Bible Commentary

And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:28”

And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 27. were all present ] The R.V. has adopted the marginal rendering of A.V. were victualled. This is the rendering … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:27”

And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 26. numbered ] R.V. mustered, and so in the next verse. See above on 1Ki 20:15. up to Aphek ] There were several places of this name. One was at … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:26”

And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast 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. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. 25. and number thee an army ] Here we have … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:25”

And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 24. Take the kings away ] That is, the thirty and two, whose attendance on the court, and the wassail consequent on their presence, had done much harm to the expedition. We need not suppose … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:24”

And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely, we shall be stronger than they. 23. their gods are gods ] R.V. their god is a god. The LXX. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:23”

And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. 22 34. The Syrians prepare another army, and are again defeated. ahab makes a covenant with … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:22”

And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. 21. And the king of Israel went out ] Ahab’s part appears to have been a small one. He seems to have given directions to the young men, and to those that followed them, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:21”

And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen. 20. on a horse with the horsemen ] The distinction usually drawn between the two Hebrew nouns in this expression is that the first word describes a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:20”

So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. 19. So these young men, &c.] The R.V. keeps the order of the original and renders So these went out of the city, the young men, &c. The LXX. has made this clause part … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:19”