Read the Passage: 1 Kings 20

Defeat of the Syrians (20:1–22)

The content of 1 Kings 20 is unexpected, as this chapter begins with Israel defeating the Syrian army. Note the following: at 1 Kings 19:18 God revealed He had only 7,000 followers in Israel, at 1 Kings 19:16 God instructed Elijah to appoint a new king in Israel, and the prophet Elijah—the main character since 1 Kings 17—does not appear in this chapter. These facts seem at odds with an Israelite military victory. Yet, it seems this chapter was included here to show God’s mercy, as well as to demonstrate why the kings of Israel and Syria were being replaced. 1 Kings 20:1–12 reports that Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, had engaged in a siege against Samaria. The text notes that Ahab was willing to pay tribute to Ben-Hadad, in the form of surrendering his silver, gold, wives, and children. Yet, Ahab and the elders of the land were unwilling to let Ben-Hadad plunder the palace.

Ahab’s refusal to allow the Syrians to plunder his palace, as well as his snarky reply to Ben-Hadad, provoked the Syrians to prepare to destroy Samaria. Surprisingly, then, at 1 Kings 20:13 an unnamed prophet appeared and told Ahab that God would soon deliver the Syrian army into his hand. Again, note that this prophecy of victory was completely unexpected, for Ahab was clearly evil, God had few followers in Israel, and there is no indication that anyone asked God for help. Indeed, sometimes God works miraculously without being asked for assistance. The disclosed rationale for this victory was, “You shall know that I am the Lord” (1 Kings 20:13). In 1 Kings 20:14–22 God spoke through this unnamed prophet, graciously disclosing a battle strategy to defeat Ben-Hadad. God then worked through a small group of young Jewish leaders to defeat the Syrian army.

Release of Ben-Hadad (20:23–34)

One might assume that Israel’s miraculous victory over Syria (cf. 1 Kings 20:13–21), coupled with God’s warning about a future attack (cf. 1 Kings 20:22), would have moved Ahab and the nation toward God. Yet, as 1 Kings 20:23–34 demonstrates, it does not appear that any significant spiritual progress was made. Just as God had predicted, the following spring the Syrians did attack Israel. This passage records the Syrian reasoned that Israel’s gods were limited to the hills around Samaria; thus, they organized an attack on the coastal plain, near Aphek in Galilee. It is curious that although Israel had been warned about this attack, they did not seem prepared for it, as they were “like two little flocks of goats” (1 Kings 20:27a). Furthermore, while the Syrians had suffered a very great slaughter in Israel the previous year, they now “filled the countryside” (1 Kings 20:27b).

Next, for the second time in two years, an unnamed man of God appeared unexpectedly before Ahab. This prophet informed the king that God would soon give Israel victory over the Syrians so that “you shall know that I am the Lord” (1 Kings 20:28). In the battle that ensued, Israel’s small force thoroughly defeated the Syrians, as more than 127,000 soldiers were killed and Ben-Hadad was captured. Recall that a probable reason for this narrative is to demonstrate Ahab’s wickedness. Indeed, the king’s corruption is evident, as in this passage God delivered Ben-Hadad—an enemy of God’s people—into Ahab’s hand. Yet, Ahab referred to Ben-Hadad as his “brother” (1 Kings 20:32) and allowed him to depart in peace with a signed treaty. Moreover, the text hints at the materialistic reason Ahab released Ben-Hadad—that is, he hoped for future economic gains in Damascus.

Condemnation of Ahab (20:35–43)

Since Ahab’s evil nature (cf. 1 Kings 16:30) and future destruction (cf. 1 Kings 19:16) had already been mentioned, his foolish release of Ben-Hadad is not totally unexpected. In 1 Kings 20:35–43, for the third time, God sent an unnamed prophet to confront Ahab about his sin of releasing Ben-Hadad. In this narrative the prophet tells a story to Ahab about a soldier losing a prisoner of war. The lesson communicated by this prophetic parable is clear: Just as a soldier was required to forfeit his life if he lost a prisoner of war, so Ahab would now forfeit his life for “losing” Ben-Hadad. Observe the words that God used to describe Ben-Hadad in this passage, as God refers to the Syrian king as “a man whom I appointed to destruction” (1 Kings 20:42). In this regard, Ahab and Ben-Hadad were indeed brothers, for they would both soon die and be replaced by others.

Application Questions:

1. Why was Ahab willing to sacrifice his treasures and family, but unwilling to let Ben-Hadad plunder his palace?
2. Have you ever witnessed God work in you or others in an unexpected, surprising, or sudden manner?
3. What are the implications of Ps. 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein”?
4. Given the miraculous nature of two Israelite victories over Syria, why did Ahab release Ben-Hadad?
5. In 1 Kings 20, why does God use an unnamed prophet three times, rather than Elijah or another known prophet?