1 Kings 20:20-21 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

John Gill

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

And they slew everyone his man ,.... The Syrian army, or at least a body of men detached from them, met them, opposed them, and fought them, and they slew of them 7232 men; as many as they themselves were: and the Syrians fled ; not expecting such a rebuff: and Israel pursued them ; to make some further advantage of their victory: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse, with the horsemen ; with two couple of horsemen, as the Targum; with these to guard him he galloped... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:20

The Syrians fled - They were doubtless panic-struck. 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 20:20

And they slew every one his man [The LXX ; which differs here considerably from the Hebrew, inserts at this point καὶ ἐδευτέρωσεν ἕκαστος τὸν παρ αὐτοῦ . Ewald thinks the Hebrew text ought to be made to correspond, and would read וַיּשְׁנוּ אישׁ אישׁוֹ i.e; each repeatedly killed his man, as in 1 Samuel 14:16 ]: and the Syrians fled [When a few had fallen, utter panic seized the rest. The separate kings, with their divided interests, thought only of their own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:20

" They slew every one his man ." It is thus the world must be won for Christ. Mohammed had two fixed ideas: first, to make converts; second, to make his converts soldiers . And every Christian is a soldier of the Cross, enlisted at his baptism into the Church militant . By personal, individual effort are Churches built up and believers added to the Lord. So it was in the first days. "Andrew findeth his own brother Simon." "Philip findeth Nathanael" ( John 1:41-45 ). 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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:20

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 20:20

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:20

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:21

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