mh_parser/vol_split/11 - 1Kings/Chapter 20.xml

<div2 id="iKi.xxi" n="xxi" next="iKi.xxii" prev="iKi.xx" progress="60.07%" title="Chapter XX">
<h2 id="iKi.xxi-p0.1">F I R S T   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iKi.xxi-p0.2">CHAP. XX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iKi.xxi-p1">This chapter is the history of a war between
Ben-hadad king of Syria and Ahab king of Israel, in which Ahab was,
once and again, victorious. We read nothing of Elijah or Elishain
all this story; Jezebel's rage, it is probable, had abated, and the
persecution of the prophets began to cool, which gleam of peace
Elijah improved. He appeared not at court, but, being told how many
thousands of good people there were in Israel more than he thought
of, employed himself, as we may suppose, in founding religious
houses, schools, or colleges of prophets, in several parts of the
country, to be nurseries of religion, that they might help to
reform the nation when the throne and court would not be reformed.
While he was thus busied, God favoured the nation with the
successes we here read of, which were the more remarkable because
obtained against Ben-hadad king of Syria, whose successor, Hazael,
was ordained to be a scourge to Israel. They must shortly suffer by
the Syrians, and yet now triumphed over them, that, if possible,
they might be led to repentance by the goodness of God. Here is, I.
Ben-hadad's descent upon Israel, and his insolent demand, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.1-1Kgs.20.11" parsed="|1Kgs|20|1|20|11" passage="1Ki 20:1-11">ver. 1-11</scripRef>. II. The defeat Ahab
gave him, encouraged and directed by a prophet, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.12-1Kgs.20.21" parsed="|1Kgs|20|12|20|21" passage="1Ki 20:12-21">ver. 12-21</scripRef>. III. The Syrians rallying
again, and the second defeat Ahab gave them, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.22-1Kgs.20.30" parsed="|1Kgs|20|22|20|30" passage="1Ki 20:22-30">ver. 22-30</scripRef>. IV. The covenant of peace
Ahab made with Ben-hadad, when he had him at his mercy (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.31-1Kgs.20.34" parsed="|1Kgs|20|31|20|34" passage="1Ki 20:31-34">ver. 31-34</scripRef>), for which he is
reproved and threatened by a prophet, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.35-1Kgs.20.43" parsed="|1Kgs|20|35|20|43" passage="1Ki 20:35-43">ver. 35-43</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iKi.xxi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20" parsed="|1Kgs|20|0|0|0" passage="1Ki 20" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iKi.xxi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.1-1Kgs.20.11" parsed="|1Kgs|20|1|20|11" passage="1Ki 20:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.20.1-1Kgs.20.11">
<h4 id="iKi.xxi-p1.8">Ben-hadad's Insolent Demand. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p1.9">b. c.</span> 900.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xxi-p2">1 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all
his host together: and <i>there were</i> thirty and two kings with
him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria,
and warred against it.   2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king
of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
  3 Thy silver and thy gold <i>is</i> mine; thy wives also and
thy children, <i>even</i> the goodliest, <i>are</i> mine.   4
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king,
according to thy saying, I <i>am</i> thine, and all that I have.
  5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh
Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou
shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy
children;   6 Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow
about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses
of thy servants; and it shall be, <i>that</i> whatsoever is
pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put <i>it</i> in their hand, and
take <i>it</i> away.   7 Then the king of Israel called all
the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how
this <i>man</i> seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives,
and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I
denied him not.   8 And all the elders and all the people said
unto him, Hearken not <i>unto him,</i> nor consent.   9
Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the
king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I
will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed,
and brought him word again.   10 And Benhadad sent unto him,
and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of
Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow
me.   11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell
<i>him,</i> Let not him that girdeth on <i>his harness</i> boast
himself as he that putteth it off.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p3">Here is, I. The threatening descent which
Ben-hadad made upon Ahab's kingdom, and the siege he laid to
Samaria, his royal city, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.1" parsed="|1Kgs|20|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. What the ground of the quarrel was we are not told;
covetousness and ambition were the principle, which would never
want some pretence or other. David in his time had quite subdued
the Syrians and made them tributaries to Israel, but Israel's
apostasy from God makes them formidable again. Asa had tempted the
Syrians to invade Israel once (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.18-1Kgs.15.20" parsed="|1Kgs|15|18|15|20" passage="1Ki 15:18-20"><i>ch.</i> xv. 18-20</scripRef>), and now they did
it of their own accord. It is dangerous bringing a foreign force
into the country: posterity may pay dearly for it. Ben-hadad had
with him thirty-two kings, who were either tributaries to him, and
bound in duty to attend him, or confederates with him, and bound in
interest to assist him. How little did the title of king look when
all these poor petty governors pretended to it!</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p4">II. The treaty between these two kings.
