1 Kings 22:31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 22:29-40

The matter in contest between God's prophet and Ahab's prophets is here soon determined, and it is made to appear which was in the right. Here, I. The two kings march with their forces to Ramoth-Gilead, 1 Kgs. 22:29. That the king of Israel, who hated God's prophet, should so far disbelieve his admonition as to persist in his resolution, notwithstanding, is not strange; but that Jehoshaphat, that pious prince, who had desired to enquire by a prophet of the Lord, as disrelishing and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:31

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had the rule over his chariots ,.... This was the number of his kings in the first battle with Israel, and of his captains in the second, 1 Kings 20:1 , and the same number he had now, being very probably not only the number of his chariots, but the division of his army was into so many battalions, under the command of these captains of chariots: saying, fight neither with small nor great ; of those that belonged to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:1-40

The Death of Ahab and the Defeat of Israel. This chapter is almost entirely occupied with an account of the death of Ahab, and of the circumstances which preceded and attended it. The earlier portion of the chapter, which contains the prophesyings of the false prophets and the vision of Micaiah, is only recorded because of its bearing on the death of the king, and the dispersion of his army. And the prominence accorded to Ahab's end only corresponds with the space assigned to his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:29-40

The Certainty of God's Threatenings. I. AHAB 'S ATTEMPT TO ELUDE THE DIVINE VENGEANCE . 1 . His apprehension of coming evil . If Micaiah's words were not the words of God, why should he take precautions? His heart gives the lie to his own unbelief; the words cling to him. The bold refusal to listen to God's word is no assurance that the soul will not afterwards be shaken by a fearful looking for of judgment. 2 . His ungenerousness ( 1 Kings 22:30 ). "I will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:30-38

Lessons of the Battle. After disposing of Micaiah by sending him to prison with hard fare as the reward of his faithfulness, Ahab and Jehoshaphat gathered their forces and set out together to fight for the recovery of Ramoth-Gilead. The events of the day show— I. THAT PROPHECY MAY TEND TO ITS OWN FULFILMENT . 1 . Micaiah ' s words influenced Ahab ' s conduct . (a) Note the subtlety of the wicked. Ahab's proposal to Jehoshaphat was ostensibly to give him... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 22:31

But the king of Syria commanded [rather, had commanded. These words are of the nature of a parenthesis. "Now the king," etc. צִוָּה is so rendered in 2 Chronicles 18:30 ] his thirty and two captains [mentioned in 1 Kings 20:24 . It does not follow, however (Wordsworth), that these very men had been spared by Ahab] that had rule over his chariots [Heb. chariotry . Another indication that the chariots were regarded as the most important arm of the Syrian service], saying,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 22:31

Commanded - “Had commanded.” Ben-hadad delivers his order in the hyperbolical style common in the East. His meaning is, “Make it your chief object to kill or take the king of Israel.” Apparently, his own defeat and captivity were still rankling in his mind, and he wished to retaliate on Ahab, the humiliation which he considered himself to have suffered. He shows small appreciation of the generosity which had spared his life and restored him to his kingdom. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 22:31

1 Kings 22:31. Fight only with the king of Israel This he ordered, truly supposing this to be the best way to put an end to the war; and by the providence of God, which disposeth the hearts of kings as he pleaseth, and which inclined them to this course, that they might, though ignorantly, accomplish his counsel. Perhaps Ben-hadad only designed to have taken him prisoner, that he might now give him as honourable a treatment as he had formerly received from him. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:1-40

Ahab and Jehoshaphat (22:1-40)Three years after making his peace agreement with King Ben-hadad of Syria, Ahab broke it. He saw the chance to retake the border town of Ramoth-gilead, and persuaded Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to help him (22:1-4). (Jehoshaphat had previously made an alliance with Ahab by having his son Jehoram marry Ahab’s daughter Athaliah; 2 Kings 8:16-18,2 Kings 8:25-26; 2 Chronicles 18:1; 2 Chronicles 18:1.) The professional prophets in Ahab’s court were more concerned with... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 22:31

1 Kings 22:31. Fight neither with small nor great— Ben-hadad might give this order, either in policy, supposing this to be the best and readiest way to put an end to the war, or with a design to take Ahab prisoner, that thereby he might wipe out the stain of his own captivity, and recover the honour and advantages which he then lost. We shall have occasion in the second book of Chronicles to speak concerning Jehoshaphat. read more

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