Teks -- 1 Kings 20:1-13 (NET)

Ben Hadad Invades Israel

20:1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria and besieged and attacked it. 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 20:3 He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’” 20:4 The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.” 20:5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 20:6 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.” 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 20:8 All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.” 20:9 So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’” So the messengers went back and gave their report. 20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 20:11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.” 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.

The Lord Delivers Israel

20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: 1Ki 20:1 - Gathered his host

To war against Israel: wherein his design was to enlarge the conquest which his father had made, but God's design was to punish Israel for their apostacy and idolatry.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:3 - Thy silver, &c.

_I challenge them as my own, and expect to have them forthwith delivered, if thou expect peace with me.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:4 - The king said

I do so far comply with thy demand, that I will own thee for my Lord, and myself for thy vassal, and will hold my wives, and children, and estate, as by thy favour, and with an acknowledgment.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:5 - Saying, &c.

_Although I did before demand not only the dominion of thy treasures, and wives, and children, as thou mayst seem to understand me, but also the actual portion of them; wherewith I would then have been contented.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:6 - Yet, &c.

_Yet now I will not accept of those terms, but together with thy royal treasures, I expect all the treasures of thy servants or subjects; nor will I wait 'till thou deliver them to me, but I will send my servants into the city, and they shall search out and take away all thou art fond of, and this to prevent fraud and delay; and then I will grant thee a peace.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:7 - Seeketh mischief

Though he pretended peace, upon these terms propounded, it is apparent by those additional demands, that he intends nothing less than our utter ruin.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:7 - I denied not

I granted his demands in the sense before mentioned.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:10 - And said, &c.

_If I do not assault thy city with so numerous an army, as shall turn all thy city into an heap of dust, and shall be sufficient to carry it all away, though every soldier take but one handful of it.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:11 - Let not him, &c.

_Do not triumph before the victory, for the events of war are uncertain.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:13 - And behold, &c.

_God, though forsaken and neglected by Ahab, prevents him with his gracious promise of help: that Ahab and the idolatrous Israelites, might hereby be fully convinced, or left without excuse, that Ben - hadad's intolerable pride, and contempt of God, and of his people, might be punished: and that the remnant of his prophets and people who were involved in the same calamity with the rest of the Israelites, might be preserved and delivered.

Wesley: 1Ki 20:13 - I am the Lord

And not Baal, because I will deliver thee, which he cannot do.

JFB: 1Ki 20:1 - Ben-hadad the king of Syria

This monarch was the son of that Ben-hadad who, in the reign of Baasha, made a raid on the northern towns of Galilee (1Ki 15:20). The thirty-two kings that were confederate with him were probably tributary princes. The ancient kings of Syria and Phœnicia ruled only over a single city, and were independent of each other, except when one great city, as Damascus, acquired the ascendency, and even then they were allied only in time of war. The Syrian army encamped at the gates and besieged the town of Samaria.|| 09411||1||11||0||@Thus said Ben-hadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine==--To this message sent him during the siege, Ahab returned a tame and submissive answer, probably thinking it meant no more than an exaction of tribute. But the demand was repeated with greater insolence; and yet, from the abject character of Ahab, there is reason to believe he would have yielded to this arrogant claim also, had not the voice of his subjects been raised against it. Ben-hadad's object in these and other boastful menaces was to intimidate Ahab. But the weak sovereign began to show a little more spirit, as appears in his abandoning "my lord the king" for the single "tell him," and giving him a dry but sarcastic hint to glory no more till the victory is won. Kindling into a rage at the cool defiance, Ben-hadad gave orders for the immediate sack of the city.

JFB: 1Ki 20:12 - as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions

Booths made of branches of trees and brushwood; which were reared for kings in the camp, as they still are for Turkish pashas or agas in their expeditions [KEIL].

JFB: 1Ki 20:12 - Set yourselves in array

Invest the city.