Surely Israel's defence had departed from them, or else the Syrians
could not have marched so readily, and with so little opposition,
to Samaria, the head and heart of the country, a city lately built,
and therefore, we may suppose, not well fortified, but likely to
fall quickly into the hands of the invaders; both sides are aware
of this, and therefore,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p5">1. Ben-hadad's proud spirit sends Ahab a
very insolent demand, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.2-1Kgs.20.3" parsed="|1Kgs|20|2|20|3" passage="1Ki 20:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2,
3</scripRef>. A parley is sounded, and a trumpeter (we may suppose)
is sent into the city, to let Ahab know that he will raise the
siege upon condition that Ahab become his vassal (Nay, his
<i>villain</i>), and not only pay him a tribute out of what he has,
but make over his title to Ben-hadad, and hold all at his will,
even his wives and children, the godliest of them. The manner of
expression is designed to gall them; "All shall be mine, without
exception."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p6">2. Ahab's poor spirit sends Ben-hadad a
very disgraceful submission. It is general indeed (he cannot
mention particulars in his surrender with so much pleasure as
Ben-hadad did in his demand), but it is effectual: <i>I am thine,
and all that I have,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.4" parsed="|1Kgs|20|4|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. See the effect of sin. (1.) If he had not by sin
provoked God to depart from him, Ben-hadad could not have made such
a demand. Sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of
divine protection. If God may not rule us, our enemies shall. A
rebel to God is a slave to all besides. Ahab had prepared his
silver and gold for Baal, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Hos.2.8" parsed="|Hos|2|8|0|0" passage="Ho 2:8">Hos. ii.
8</scripRef>. Justly therefore is it taken from him; such an
alienating amounts to a forfeiture. (2.) If he had not by sin
wronged his own conscience, and set that against him, he could not
have made such a mean surrender. Guilt dispirits men, and makes
them cowards. He knew Baal could not help, and had no reason to
think that God would, and therefore was content to buy his life
upon any terms. Skin for skin, and all that is dear to him, he will
give for it; he will rather live a beggar than not die a
prince.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p7">3. Ben-hadad's proud spirit rises upon his
submission, and becomes yet more insolent and imperious, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.5-1Kgs.20.6" parsed="|1Kgs|20|5|20|6" passage="1Ki 20:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Ahab had laid his
all at his feet, at his mercy, expecting that one king would use
another generously, that this acknowledgment of Ben-hadad's
sovereignty would content him, the honour was sufficient for the
present, and he might hereafter make use of it if he saw cause
(<i>Satis est prostrasse leoni</i>—<i>It suffices the lion to have
laid his victim prostrate</i>); but this will not serve. (1.)
Ben-hadad is as covetous as he is proud, and cannot go away unless
he have the possession as well as the dominion. He thinks it not
enough to call it his, unless he have it in his hands. He will not
so much as lend Ahab the use of his own goods above a day longer.
(2.) He is as spiteful as he is haughty. Had he come himself to
select what he had a mind for, it would have shown some respect to
a crowned head; but he will send his servants to insult the prince,
and hector over him, to rifle the palace, and strip it of all its
ornaments; nay, to give Ahab the more vexation, they shall be
ordered, not only to take what they please, but, if they can learn
which are the persons or things that Ahab is in a particular manner
fond of, to take those: <i>Whatsoever is pleasant in thy eyes they
shall take away.</i> We are often crossed in that which we most
dote upon; and that proves least safe which is most dear. (3.) He
is as unreasonable as he is unjust, and will construe the surrender
Ahab made for himself as made for all his subjects too, and will
have them also to lie at his mercy: "They shall search, not only
thy house, but <i>the houses of thy servants</i> too, and plunder
them at discretion." Blessed be God for peace and property, and
that what we have we can call our own.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p8">4. Ahab's poor spirit begins to rise too,
upon this growing insolence; and, if it becomes not bold, yet it
becomes desperate, and he will rather hazard his life than give up
all thus. (1.) How he takes advice of his privy-council, who
encourage him to stand it out. He speaks but poorly (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.7" parsed="|1Kgs|20|7|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), appeals to them whether
Ben-hadad be not an unreasonable enemy, and do not seek mischief.
What else could he expect from one who, without any provocation
given him, had invaded his country and besieged his capital city?
