Kings I 20:26

26 And Saul said nothing on that day, for he said, It seems to have fallen out that he is not clean, because he has not purified himself.

Kings I 20:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:26

And it came to pass at the return of the year
In the spring, or autumn, as some think, (See Gill on 2 Samuel 11:1)

that Benhadad numbered the Syrians;
took a muster of his army, to see if he had got the number he had before:

and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel;
not that in Judah, ( Joshua 15:53 ) , rather that in Asher, ( Joshua 19:30 ) , but it seems to be that which Adrichomius ^F12 places in Issachar, near to the famous camp of Esdraelon, or valley of Jezreel, where it is probable the king of Syria intended to have fought; the battle; and some travellers, as he observes, say ^F13, the ruins of that city are still shown in that great camp or plain, not far from Gilboa, to the east of Mount Carmel, and five miles from Tabor; according to Bunting ^F14, it was fourteen miles from Samaria; but it may be Aphaca near Mount Lebanon, and the river Adonis ^F15, is meant.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 35.
F13 Brocard. & Breidenbach. in ib.
F14 Travels p. 164.
F15 Vid. Sozomen. Hist. l. 2. c. 5.

Kings I 20:26 In-Context

24 So David hides himself in the field, and the month arrives, and the king comes to the table to eat.

25 And he sat upon his seat as in former times, even on his seat by the wall, and he went before Jonathan; and Abenner sat on one side of Saul, and the place of David was empty.

26 And Saul said nothing on that day, for he said, It seems to have fallen out that he is not clean, because he has not purified himself.

27 And it came to pass on the morrow, on the second day of the month, that the place of David was empty; and Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jessae attended both yesterday and today at the table?

28 And Jonathan answered Saul, and said to him, David asked leave of me to go as far as Bethleem his city;