JFB: 1Ki 20:13-21 - behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab

Though the king and people of Israel had highly offended Him, God had not utterly cast them off. He still cherished designs of mercy towards them, and here, though unasked, gave them a signal proof of His interest in them, by a prophet's animating announcement that the Lord would that day deliver the mighty hosts of the enemy into his hand by means of a small, feeble, inadequate band. Conformably to the prophet's instructions, two hundred thirty-two young men went boldly out towards the camp of the enemy, while seven thousand more, apparently volunteers, followed at some little distance, or posted themselves at the gate, to be ready to reinforce those in front if occasion required it. Ben-hadad and his vassals and princes were already, at that early hour--scarcely midday--deep in their cups; and though informed of this advancing company, yet confiding in his numbers, or it may be, excited with wine, he ordered with indifference the proud intruders to be taken alive, whether they came with peaceful or hostile intentions. It was more easily said than done; the young men smote right and left, making terrible havoc among their intended captors; and their attack, together with the sight of the seven thousand, who soon rushed forward to mingle in the fray, created a panic in the Syrian army, who immediately took up flight. Ben-hadad himself escaped the pursuit of the victors on a fleet horse, surrounded by a squadron of horse guards. This glorious victory, won so easily, and with such a paltry force opposed to overwhelming numbers, was granted that Ahab and his people might know (1Ki 20:13) that God is the Lord. But we do not read of this acknowledgment being made, or of any sacrifices being offered in token of their national gratitude.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:1 - Ben-hadad

Ben-hadad - Several MSS., and some early printed editions, have Ben-hadar, or the son of Hadar, as the Septuagint. He is supposed to be the same whom Asa stirred up against the king of Israel, 1Ki 15:18; or, as others, his son or grandson

Clarke: 1Ki 20:1 - Thirty and two kings

Thirty and two kings - Tributary chieftains of Syria and the adjacent countries. In former times every town and city had its independent chieftain. Both the Septuagint and Josephus place this war after the history of Naboth.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:4 - I am thine, and all that I have

I am thine, and all that I have - He probably hoped by this humiliation to soften this barbarous king, and perhaps to get better conditions.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:6 - Whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes

Whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes - It is not easy to discern in what this second requisition differed from the first; for surely his silver, gold, wives, and children, were among his most pleasant or desirable things. Jarchi supposes that it was the book of the law of the Lord which Ben-hadad meant, and of which he intended to deprive Israel. It is however evident that Ben-hadad meant to sack the whole city, and after having taken the royal treasures and the wives and children of the king, to deliver up the whole to be pillaged by his soldiers.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:8 - Hearken not unto him

Hearken not unto him - The elders had every thing at stake, and they chose rather to make a desperate defense than tamely to yield to such degrading and ruinous conditions.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:10 - If the dust of Samaria shall suffice

If the dust of Samaria shall suffice - This is variously understood. Jonathan translates thus: "If the dust of Shomeron shall be sufficient for the soles of the feet of the people that shall accompany me;"i.e., I shall bring such an army that there will scarcely be room for them to stand in Samaria and its vicinity.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:11 - Let not him that girdeth on

Let not him that girdeth on - This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. Jonathan translates, "Tell him, Let not him who girds himself and goes down to the battle, boast as he who has conquered and returned from it.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:12 - In the pavilions

In the pavilions - This word comes from papilio , a butterfly, because tents, when pitched or spread out, resembled such animals; partly because of the mode of their expansion, and partly because of the manner in which they were painted

Clarke: 1Ki 20:12 - Set yourselves in array

Set yourselves in array - The original word, שימו simu , which we translate by this long periphrasis, is probably a military term for Begin the attack, Invest the city, Every man to his post, or some such like expression.

Clarke: 1Ki 20:13 - There came a prophet

There came a prophet - Who this was we cannot tell; Jarchi says it was Micaiah, son of Imlah. It is strange that on such an occasion we hear nothing of Elijah or Elisha. Is it not possible that this was one of them disguised?