He owns to them how he had truckled to him before, and will have
them advise him what he should do in this strait; and they speak
bravely (<i>Hearken not to him, nor consent,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.8" parsed="|1Kgs|20|8|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), promising no doubt to stand by
him in the refusal. (2.) Yet he expresses himself very modestly in
his denial, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.9" parsed="|1Kgs|20|9|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. He
owns Ben-hadad's dominion over him: "<i>Tell my lord the king</i> I
have no design to affront him, nor to receded from the surrender I
have already made; what I offered at first I will stand to, <i>but
this thing I may not do;</i> I must not give what is none of my
own." It was a mortification to Ben-hadad that even such an abject
spirit as Ahab's durst deny him; yet it should seem, by his manner
of expressing himself, that he durst not have done it if his people
had not animated him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p9">5. Ben-hadad proudly swears the ruin of
Samaria. The threatening waves of his wrath, meeting with this
check, rage and foam, and make a noise. In his fury, he imprecates
the impotent revenge of his gods, <i>if the dust of Samaria serve
for handfuls for his army</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.10" parsed="|1Kgs|20|10|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), so numerous, so resolute, an
army will be bring into the field against Samaria, and so confident
is he of their success; it will be done as easily as the taking up
of a handful of dust; all shall be carried away, even the ground on
which the city stands. Thus confident is his pride, thus cruel is
his malice; this prepares him to be ruined, though such a prince
and such a people are unworthy of the satisfaction of seeing him
ruined.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p10">6. Ahab sends him a decent rebuke to his
assurance, dares not defy his menaces, only reminds him of the
uncertain turns of war (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.11" parsed="|1Kgs|20|11|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>): "Let not him that begins a war, and is girding on
his sword, his armour, his harness, boast of victory, or think
himself sure of it, <i>as if he had put it off,</i> and had come
home a conqueror." This was one of the wisest words that ever Ahab
spoke, and is a good item or momento to us all; it is folly to
boast beforehand of any day, since we know not what it may bring
forth (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.1" parsed="|Prov|27|1|0|0" passage="Pr 27:1">Prov. xxvii. 1</scripRef>), but
especially to boast of a day of battle, which may prove as much
against us as we promise ourselves it will be for us. It is
impolitic to despise an enemy, and to be too sure of victory is the
way to be beaten. Apply it to our spiritual conflicts. Peter fell
by his confidence. While we are here we are but girding on the
harness, and therefore must never boast as though we had put it
off. <i>Happy is the man that feareth always,</i> and is never off
his watch.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.xxi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.12-1Kgs.20.21" parsed="|1Kgs|20|12|20|21" passage="1Ki 20:12-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.20.12-1Kgs.20.21">
<h4 id="iKi.xxi-p10.4">Ben-hadad's Defeat. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p10.5">b. c.</span> 900.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xxi-p11">12 And it came to pass, when <i>Benhadad</i>
heard this message, as he <i>was</i> drinking, he and the kings in
the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set <i>yourselves in
array.</i> And they set <i>themselves in array</i> against the
city.   13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of
Israel, saying, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p11.1">Lord</span>,
Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it
into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I <i>am</i> the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p11.2">Lord</span>.   14 And Ahab said, By
whom? And he said, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p11.3">Lord</span>, <i>Even</i> by the young men of the
princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle?
And he answered, Thou.   15 Then he numbered the young men of
the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty
two: and after them he numbered all the people, <i>even</i> all the
children of Israel, <i>being</i> seven thousand.   16 And they
went out at noon. But Benhadad <i>was</i> drinking himself drunk in
the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that
helped him.   17 And the young men of the princes of the
provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him,
saying, There are men come out of Samaria.   18 And he said,
Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether
they be come out for war, take them alive.   19 So these young
men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the
army which followed them.   20 And they slew every one his
man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad
the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.   21
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots,
and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p12">The treaty between the besiegers and the
besieged being broken off abruptly, we have here an account of the
battle that ensued immediately.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p13">I. The Syrians, the besiegers, had their
directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, as
he was <i>drinking</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.12" parsed="|1Kgs|20|12|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), <i>drinking himself drunk</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.16" parsed="|1Kgs|20|16|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>) <i>with the kings in the
pavilions,</i> 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 this respect, better than these,
though these are bad enough. Had he not been very secure he would
not have sat to drink; and, had he not been intoxicated, he would
not have been so very secure. Security and sensuality went together
in the old world, and Sodom, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.17.26-Luke.17.29" parsed="|Luke|17|26|17|29" passage="Lu 17:26-29">Luke
xvii. 26</scripRef>, &amp;c. Ben-hadad's drunkenness was the
forerunner of his fall, as Belshazzar's was, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.1-Dan.5.31" parsed="|Dan|5|1|5|31" passage="Da 5:1-31">Dan v</scripRef>. How could he prosper that preferred
his pleasure before his business, and kept his kings to drink with
him when they should have been at their respective posts to fight
for him? In his drink, 1. He orders the town to be invested, the
engines fixed, and every thing got ready for the making of a
general attack (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.12" parsed="|1Kgs|20|12|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), but stirs not from his drunken club to see it done.
