1 Kings 20:38

38 So the prophet departed , and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

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 unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, 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 him.

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 shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.