1 Kings 20:26

26 And it cometh to pass at the turn of the year, that Ben-Hadad inspecteth the Aramaeans, and goeth up to Aphek, to battle with 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 `And this thing do thou: turn aside the kings each out of his place, and set captains in their stead;

25 and thou, number to thee a force as the force that is fallen from thee, and horse for horse, and chariot for chariot, and we fight with them in the plain; are we not stronger than they?' and he hearkeneth to their voice, and doth so.

26 And it cometh to pass at the turn of the year, that Ben-Hadad inspecteth the Aramaeans, and goeth up to Aphek, to battle with Israel,

27 and the sons of Israel have been inspected, and supported, and go to meet them, and the sons of Israel encamp before them, like two flocks of goats, and the Aramaeans have filled the land.

28 And there cometh nigh a man of God, and speaketh unto the king of Israel, and saith, `Thus said Jehovah, Because that the Aramaeans have said, God of hills [is] Jehovah, and He [is] not God of valleys -- I have given the whole of this great multitude into thy hand, and ye have known that I [am] Jehovah.'