<i>Woe unto thee, O land! when thy king is</i> such <i>a child.</i>
2. When the besieged made a sally (and, by that time, he was far
gone) he gave orders to take them alive (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.18" parsed="|1Kgs|20|18|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), not to kill them, which might
have been done more easily and safely, but to seize them, which
gave them an opportunity of killing the aggressors; so imprudent
was he in the orders he gave, as well as unjust, in ordering them
to be taken prisoners though they came for peace and to renew the
treaty. Thus, as is usual, he drinks, and forgets the law, both the
policies and the justice of war.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p14">II. The Israelites, the besieged, had their
directions from an inspired prophet, one of the prophets of the
Lord, whom Ahab had hated and persecuted: <i>And behold a prophet,
even one, drew near to the king of Israel;</i> so it may be read,
<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.13" parsed="|1Kgs|20|13|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p15">1. Behold, and wonder, that God should send
a prophet with a kind and gracious message to so wicked a prince as
Ahab was; but he did it, (1.) For his people Israel's sake, who,
though wickedly degenerated, were the seed of Abraham his friend
and Jacob his chosen, the children of the covenant, and not yet
cast off. (2.) That he might magnify his mercy, in doing good to
one so evil and unthankful, might either bring him to repentance or
leave him the more inexcusable. (3.) That he might mortify the
pride of Ben-hadad and check his insolence. Ahab's idolatry shall
be punished hereafter, but Ben-hadad's haughtiness shall be
chastised now; for God resists the proud, and is pleased to say
that <i>he fears the wrath of the enemy,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.26-Deut.32.27" parsed="|Deut|32|26|32|27" passage="De 32:26,27">Deut. xxxii. 26, 27</scripRef>. There was but one
prophet perhaps to be had in Samaria, and he drew near with this
message, intimating that he had been forced to keep at a distance.
Ahab, in his prosperity, would not have borne the sight of him, but
now he bids him welcome, when none of the prophets of the groves
can give him any assistance. He enquired not for a prophet of the
Lord, but God sent one to him unasked, for he waits to be
gracious.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p16">2. Two things the prophet does:—(1.) He
animates Ahab with an assurance of victory, which was more than all
the elders of Israel could give him (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.8" parsed="|1Kgs|20|8|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), though they promised to stand
by him. This prophet, who is not named (for he <i>spoke in God's
name</i>), tells him from God that this very day the siege shall be
raised, and the army of the Syrians routed, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.13" parsed="|1Kgs|20|13|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. When the prophet said, <i>Thus
saith the Lord,</i> we may suppose Ahab began to tremble, expecting
a message of wrath; but he is revived when it proves a gracious
one. He is informed what use he ought to make of this blessed turn
of affairs: "<i>Thou shalt know that I am Jehovah,</i> the
sovereign Lord of all." God's foretelling a thing that was so very
unlikely proved that it was his own doing. (2.) He instructs him
what to do for the gaining of this victory. [1.] He must not stay
till the enemy attacked him, but must sally out upon them and
surprise them in their trenches. [2.] The persons employed must be
the <i>young men of the princes of the provinces,</i> the pages,
the footmen, who were few in number, only 232, utterly unacquainted
with war, and the unlikeliest men that could be thought of for such
a bold attempt; yet these must do it, these weak and foolish things
must be instruments of confounding the wise and strong, that, while
Ben-hadad's boasting is punished, Ahab's may be prevented and
precluded, and the <i>excellency of the power may appear to be of
God.</i> [3.] Ahab must himself so far testify his confidence in
the word of God as to command in person, though, in the eye of
reason, he exposed himself to the utmost danger by it. But it is
fit that those who have the benefit of God's promises should enter
upon them. Yet, [4.] He is allowed to make use of what other forces
he has at hand, to follow the blow, when these young men have
broken the ice. All he had in Samaria, or within call, were but
7000 men, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.15" parsed="|1Kgs|20|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. It
is observable that it is the same number with theirs that had not
<i>bowed the knee to Baal</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.19.18" parsed="|1Kgs|19|18|0|0" passage="1Ki 19:18"><i>ch.</i> xix. 18</scripRef>), though, it is likely,
not the same men.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p17">III. The issue was accordingly. The proud
Syrians were beaten, and the poor despised Israelites were more
than conquerors. The young men gave an alarm to the Syrians just at
noon, at high dinner-time, supported by what little force they had,
<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.16" parsed="|1Kgs|20|16|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Ben-hadad
despised them at first (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.18" parsed="|1Kgs|20|18|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>), but when they had, with unparalleled bravery and
dexterity, <i>slain every one his man,</i> and so put the army into
disorder, that proud man durst not face them, but mounted
immediately, drunk as he was, and made the best of his way,
<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.20" parsed="|1Kgs|20|20|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. See how God
<i>takes away the spirit of princes,</i> and makes himself
<i>terrible to the kings of the earth.</i> Now where are the silver
and gold he demanded of Ahab? Where are the handfuls of Samaria's
dust? Those that are most secure are commonly least courageous.
Ahab failed not to improve this advantage, but <i>slew the Syrians
with a great slaughter,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.21" parsed="|1Kgs|20|21|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. Note, God oftentimes makes one wicked man a scourge
to another.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.xxi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.22-1Kgs.20.30" parsed="|1Kgs|20|22|20|30" passage="1Ki 20:22-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.20.22-1Kgs.20.30">
<h4 id="iKi.xxi-p17.6">Ahab's Folly Reproved. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p17.7">b. c.</span> 900.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xxi-p18">22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel,
and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what
thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will
come up against thee.   23 And the servants of the king of
Syria said unto him, Their gods <i>are</i> gods of the hills;
therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them
in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.   24
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place,
and put captains in their rooms:   25 And number thee an army,
like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for
chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, <i>and</i>
surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their
voice, and did so.   26 And it came to pass at the return of
the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek,
to fight against Israel.   27 And the children of Israel were
numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the
children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of
kids; but the Syrians filled the country.   28 And there came
a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus
saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p18.1">Lord</span>, Because the Syrians
have said, The <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p18.2">Lord</span> <i>is</i> God of
the hills, but he <i>is</i> not God of the valleys, therefore will
I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall
know that I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p18.3">Lord</span>.
