to Ahab; and insists on pillaging_ _the whole city_, 2-7. _The elders of Israel counsel the king not to submit to such_ _shameful conditions_, 8. _He sends a refusal to Ben-hadad;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:4. _I AM THINE, AND ALL THAT I HAVE._] He probably hoped by this humiliation to soften this barbarous king, and perhaps to get better conditions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:6. _WHATSOEVER IS PLEASANT IN THINE EYES_] It is not easy to discern in what this _second_ requisition differed from the _first_; for surely his _silver, gold, wives_, and _children_, were among his _most pleasant_ or _desirable things_. _Jarchi_ supposes that it was the _book of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:8. _HEARKEN NOT UNTO HIM_] The elders had every thing at stake, and they chose rather to make a desperate defense than tamely to yield to such degrading and ruinous conditions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:10. _IF THE DUST OF SAMARIA SHALL SUFFICE_] This is variously understood. Jonathan translates thus: "If the dust of Shomeron shall be sufficient for the soles of the feet of the people that shall accompany me;" i.e., I shall bring such an army that there will scarcely be room for th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:11. _LET NOT HIM THAT GIRDETH ON_] This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. _Jonathan_ translates, "Tell him, Let not him who girds himself and goes down to the battle, boast as he who has conquered and returned from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:12. _IN THE PAVILIONS_] This word comes from _papilio_, a _butterfly_, because tents, when pitched or spread out, resembled such animals; partly because of the mode of their _expansion_, and partly because of the manner in which they were _painted_. _SET YOURSELVES IN ARRAY._] The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:13. _THERE CAME A PROPHET_] Who this was we cannot tell; _Jarchi_ says it was _Micaiah, son of Imlah_. It is strange that on such an occasion we hear nothing of Elijah or Elisha. Is it not possible that this was one of them disguised?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:14. _BY THE YOUNG MEN OF THE PRINCES OF THE PROVINCES._] These were probably some chosen persons out of the militia of different districts, raised by the _princes of the provinces_; the same as we would call _lord-lieutenants_ of counties.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:15. _TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO_] These were probably the king's _life_ or _body guards_; not all the militia, but _two hundred_ _and thirty_ of them who constituted the royal guard in Samaria. They were therefore the king's own regiment, and he is commanded by the prophet to put hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:18. _TAKE THEM ALIVE._] He was confident of victory. Do not slay them; bring them to me, they may give us some useful information.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:20. _THE SYRIANS FLED_] They were doubtless panic-struck.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _THEIR GODS_ ARE _GODS OF THE HILLS_] It is very likely that the small Israelitish army availed itself of the _heights_ and _uneven_ ground, that they might fight with greater advantage against the Syrian _cavalry_, for Ben-hadad came up against Samaria _with horses and chariots_, 1 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _TAKE THE KINGS AWAY_] These were not acquainted with military affairs, or they had not competent skill. Put experienced _captains_ in their place, and fight not but on the plains, and you will be sure of victory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _BEN-HADAD NUMBERED THE SYRIANS, AND WENT UP TO APHEK_] There were several towns of this name; see the notes on Joshua 12:18. It is supposed that the town mentioned here was situated in Libanus, upon the river _Adonis_, between _Heliopolis_ and _Biblos_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _BECAUSE THE SYRIANS HAVE SAID_] God resents their blasphemy, and is determined to punish it. They shall now be discomfited in such a way as to show that God's power is every where, and that the multitude of a host is nothing against him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _SLEW A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOOTMEN IN ONE DAY._] This number is enormous; but the MSS. and versions give no various reading.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _A WALL FELL UPON TWENTY AND SEVEN THOUSAND_] From the first view of this text it would appear that when the Syrians fled to Aphek, and shut themselves within the walls, the Israelites immediately brought all hands, and sapped the walls, in consequence of which a large portion fell, and bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _PUT SACKCLOTH ON OUR LOINS, AND ROPES UPON OUR HEADS_] Let us show ourselves humbled in the deepest manner, and let us put ropes about our necks, and go submitting to his mercy, and deprecating his wrath. The citizens of Calais are reported to have acted nearly in the same way when they s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _THY SERVANT BEN-HADAD_] See the vicissitude of human affairs! A little before he was the haughtiest of all tyrants, and Ahab calls him his _lord_; now, so much is he humbled, that he will be glad to be reputed Ahab's _slave_!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _DID HASTILY CATCH_ IT] They were watching to see if any kind word should be spoken by him, from which they might draw a favourable omen; and when they heard him use the word _brother_, it gave them much encouragement.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _THOU SHALT MAKE STREETS FOR THEE IN DAMASCUS_] It appears that it was customary for foreigners to have a place assigned to them, particularly in maritime towns, where they might deposit and vend their merchandise. This was the very origin of European settlements in Asiatic countries: "The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _IN THE WORD OF THE LORD_] By the word or command of the Lord; that is, God has commanded thee to smite me. Refusing to do it, this man forfeited his life, as we are informed in the next verse. By this emblematical action he intended to inform Ahab that, as the man forfeited his life who... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _A LION FOUND HIM, AND SLEW HIM._] This seems a hard measure, but there was ample reason for it. This person was also one of the sons of the prophets, and he knew that God frequently delivered his counsels in this way, and should have immediately obeyed; for the smiting could have had no e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _DISGUISED HIMSELF WITH ASHES UPON HIS FACE._] It does not immediately appear how putting _ashes_ upon his face could disguise him. Instead of אפר _apher, dust, Houbigant_ conjectures that it should be אפד _aphad_, a _fillet_ or _bandage_. It is only the _corner_ of the last letter which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _KEEP THIS MAN_] The drift of this is at once seen; but Ahab, not knowing it, was led to pass sentence on himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:41. _TOOK THE ASHES AWAY_] He took the bandage from off his eyes: see on 1 Kings 20:38. It was no doubt of thin cloth, through which he could see, while it served for a sufficient disguise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:42. _THY LIFE SHALL GO FOR HIS LIFE_] This was fulfilled at the battle of Ramoth-gilead, where he was slain by the Syrians; see 1 Kings 22:34-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 20:43. _HEAVY AND DISPLEASED_] Heavy or afflicted, because of these dreadful tidings; and displeased with the prophet for having announced them. Had he been displeased with himself, and humbled his soul before God, even those judgments, so circumstantially foretold, might have been ave... [ Continue Reading ]