1 Kings 20:31-43 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:31-43

Here is an account of what followed upon the victory which Israel obtained over the Syrians. I. Ben-hadad's tame and mean submission. Even in his inner chamber he feared, and would, if he could, flee further, though none pursued. His servants, seeing him and themselves reduced to the last extremity, advised that they should surrender at discretion, and make themselves prisoners and petitioners to Ahab for their lives, 1 Kgs. 20:31. The servants will put their lives in their hands, and venture... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:31

And his servants said unto him ,.... Being reduced to the utmost extremity; for if he attempted to go out of the city, he would fall into the hands of the Israelites, and there was no safety in it, the wall of it being fallen down; and it could not be thought he could be concealed long in the chamber where he was, wherefore his servants advised as follows: behold, now, we have heard that the kings of the Israel are merciful kings ; not only the best of them as David and Solomon, but even... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:32

So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads ,.... Signifying they came to surrender themselves to him as his captives and prisoners, and he might do with them as seemed good to him, hang them up if he pleased, for which they brought ropes with them, as a token that they deserved it, see Isaiah 20:2 , and came to the king of Israel, and said, thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee let me live : he that a little while ago insolently demanded his wives, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:33

Now the men did diligently observe whether anything would come from him ,.... That would be a good omen to them, and encourage them to hope for success; they observed him as diligently by his words and behaviour as soothsayers do when they look out for a lucky sign; for the word is sometimes used of divining F19 ינחשו "augurati sunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus. : and did hastily catch it ; as soon as it was out of his mouth, and laid hold on it to improve it to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:34

And Benhadad said unto him ,.... The word Benhadad is not in the original text, and some, as Osiander and others, have thought they are the words of Ahab last spoken of; which seems most likely, who not only took Benhadad into his chariot, but in his great and superabundant kindness, though the conqueror, said to him what follows: the cities which my father took from thy father I will restore ; that is, those cities which Omri, the father of Ahab, had taken from the father of Benhadad;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:35

And a certain man of the sons of the prophets ,.... Which the Jews take to be Micaiah, and so Josephus F21 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 14. sect, 5. , which is probable; the same that had been with Ahab more than once; and, whoever he was, it is not unlikely that he was the same, since Ahab knew him when his disguise was off, 1 Kings 20:41 , said unto his neighbour, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray thee ; told his neighbour, that by the command of God he was ordered to bid him smite... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:36

Then said he unto him, because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord ,.... In not smiting him; which, if he was a prophet, he must know how great an evil it was to disregard or disobey what was said by a prophet in his name; he must be inexcusable: behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee . And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him ; which may seem severe, yet being an act of disobedience to the command of God, by a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:37

Then he found another man, and said, smite me, I pray thee ,.... This is not said to be his neighbour, nor one of the sons of the prophets, but a rustic man, and so stuck not to take him at his word: and the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him ; in his face; made some incision in his flesh, broke the skin, and fetched blood of him; perhaps somewhere about his eyes, by what follows: this he got done to him, that he might look like a wounded soldier, and thereby get the more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:38

So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way ,.... As he went from Aphek, the place where the battle had been fought, to Samaria, his royal seat: and disguised himself with ashes upon his face ; the Targum is, he covered his eyes with a vail, or piece of cloth, which he wrapped about his head, as men do when they have got a wound or bruise in such a part, which seems very probable; for had he besmeared his face with ashes, clay, or dust, or any such thing, he could not so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:39

And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king ,.... With a loud voice, signifying he had something to say unto him, at which he stopped: and he said, thy servant went out into the midst of the battle ; this was not real, but fictitious, an apologue, fable, or parable, by which he would represent to Ahab his own case, and bring him under conviction of his folly, just as Nathan dealt with David: and, behold, a man turned aside ; a superior officer in the army: and brought a man... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:31-43

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:32

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:34

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:39

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