1 Kings 22:1

EXPOSITION

THE EXPEDITION OF AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT AGAINST HRAMOTH - GILEAD . THE DEATH OF AHAB . THE REIGNS OF JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAZIAH .

And they continued [rather, rested . Heb. sate , dwelt . Cf. 5:17 . The LXX . has ἐκάθισε , sing.] three years without war [The Hebrew explains the "rested"— there was not war, etc. See Ewald, 286 g . The three years (not full years, as the next verse shows) are to be counted from the second defeat of Ben-hadad; the history, that is to say, is resumed from 1 Kings 20:34-43 . Rawlinson conjectures that it was during this period that the Assyrian invasion, under Shalmaneser II ; took place. The Black Obelisk tells us that Ahab of Jezreel joined a league of kings, of whom Ben-hadad was one, against the Assyrians, furnishing a force of 10,000 footmen and 2000 chariots; see "Hist. Illust." pp. 113, 114. The common danger might well compel a cessation of hostilities] between Syria and Israel.