1 Kings 20:27-37

27 And the children of Israel were numbered and were all present, and went against them; and the children of Israel pitched camp before them like two little flocks of kids, but the Syrians filled the country.
28 And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel and said, "Thus saith the LORD: `Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys," therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.'"
29 And they pitched camp one opposite the other seven days. And so 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 there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men who were left. And Benhadad fled and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
31 And his servants said unto him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are 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. Perhaps he will save thy life."
32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins and put 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, "Is he yet alive? He is my brother."
33 Now the men diligently observed whether any thing would come from him, and hastily caught it; 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 Benhadad said unto him, "The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thyself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Then said Ahab, "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 neighbor in the word of the LORD, "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 LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he had 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.

1 Kings 20:27-37 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 20

This chapter relates the siege of Samaria by the king of Syria, and his insolent demand of Ahab's wives, children, and riches, 1Ki 20:1-12, the sally made out upon him, at the direction of the prophet, and the route made of the Syrian army, 1Ki 20:13-21, the return of the Syrian army the next year, when there was a pitched battle between them and Israel, in which the former were entirely defeated, 1Ki 20:22-30, the peace Ahab made with the king of Syria, 1Ki 20:31-34, and the reproof one of the sons of the prophets gave him for it, which made him very uneasy, 1Ki 20:35-43.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.