1 Kings 20:35

GOD'S CONDEMNATION OF AHAB FOR SPARING BEN-HADAD

"And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his fellow by the word of Jehovah Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of Jehovah, 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. Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king; and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. And he hasted and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. And he said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man who I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. And the king of Israel went to his home heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria."

"A certain man of the sons of the prophets" (1 Kings 20:35). Josephus identified this man as the same prophet who had spoken to Ahab earlier, namely, Micaiah.[20]

"The sin of Ahab in sparing Benhadad seems commendable in our eyes, but to the Hebrews it was the most terrible sin of all, the violation of the hereto or the ban."[21] Other commentators have expressed similar views, but this writer cannot accept them as valid. It was a rough, heartless and unscrupulous world through which God brought his chosen people. And Ahab's foolish mercy in sparing a man whom God had condemned was not merely sinful, it was CONTRARY to what God had commanded! It was not "the prophets" who condemned Ahab, it was God Himself who did so.

"And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone" (1 Kings 20:40). What a marvelous topic for a sermon! What a seductive temptation it is for those who hope to receive eternal life to fritter away every opportunity to obey the Lord, "Till all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death."

"And the king ... went to his home, heavy and displeased" (1 Kings 20:43). "This means that he did not acknowledge the justice of his condemnation, and that he went home full of sullenness and suppressed anger."[22] Where is all that "favorable light" which this chapter is supposed to shed upon this sinful and incompetent Ahab?