Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:41
And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he [was] of the prophets.
41. the ashes away from his face ] Here R.V. (as in 38) the head band from his eyes.
that he was of the prophets ] It is clear that the prophets were distinguished by dress, or in some evident manner, so that they were easy of recognition. Perhaps the hairy prophetic mantle was the usual garb, and that on the present occasion the prophet had some wrapping thrown over that, which he laid aside along with the head band, and then the king recognised his character.
out of thy hand ] The LXX. represents the pronoun, which is omitted in the Hebrew text, perhaps only by a slip of the scribe.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He was of the prophets – Josephus and others conjecture that this prophet was Micaiah, the son of Imlah (but compare 1Ki 20:13 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 41. Took the ashes away] He took the bandage from off his eyes: see on 1Kg 20:38. It was no doubt of thin cloth, through which he could see, while it served for a sufficient disguise.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Either,
1. By his face, which was known either to the king, or to some of his courtiers there present. Or,
2. By the change of the manner of his address to him, which now was such as the prophets used.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he hasted, and took away the ashes from his face,…. Took off the linen cloth from his eyes, unveiled or unmasked himself:
and the king of Israel discerned him, that he was of the prophets; he knew him again, having seen him once or twice before; otherwise there could be nothing in his face that could discover him to be a prophet, rather he was to be known by his habit.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Then the disciple of the prophets drew the bandage quickly from his eyes, so that the king recognised him as a prophet, and announced to him the word of the Lord: “Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man of my ban (i.e., Benhadad, who has fallen under my ban), thy life shall stand for his life, and thy people for his people,” i.e., the destruction to which Benhadad was devoted will fall upon thee and thy people. The expression (man of my ban) showed Ahab clearly enough what ought to have been done with Benhadad. A person on whom the ban was pronounced was to be put to death (Lev 27:29).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
1Ki 20:41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he [was] of the prophets.
Ver. 41. And the king of Israel discerned him. ] He had known him before for a prophet, and was ill-affected unto him for his plain dealing. 1Ki 22:8
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the ashes away: 1Ki 20:38, 2Sa 13:19, Job 2:8, Jer 6:26
Reciprocal: 1Ki 19:10 – I only 1Ki 22:8 – yet one man Pro 28:4 – but Amo 2:11 – I raised
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 20:41. And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face Threw off his disguise immediately, by pulling off the cloth or bandage wherewith his face, or a part of it, had been concealed. And the king of Israel discerned him Either by his face, which was known to the king, or to some of the courtiers there present: or, by the manner of his address to him, which, being changed, was now such as the prophets generally used.