MPV Commentary

The Syrians Are Slain.

A prophet appeared to Ahab, announcing that God would deliver the Syrian army into his hand through a small band of men (1Ki 20:13). Two hundred thirty-two young men went out towards the enemy's camp, followed by seven thousand more who were ready to reinforce them if needed. Ben-hadad and his leaders were already drunk at midday, and when informed of the advancing company, they ordered them to be taken alive, regardless of their intentions.

However, the young men struck down their intended captors with ease, making a terrible slaughter among them. The sight of the seven thousand who rushed forward to join the fight created panic in the Syrian army, which immediately fled. Ben-hadad escaped on a fast horse, surrounded by his guards.

This glorious victory was granted so that Ahab and his people might know (1Ki 20:13) that God is the Lord. However, there is no record of them acknowledging this or offering sacrifices in gratitude.

The same prophet who had predicted the victory reappeared to warn Ahab to take precautions against a renewal of hostilities in the following campaign (1Ki 20:22). As the prophet had foretold, Ben-hadad's attendants ascribed their defeat to two causes. Some blamed it on the fact that they considered the gods of Israel to be "gods of the hills," and therefore ineffective when fighting on the plains. Others attributed it to the presence of tributary kings who had fled first.

Ben-hadad renewed his invasion of Israel the next spring by besieging Aphek in the valley of Jezreel (1Ki 20:23). A prophet was sent to the small Israelite army to announce their victory, convincing the Syrians that God's power extended everywhere, not just on the hills. After seven days, the two armies clashed in an open battle. One hundred thousand Syrians were killed, and those who fled took refuge in Aphek.

The city walls gave way under the weight of the fugitives, burying twenty-seven thousand people in the ruins. Ben-hadad managed to escape and hid in a harem or inner chamber, but eventually sought mercy from Ahab.

Ahab paraded his clemency by calling Ben-hadad "his brother" and inviting him to sit in the royal chariot (1Ki 20:32). He dismissed Ben-hadad with a covenant of peace, even offering to assign streets for him in Damascus (1Ki 20:34), implying that he would be allowed to live there under Jewish law. This misplaced kindness exposed Ahab to criticism and ultimately led to his downfall, much like Saul's (1Sa 15:9).