  29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days.
And <i>so</i> it was, that in the seventh day the battle was
joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred
thousand footmen in one day.   30 But the rest fled to Aphek,
into the city; and <i>there</i> a wall fell upon twenty and seven
thousand of the men <i>that were</i> left. And Benhadad fled, and
came into the city, into an inner chamber.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p19">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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p20">I. Ahab is admonished by a prophet to
prepare for another war, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.22" parsed="|1Kgs|20|22|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. It should seem, he was now secure, and looked but a
little way before him. Those that are careless of their souls are
often as careless of their outwards affairs; but the prophet (to
whom God made known the following counsels of the Syrians) told him
they would renew their attempt at the return of the year, hoping to
retrieve the honour they had lost and be avenged for the blow they
had received. He therefore bade him strengthen himself, put himself
into a posture of defence, and be ready to give them a warm
reception. God had decreed the end, but Ahab must use the means,
else he tempts God: "Help thyself, strengthen thyself, and God will
help and strengthen thee." The enemies of God's Israel are restless
in their malice, and, though they may take some breathing-time for
themselves, yet they are still <i>breathing out threatenings and
slaughter</i> against the church. It concerns us always to expect
assaults from our spiritual enemies, and therefore to mark and see
what we do.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p21">II. Ben-hadad is advised by those about him
concerning the operations of the next campaign. 1. They advised him
to <i>change his ground,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.23" parsed="|1Kgs|20|23|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. They took it for granted that
it was not Israel, but Israel's gods, that beat them (so great a
regard was then universally had to invisible powers); but they
speak very ignorantly of Jehovah—that he was <i>many,</i> whereas
he is one and his name one,—that he was <i>their</i> God only, a
local deity, peculiar to that nation, whereas he is the Creator and
ruler of all the world,—and that he was a God <i>of the hills</i>
only, because David their great prophet had said, <i>I will lift up
my eyes to the hills whence cometh my help</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.121.1" parsed="|Ps|121|1|0|0" passage="Ps 121:1">Ps. cxxi. 1</scripRef>), and that <i>his foundation was
in the holy mountain</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.87.1 Bible:Ps.78.54" parsed="|Ps|87|1|0|0;|Ps|78|54|0|0" passage="Ps 87:1,Ps 78:54">Ps.
lxxxvii. 1; lxxviii. 54</scripRef>), and much was said of his
<i>holy hill</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.15.1 Bible:Ps.24.3" parsed="|Ps|15|1|0|0;|Ps|24|3|0|0" passage="Ps 15:1,24:3">Ps. xv. 1; xxiv.
3</scripRef>); supposing him altogether such a one as their
imaginary deities, they fancied he was confined to his hills, and
could not or would not come down from them, and therefore an army
in the valley would be below his cognizance and from under his
protection. Thus vain were the <i>Gentiles in their
imaginations</i> concerning God, so wretchedly were <i>their
foolish hearts darkened,</i> and, <i>professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools.</i> 2. They advised him to change his
officers (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.24-1Kgs.20.25" parsed="|1Kgs|20|24|20|25" passage="1Ki 20:24,25"><i>v.</i> 24,
25</scripRef>), not to employ the kings, who were commanders by
birth, but captains rather, who were commanders by merit, who were
inured to war, would not affect to make a show like the kings, but
would go through with business. Let every man be employed in that
which he is brought up to and used to, and preferred to that which
he is fit for. Syria, it seems, was rich and populous, when it
could furnish recruits sufficient, after so great a defeat,
<i>horse for horse, chariot for chariot.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p22">III. Both armies take the field. Ben-hadad,
with his Syrians, encamps near Aphek, in the tribe of Asher. It is
probable that Asher was a city in his own possession, one of those
which his father had won (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.34" parsed="|1Kgs|20|34|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>), and the country about it was flat and level, and
fit for his purpose, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.26" parsed="|1Kgs|20|26|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>. Ahab, with his forces, posted himself at some
distance over against them, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.27" parsed="|1Kgs|20|27|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>. The disproportion of numbers was very remarkable.
