In this chapter, the Lord assures a victory to King Ahab over the king of Aram, but after the battles -- a messenger of God reveals troublesome news to King Ahab for his disobedience. The chapter begins, “Now King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the Israelite capital, and launched attacks against it. Ben-hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel: “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and so are the best of your wives and children!’”
“All Right, my lord,” Ahab replied. “All that I have is yours!” (Wow! Without a fight, he’s prepared to just give the women and children away?)
Soon Ben-hadad’s messengers returned again and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children. But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your people. They will take away everything you consider valuable!”
Then Ahab summoned all the leaders of the land and said to them, “Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed when he sent this message demanding that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold.” “Don’t give in to any more demands,” the leaders and people advised. (Why wouldn't he ask for more? It only makes sense, since the king was so willing to accommodate his first request.)
So Ahab told the messengers from Ben-hadad, “Say this to my lord the king: ‘I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but this last demand of yours I simply cannot meet.’” So the messengers returned to Ben-hadad with the response. Then Ben-hadad sent this message to Ahab: “May the gods bring tragedy on me, and even worse than that, if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide more than a handful for each of my soldiers.”
The king of Israel sent back this answer: “A warrior still dressing for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.” This reply of Ahab’s reached Ben- hadad and the other kings as they were drinking in their tents. “Prepare to attack!” Ben-hadad commanded his officers. So they prepared to attack the city.
Then a prophet came to see King Ahab and told him, “This is what the Lord says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Ahab asked, “How will he do it?” And the prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it.” “Should we attack first?” Ahab asked. “Yes,” the prophet answered. (1 Kings 20:1-14)
The Israelite soldiers went out and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter. However, the prophet told King Ahab to get ready for another attack from them next spring.
Ben-hadad’s officers blamed their loss on the opinion that the Israelite gods are of the hills, and are useless in the plains. So the following spring, as the prophet indicated, the Aramean army, again, marched out against Israel. “But the Israelite army looked like two little flocks of goats in comparison to the vast Aramean forces that filled the countryside!
Then the man of God went to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: The Arameans have said that the Lord is a god of the hills and not of the plains. So I will help you defeat this vast army. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (1 Kings 20:27-28)
Again, the Israelites conquered the Arameans, Ben-hadad surrenders and begs for his life, and King Ahab eventually sets Ben-hadad free. This was a huge mistake by King Ahab, and the chapter ends with a message from the Lord: “Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed, now you must die in his place, and your people will die instead of his people.” So the king of Israel went home to Samaria angry and sullen.” (1 Kings 20:42-43)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us remain obedient to you, recognizing your quiet voice and following your word and your instructions. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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