1 Kings 20:23 NLT,NIV,ESV

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-43

Defeat of Ben-hadad (20:1-43)Ahab appeared to be in serious trouble when a combined army of Syria (Aram) and neighbouring states besieged the Israelite capital Samaria and demanded heavy payments. Ahab at first submitted (20:1-4), but when their demands increased, he changed his mind and decided to fight (5-12).A prophet assured Ahab that God would give Israel victory (13-15). Ahab’s plan, based on the prophet’s advice, was to send a large group of young men ahead to distract the Syrians, then... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 20:23

1 Kings 20:23. Their gods are gods of the hills— See Num 23:27 and Virgil, En. viii. ver. 698, &c. Bishop Warburton observes, that when Ben-hadad, whose forces consisted of chariots and horsemen, had warred with ill success against the king of Israel, his ministers, in a council of war, delivered their advice to him in the terms included in this verse. From this passage, says he, I collect, 1. That the army of Israel, consisting all of infantry, had chosen the situation of the hills; and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 20:1-25

God’s deliverance of Samaria 20:1-25God dealt gently (cf. 1 Kings 19:12) with the Northern Kingdom at this time in the Divided Monarchy to continue to move His people back to Himself. This pericope records the first of three battles the writer recorded in 1 Kings between Ahab and the kings of Aram, Israel’s antagonistic neighbor to the northeast. The first of these evidently took place early in Ahab’s reign (ca. 874). Ahab’s adversary would have been Ben-Hadad I (900-860 B.C.). [Note: See D. D.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:1-43

War between Israel and SyriaThe Syrians besiege Samaria, but a sally being made from the city by the direction of a prophet, they are driven off, and the next year are beaten at Aphek. Ahab, having spared Benhadad the Syrian king, is rebuked by a prophet in the name of the Lord.1. Ben-hadad] probably the son of the Benhadad mentioned, in 1 Kings 15:18. In the Assyrian inscription he is termed Dad-idri, i.e. Hadadezer. The history here reverts to the Syrian attacks upon Israel made originally at... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 20:23

(23) Gods of the hills.—The idea of tutelary gods, whose strength was greatest on their own soil, is naturally common in polytheistic religions, which, by the very multiplication of gods, imply limitation of the power of each. Now the greater part of the territory where Jehovah was worshipped was a hill-country. Samaria in particular, the scene of recent defeat, lay in the mountain region of Ephraim. The Israelite armies, moreover, being mostly of infantry—having, indeed, few or no cavalry,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 20:1-43

The Partial Exclusion of God 1 Kings 20:28 I. There are scenes with which we naturally associate God; and how true that was of the Syrians a glance will show us. It was among the hills that Israel fought them; it was on the rough hillside that Israel conquered. For us no less than for the Syrians there is a suggestion of God about the hills. It was on a hill that our Saviour blessed the world with the priceless preaching of the Sermon on the Mount. And on a hill-top having said farewell He... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-30

AHAB AND BENHADAD1 Kings 20:1-30IN the Septuagint and in Josephus the events narrated in the twentieth chapter of the Book of Kings are placed after the meeting of Elijah with Ahab at the door of Naboth’s vineyard, which occupies the twenty-first chapter in our version. This order of events seems the more probable, but no chronological data are given us in the long but fragmentary details of Ahab’s reign. They are, in fact, composed of different sets of records, partly historical, partly... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 20:1-43

4. King Ahab: His Wicked Reign and End CHAPTER 20 Ahab’s War with the Syrians and His Victory 1. The siege and relief of Samaria (1 Kings 20:1-21 ) 2. The victory at Aphek (1 Kings 20:22-34 ) 3. A prophet’s symbolical action and his message (1 Kings 20:35-43 ) Two expeditions of Ben-hadad (son of the Sun) against Israel are recorded in this chapter. When Ben-hadad forced the war and insulted the King of Israel, Ahab prepared for the battle. Then a prophet came to Ahab, most likely one... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Kings 20:23

20:23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their {k} 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.(k) Thus the wicked blaspheme God in their fury, who nonetheless he does not permit to go unpunished. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:1-43

AHAB DEFEATS SYRIA (vs.1-22) God's care for His people Israel is still remarkably displayed in this chapter in spite of the unholy character of Ahab. Ben Hadad, king of Syria, marshaled a tremendous army, having 32 kings allied with him, and came to Samaria to besiege the city. Because he was so confident of his superior strength, he did not immediately begin battle, however, but sent messengers to Ahab to tell him, "Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are... read more