1 Kings 20:21-22 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:12-21

The treaty between the besiegers and the besieged being broken off abruptly, we have here an account of the battle that ensued immediately. I. The Syrians, the besiegers, had their directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, as he was drinking (1 Kgs. 20:12), drinking himself drunk (1 Kgs. 20:16) with the kings in the pavilions, and this at noon. Drunkenness is a sin which armies and their officers have of old been addicted to. Say not thou then that the former days were, in... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22-30

We have here an account of another successful campaign which Ahab, by divine aid, made against the Syrians, in which he gave them a greater defeat than in the former. Strange! Ahab idolatrous and yet victorious, a persecutor and yet a conqueror! God has wise and holy ends in suffering wicked men to prosper, and glorifies his own name thereby. I. Ahab is admonished by a prophet to prepare for another war, 1 Kgs. 20:22. It should seem, he was now secure, and looked but a little way before him.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:21

And the king of Israel went out ,.... Of Samaria; when he saw the Syrians fleeing, and his army pursuing, he went forth, perhaps, with more forces, who were now willing to join with him; Josephus F3 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 14. sect. 2. says, Ahab had another army within the walls: and smote the horses and chariots ; that is, the men that rode on horses; and in chariots, the Syrian cavalry: and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter ; how many were slain is not said; but the Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22

And the prophet came to the king of Israel ,.... The same that came to him before: and said unto him, go, strengthen thyself ; exhorted him to fortify his cities, especially Samaria, and increase his army, that he might be able to oppose the king of Syria: and mark, and see what thou doest : observe his moral and religious actions, and take heed that he did not offend the Lord by them, as well as make military preparations: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-21

Veiled Mercies . I. AHAB 'S EXTREMITY ( 1 Kings 20:1-11 ). God's goodness to the froward is shown by His bringing them into circumstances where they may prove and know Him. The clouds they "so much dread are big with mercy." 1 . The land is overrun and the capital besieged . The fruit of sin is difficulty and disaster. The land and the life which will not acknowledge God will know at last what it is to be bereft of His protecting care and the ministrations of His goodness.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-43

The Purgatory of Nations and Kings. The two invasions of Israel by the armies of Syria, and their defeat by the finger of God, may suggest some lessons as to God's dealings with nations, and with oppressive and tyrannical kings. Two considerations must, however, be borne in mind here. First, that the present age, unlike the Mosaic, is not a dispensation of temporal rewards and punishments. It is true that even now men do receive a rough sort of retribution, according to their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:12-21

The hand of God. The notable answer of the king of Israel to the insolent king of Syria, "Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast himself as he that putteth it off," came to Ben-hadad when he was drinking wine with the thirty and two kings that followed him. He at once gave orders to his servants to set themselves in battle array. While the enormous host which "filled the country" (see 1 Kings 20:25 , 1 Kings 20:27 ) disposed itself to attack the city, the men of Israel, who were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:21

And the king of Israel went out [It looks as if Ahab had remained within the city until the defeat of the Syrians was assured], and smote [ LXX . καὶ ἐλαβε , and captured ] the horses and chariots [ i.e; the cavalry and chariotry; cf. 1 Kings 20:1 ], and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. [Heb. in Syria a great, etc.] read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22

And the prophet [obviously the same prophet] came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself [both as to army and to city], and mark, and see what thou doest ["Take every precaution. Don't think that the danger is past"]: for at the return of the year [in the following spring. There was a favourite time for campaigns ( 2 Samuel 11:1 ), viz; when the rainy season was past. Several late wars, notably those of our own armies in Africa and Afghanistan, have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22

Go strengthen thyself ." Though God had delivered him once and would deliver him again ( 1 Kings 20:28 ), yet Ahab must consult for his own safety. While trusting in God, he must keep his powder dry. The same prophet who has announced deliverance by a band of youths , wholly inadequate to cope with the Syrians, now bids him look well to the defences of the country. Aide-toi et Dieu t'aidera ; this is the purport of his message. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:12-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-43

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:12-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22

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