1 Kings 20:26

26 It happened at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

1 Kings 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.

1 Kings 20:26 In-Context

24 Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;

25 and number you an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. He listened to their voice, and did so.

26 It happened at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

27 The children of Israel were mustered, and were provisioned, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

28 A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Because the Syrians have said, Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.