<i>The children of Israel,</i> who were cantoned in two battalions,
looked like <i>two little flocks of kids,</i> their numbers small,
their equipage mean, and the figure they made contemptible; <i>but
the Syrians filled the country</i> with their numbers, their noise,
their chariots, their carriages, and their baggage.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p23">IV. Ahab is encouraged to fight the
Syrians, notwithstanding their advantages and confidence. A man of
God is sent to him, to tell him that this numerous army shall
<i>all be delivered into his hand</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.28" parsed="|1Kgs|20|28|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>), but not for his sake; be it
known to him, he is utterly unworthy for whom God will do this. God
would not do it because Ahab had praised God or prayed to him (we
do not read that he did either), but because the Syrians had
blasphemed God, and had said, He is <i>the God of the hills and not
of the valleys;</i> therefore God will do it in his own
vindication, and to preserve the honour of his own name. If the
Syrians had said, "Ahab and his people have forgotten their God,
and so put themselves out of his protection, and therefore we may
venture to attack them," God would probably have delivered Israel
into their hands; but when they go upon a presumption so very
injurious to the divine omnipotence, and the honour of him who is
Lord of all hosts, not only in hills and valleys, but in heaven and
earth, which they are willingly ignorant of, they shall be
undeceived, at the expense of that vast army which is so much their
pride and confidence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p24">V. After the armies had faced one another
seven days (the Syrians, it is likely, boasting, and the Israelites
trembling), they engaged, and the Syrians were totally routed,
100,000 men slain by the sword of Israel in the field of battle
(<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.29" parsed="|1Kgs|20|29|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), and 27,000
men, that thought themselves safe <i>under the walls of Aphek,</i>
a fortified city (from the walls of which the shooters might annoy
the enemy if they pursued them, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.11.24" parsed="|2Sam|11|24|0|0" passage="2Sa 11:24">2
Sam. xi. 24</scripRef>), found their bane where they hoped for
protection: the wall fell upon them, probably overthrown by an
earthquake, and, the cities of Canaan being walled up to heaven, it
reached a great way, and they were all killed, or hurt, or
overwhelmed with dismay. Ben-hadad, who thought his city Aphek
would hold out against the conquerors, finding it thus unwalled,
and the remnant of his forces dispirited and dispersed, had nothing
but secresy to rely upon for safety, and therefore hid himself in
<i>a chamber within a chamber,</i> lest the pursuers should seize
him. See how the greatest confidence often ends in the greatest
cowardice. "Now is the God of Israel the <i>God of the valleys</i>
or no?" He shall know now that he is forced <i>into an inner
chamber to hide himself,</i> see <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.22.25" parsed="|1Kgs|22|25|0|0" passage="1Ki 22:25"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 25</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.xxi-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.31-1Kgs.20.43" parsed="|1Kgs|20|31|20|43" passage="1Ki 20:31-43" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.20.31-1Kgs.20.43">
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xxi-p25">31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now,
we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel <i>are</i>
merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins,
and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel:
peradventure he will save thy life.   32 So they girded
sackcloth on their loins, and <i>put</i> ropes on their heads, and
came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I
pray thee, let me live. And he said, <i>Is</i> he yet alive? he
<i>is</i> my brother.   33 Now the men did diligently observe
whether <i>any thing would come</i> from him, and did hastily catch
<i>it:</i> and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go
ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him
to come up into the chariot.   34 And <i>Benhadad</i> said
unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will
restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my
father made in Samaria. Then <i>said Ahab,</i> I will send thee
away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent
him away.   35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets
said unto his neighbour in the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p25.1">Lord</span>, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused
to smite him.   36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast
not obeyed the voice of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p25.2">Lord</span>,
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.   37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite
me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he
wounded <i>him.</i>   38 So the prophet departed, and waited
for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his
face.   39 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.
  40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.
And the king of Israel said unto him, So <i>shall</i> thy judgment
<i>be;</i> thyself hast decided <i>it.</i>   41 And he hasted,
and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel
discerned him that he <i>was</i> of the prophets.   42 And he
said unto him, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xxi-p25.3">Lord</span>,
Because thou hast let go out of <i>thy</i> hand a man whom I
appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his
life, and thy people for his people.   43 And the king of
Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to
Samaria.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p26">Here is an account of what followed upon
the victory which Israel obtained over the Syrians.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p27">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, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.31" parsed="|1Kgs|20|31|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. The servants will put their
lives in their hands, and venture first, and their master will act
according as they speed. Their inducement to take this course is
the great reputation the kings of Israel had for clemency above any
of their neighbours: "We have heard that they are merciful kings,
not oppressive to their subjects that are under their power" (as
governments then went, that of Israel was one of the most easy and
gentle), "and therefore not cruel to their enemies when they lie at
their mercy." Perhaps they had this notion of the kings of Israel
because they had heard that the God of Israel proclaimed his name
<i>gracious and merciful,</i> and they concluded their kings would
make their God their pattern. It was an honour to the kings of
Israel to be thus represented, as indeed every Israelite is then
dressed as becomes him when he <i>puts on bowels of mercies.</i>
"They are merciful kings, therefore we may hope to find mercy upon
our submission." This encouragement poor sinners have to repent and
humble themselves before God. "Have we not heard that the God of
Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? Let us
therefore rend our hearts and return to him." <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:Joel.2.13" parsed="|Joel|2|13|0|0" passage="Joe 2:13">Joel ii. 13</scripRef>. That is evangelical repentance
which flows from an apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ;
<i>there is forgiveness with him.</i> Two things Ben-hadad's
servants undertake to represent to Ahab:—1. Their master a
penitent; for they <i>girded sackcloth on their loins,</i> as
mourners, and <i>put ropes on their heads,</i> as condemned
criminals going to execution, pretending to be sorry that they had
invaded his country and disturbed his repose, and owning that they
deserved to be hanged for it. Here they are ready to do penance for
it, and throw themselves at the feet of him whom they had injured.
