1 Kings 20:38

38 And the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with a sash over his eyes.

1 Kings 20:38 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:38

So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way,
&c.] 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 easily have got it off, as in ( 1 Kings 20:41 ) .

1 Kings 20:38 In-Context

36 Then said he to him, Because thou hast not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, behold, when thou departest from me, the lion will slay thee. And when he had departed from him, the lion found him and slew him.

37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him violently, and wounded [him].

38 And the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with a sash over his eyes.

39 And as the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me and said, Keep this man; if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or 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 to him, So [is] thy judgment: thyself hast decided [it].