1 Kings 20:30

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 20:30

But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city ,.... Which perhaps was in the hands of the Syrians, and was designed for a retreat for them, should they be beaten: and there a wall fell upon twenty seven thousand of the men that were left ; not slain in the battle; here again the Lord might be seen, who, as Abarbinel observes, fought from heaven, and either by a violent wind, or an earthquake, threw down the wall upon them just as they had got under it for shelter: and Benhadad fled, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:30

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 buried twenty-seven thousand men. But perhaps the hand of God was more immediately in this disaster; probably a burning wind is meant. See at the end of the chapter, 1 Kings 20:43 ; (note). ... 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 20:22-30

Wisdom in Counsel. No man is so wise that it may not be to his advantage to consider advice; but in listening to advice we may be led astray. There are two classes of advisers, viz; those who are influenced by the "wisdom of this world," and those who are influenced by the "wisdom from above." Of both we have examples in the text. I. THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS A WISDOM OF EXPEDIENCY . 1 . It is not destitute of sagacity . (a) Ben-hadad's counsellors... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:22-43

Resisted Mercy. I. GOD MULTIPLIES HIS BENEFITS TO THE SINFUL ( 1 Kings 20:22-30 ). Ahab makes no public acknowledgment of God's mercy, nor, so far as appears, has it been suffered to change in any way his attitude towards Jehovah; yet God crowns him with loving-kindnesses. 1 . Delivered from one danger, he is warned of another . "Go, strengthen thyself, and see what thou doer," etc. The enemy, baffled for the time, will return again. The intimation was a call not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:30

But the rest [Plainly those not claim It cannot mean those not defeated ] fled to Aphek [It is clear that this fortress was then in the possession of the Syrians, as they took refuge within its walls], into the city; and there a wall [Heb. the wall, i.e; the city wall] fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. [The Hebrew implies that these were practically all who survived the battle, הַנּוֹתָרִים is the word translated above, "the rest." We have here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:30

" A wall fell, " etc. (Cf. Acts 28:4 ; Habakkuk 2:11 ). "A dead wall in Aphek shall revenge God on the rest that remained." Where they sought shelter and thought themselves secure, they found death (cf. Amos 5:19 ; Amos 9:3 ; Psalms 139:7-10 ; Luke 19:40 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:30-43

False Mercy. The first army with which Ben-hadad invaded Israel was defeated with "great slaughter," and the king saved himself by flight. The defeat of the second was even more complete, when 127,000 men were destroyed and the king had to surrender at discretion. But Ahab, for his false mercy in sparing the life of Ben-hadad, brought judgment upon himself and upon his people. I. MERCY IS FALSE WHEN IT OPPOSES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD . 1 . That righteousness... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 20:30

A wall - “The wall,” i. e., the wall of the town. We may suppose a terrific earthquake during the siege of the place, while the Syrians were manning the defenses in full force, which threw down the wall where they were most thickly crowded upon it, and buried them in its ruins. Ben-hadad fled from the wall, where he had been at the time of the disaster, into the inner parts of the city - probably to some massive stronghold - and there concealed himself. read more

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