Many pretend to repent of their wrong-doing, when it does not
succeed, who, if they had prospered in it, would have justified it
and gloried in it. 2. Their master a beggar, a beggar for his life:
<i>Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, "I pray thee, let me live,</i>
<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p27.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.32" parsed="|1Kgs|20|32|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. Though I
live a perpetual exile from my own country, and captive in this,
yet, upon any terms, <i>let me live.</i>" What a great change is
here, (1.) In his condition! How has he fallen from the height of
power and prosperity to the depths of disgrace and distress, and
all the miseries of poverty and slavery! See the uncertainty of
human affairs; such turns are they subject to that the spoke which
was uppermost may soon come to be undermost. (2.) In his temper—in
the beginning of the chapter hectoring, swearing, and threatening,
and none more high in his demands, but here crouching and whining
and none more low in his requests! How meanly does he beg his life
at the hand of him upon whom he had there been trampling! The most
haughty in prosperity are commonly most abject in adversity: an
even spirit will be the same in both conditions. See how God
glorified himself when he <i>looks upon proud men and abases them,
and hides them in the dust together,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p27.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.40.11-Job.40.13" parsed="|Job|40|11|40|13" passage="Job 40:11-13">Job xl. 11-13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p28">II. Ahab's foolish acceptance of his
submission, and the league he suddenly made with him upon it. He
was proud to be thus courted by him whom he had feared, and
enquired for him with great tenderness: <i>Is he yet alive? He is
my brother,</i> brother-king, though not brother-Israelite: and
Ahab valued himself more upon his royalty than on his religion, and
others accordingly. "<i>Is he thy brother, Ahab?</i> Did he use
thee like a brother when he sent thee that barbarous message?
<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.5-1Kgs.20.6" parsed="|1Kgs|20|5|20|6" passage="1Ki 20:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Would he
have called thee brother if he had been the conqueror? Would he now
have called himself <i>thy servant</i> if he had not been reduced
to the utmost strait? Canst thou suffer thyself to be thus imposed
upon by a forced and counterfeit submission?" This word
<i>brother</i> they caught at (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.33" parsed="|1Kgs|20|33|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), and were thereby encouraged
to go and fetch him to the king. He that calls him <i>brother</i>
will let him live. Let poor penitents hear God, in his word,
calling them <i>children</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p28.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.20" parsed="|Jer|31|20|0|0" passage="Jer 31:20">Jer.
xxxi. 20</scripRef>), catch at it, echo to it, and call him
<i>Father.</i> Ben-hadad, upon his submission, shall not only be
honourably conveyed (he <i>took him up into the chariot</i>), but
treated with as an ally (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p28.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.34" parsed="|1Kgs|20|34|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>): he <i>made a covenant with him,</i> not consulting
God's prophets, or the elders of the land, or himself, concerning
what was fit to be insisted on, but, as if Ben-hadad had been
conqueror, he shall make his own terms. He might now have demanded
some of Ben-hadad's cities, when all of them lay at the mercy of
his victorious army; but was content with the restitution of his
own. He might now have demanded the stores, and treasures, and
magazines of Damascus, to augment the wealth and strength of his
own kingdom, but was content with a poor liberty, at his own
expense, to build streets there, a point of honour and no
advantage, or no more than what the kings of Syria had had in
Samaria, though they had never had so much power as he had now to
support the demand of it. With this covenant he sent him away,
without so much as reproving him for his blasphemous reflections
upon the God of Israel, for whose honour Ahab had no concern. Note,
There are those on whom success is ill bestowed; they know not how
to serve God, or their generation, or even their own true
interests, with their prosperity. <i>Let favour be shown to the
wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xxi-p29">III. The reproof given to Ahab for his
clemency to Ben-hadad and his covenant with him. It was given him
by a prophet, in the name of the Lord, the Jews say by Micaiah, and
not unlikely, for Ahab complains of him (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.22.8" parsed="|1Kgs|22|8|0|0" passage="1Ki 22:8"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 8</scripRef>) that he used to
<i>prophesy evil concerning him.</i> This prophet designed to
reprove Ahab by a parable, that he might oblige him to condemn
himself, as Nathan and the woman of Tekoa did David. To make his
parable the more plausible, he finds it necessary to put himself
into the posture of a wounded soldier. 1. With some difficulty he
gets himself wounded, for he would not wound himself with his own
hands. He commanded one of his brother prophets, his
<i>neighbour,</i> or <i>companion</i> (for so the word signifies),
to smite him, and this in God's name (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.35" parsed="|1Kgs|20|35|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>), but finds him not so willing
to give the blow as he is to receive it; he refused to smite him:
others, he thought, were forward enough to smite prophets, they
need not smite one another. We cannot but think it was from a good
principle he declined it. "If it must be done, let another do it,
not I; I cannot find it in my heart to strike my friend." Good men
can much more easily receive a wrongful blow than give one; yet
because he disobeyed an express command of God (which was so much
the worse if he was himself a prophet), like that other disobedient
prophet (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.13.24" parsed="|1Kgs|13|24|0|0" passage="1Ki 13:24"><i>ch.</i> xiii.
