1 Kings 20:38

38 Then the prophet went and {waited} for the king along the road and disguised himself with a headband 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 He said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, look, as you now are going from me, a lion will kill you." When he went from beside him, the lion found him and killed him.

37 Then he found another man and said, "Strike me, please," so the man struck him sharply and wounded him.

38 Then the prophet went and {waited} for the king along the road and disguised himself with a headband over his eyes.

39 As the king [was] passing by, he called to the king and said, "Your servant went out in the thick of the battle, and suddenly a man turned and brought a man to me and said, 'Guard this man. If by any means he should be missed, it will be your life in his place, or you shall pay a talent of silver.'

40 It happened that your servant {was busy here and there}, and he {disappeared}." Then the king said to him, "Your own judgment has been determined."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "stood"
• [b]. Hebrew "the"