1 Kings 20:38

38 The prophet went and stood before the king by the road. He disguised himself by putting a bandage 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 So he said to his friend, "Because you didn't obey the LORD's voice, a lion will attack you as soon as you leave me." And as the friend left the prophet, a lion found him and attacked him.

37 Then the prophet found another man and said, "Please strike me." He hit the prophet, and the attack left a wound.

38 The prophet went and stood before the king by the road. He disguised himself by putting a bandage over his eyes.

39 When the king passed by, the prophet called out to the king, "Your servant was in the middle of the battle when someone brought a prisoner. ‘Guard this man,' he said. ‘If he escapes it will be your life for his—that, or you will owe me a kikkar of silver.'

40 Your servant got busy doing this and that, and the prisoner disappeared." Israel's king replied, "It appears you have decided your own fate."