24</scripRef>), he was presently <i>slain by a lion,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.36" parsed="|1Kgs|20|36|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>. This was intended, not
only to show, in general, how provoking disobedience is (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.5" osisRef="Bible:Col.3.6" parsed="|Col|3|6|0|0" passage="Col 3:6">Col. iii. 6</scripRef>), but to intimate to Ahab
(who no doubt was told the story) that if a good prophet were thus
punished for sparing his friend and God's, when God said,
<i>Smite,</i> of much sorer punishment should a wicked king be
thought worthy, who spared his enemy and God's, when God said,
<i>Smite. Shall mortal man</i> pretend to <i>be more just than God,
more pure</i> or more compassionate <i>than his Maker?</i> We must
be merciful as he is merciful, and not otherwise. The next he met
with made no difficulty of smiting him (<i>Volentinon fit
injuria</i>—<i>He that asks for an injury is not wronged by
it</i>) and did it so that he <i>wounded him,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.37" parsed="|1Kgs|20|37|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>. He fetched blood with
the blow, probably in his face. 2. Wounded as he was, and disguised
with ashes that he might not be known to be a prophet, he made his
application to the king in a story wherein he charged himself with
such a crime as the king was now guilty of in sparing Ben-hadad,
and waited for the king's judgment upon it. The case in short is
this—A prisoner taken in the battle was committed to his custody
by a man (we may suppose one that had authority over him as his
superior officer) with this charge, <i>If he be missing, thy life
shall be for his life,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.7" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.39" parsed="|1Kgs|20|39|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:39"><i>v.</i>
39</scripRef>. The prisoner has made his escape through his
carelessness. Can the chancery in the king's breast relieve him
against his captain, who demands his life in lieu of the
prisoner's? "By no means," says the king, "thou shouldst either not
have undertaken the trust or been more careful and faithful to it;
there is no remedy (<i>Currat lex</i>—<i>Let the law take its
course</i>), thou hast forfeited thy bond, and execution must go
out upon it: <i>So shall thy doom be, thou thyself hast decided
it.</i>" Now the prophet has what he would have, puts off his
disguise, and is known by Ahab himself to be a prophet (<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.8" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.41" parsed="|1Kgs|20|41|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>) and plainly tells him,
"<i>Thou art the man.</i> Is it <i>my</i> doom? No, it is <i>thine;
thou thyself hast decided it.</i> Out of thy own mouth art thou
judged. God, thy superior and commander-in-chief, delivered into
thy hands one plainly marked for destruction both by his own pride
and God's providence, and thou hast not carelessly lost him, but
wittingly and willingly dismissed him, and so hast been false to
thy trust, and lost the end of thy victory; expect therefore no
other than that <i>thy life shall go for his life,</i> which thou
hast spared" (and so it did, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.9" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.22.35" parsed="|1Kgs|22|35|0|0" passage="1Ki 22:35"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 35</scripRef>), "and thy <i>people for
his people,</i> whom likewise thou hast spared," and so they did
afterwards, <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.32-2Kgs.10.33" parsed="|2Kgs|10|32|10|33" passage="2Ki 10:32,33">2 Kings x. 32,
33</scripRef>. When their other sins brought them low, this came
into the account. There is a time when <i>keeping back the sword
from blood</i> is <i>doing the work of the Lord deceitfully,</i>
<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.11" osisRef="Bible:Jer.48.10" parsed="|Jer|48|10|0|0" passage="Jer 48:10">Jer. xlviii. 10</scripRef>. Foolish
pity spoils the city. 3. We are told how Ahab resented this
reproof. He <i>went to his house heavy and displeased</i>
(<scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.12" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.43" parsed="|1Kgs|20|43|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>), not truly
penitent, or seeking to undo what he had done amiss, but enraged at
the prophet, exasperated against God (as if he had been too severe
in the sentence passed upon him), and yet vexed at himself, every
way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. He who by his
providence had mortified the pride of one king, by his word cast a
damp upon the triumphs of another. <i>Be wise therefore, O you
kings! and be instructed to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice
with trembling,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xxi-p29.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.10-Ps.2.11" parsed="|Ps|2|10|2|11" passage="Ps 2:10,11">Ps. ii. 10,
11</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>