Defender: 1Ki 20:1 - Ben-hadad

There were three Syrian kings named Ben-Hadad, all of whom appear in the Biblical narratives (1Ki 15:18; 2Ki 13:24). It seems to have been used by Jeremiah as a general name for all the Syrian kings (Jer 49:27)."

TSK: 1Ki 20:1 - Benhadad // Thirty and two // and horses // besieged

am 3103, bc 901

Benhadad : 1Ki 15:18, 1Ki 15:20; 2Ki 8:7-10; 2Ch 16:2-4; Jer 49:27; Amo 1:4

Thirty and two : 1Ki 20:16, 1Ki 20:24; Gen 14:1-5; Jdg 1:7; Ezr 7:12; Isa 10:8; Eze 26:7; Dan 2:37

and horses : Exo 14:7; Deu 20:1; Jdg 4:3; 1Sa 13:5; Isa 37:24

besieged : Lev 26:25; Deu 28:52; 2Ki 6:24-29, 2Ki 17:5, 2Ki 17:6

TSK: 1Ki 20:2

2Ki 19:9; Isa. 36:2-22, Isa 37:9, Isa 37:10

TSK: 1Ki 20:3

Exo 15:9; Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14

TSK: 1Ki 20:4 - I am thine

I am thine : Lev 26:36; Deu 28:48; Jdg 15:11-13; 1Sa 13:6, 1Sa 13:7; 2Ki 18:14-16

TSK: 1Ki 20:6 - and they shall search // pleasant

and they shall search : 1Sa 13:19-21; 2Sa 24:14; 2Ki 18:31, 2Ki 18:32

pleasant : Heb. desirable, Gen 27:15; Ezr 8:27; Isa 44:9; Jer 25:34; Lam 1:7, Lam 1:10; Hos 13:15; Joe 3:5 *marg.

TSK: 1Ki 20:7 - all the elders // Mark // seeketh mischief // denied him not

all the elders : 1Ki 8:1; 2Ki 5:7; 1Ch 13:1, 1Ch 28:1; Pro 11:14

Mark : 2Ki 5:7

seeketh mischief : Job 15:35; Psa 7:14, Psa 36:4, Psa 62:3, Psa 140:2; Pro 6:14, Pro 11:27, Pro 24:2; Dan 11:27; Rom 3:13-18

denied him not : Heb. kept not back from him, 1Ki 20:4

TSK: 1Ki 20:10 - The gods // if the dust // follow me

The gods : 1Ki 19:2; Act 23:12

if the dust : 2Sa 17:12, 2Sa 17:13; 2Ki 19:23, 2Ki 19:24; Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14, Isa 37:24, Isa 37:25

follow me : Heb. are at my feet, Exo 11:8 *marg. Jdg 4:10

TSK: 1Ki 20:11 - Let not him // harness

Let not him : etc. This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. Jonathan renders it: ""Let not him who girds himself, and goes down to battle, boast as one who has conquered and returned from it.""1Sa 14:6, 1Sa 14:12, 1Sa 14:13, 1Sa 17:44-47; Pro 27:1; Ecc 9:11; Isa 10:15, Isa 10:16; Mat 26:33-35, Mat 26:75

harness : The word harness is an obsolete word for armour, derived from the French harnois . See note on Exo 13:18.

TSK: 1Ki 20:12 - message // drinking // pavilions // Set yourselves in array

message : Heb. word

drinking : 1Ki 20:16, 1Ki 16:9; 1Sa 25:36; 2Sa 13:28; Pro 31:4, Pro 31:5; Dan 5:2, Dan 5:30; Luk 21:34; Eph 5:18

pavilions : or, tents, That persons of regal dignity regaled themselves in this manner, we may learn from Dr. Chandler, who, when he went to visit the Aga of Suki, after his return from hawking, found him vexed and tired; and ""a couch was prepared from him beneath a shed made against a cottage, and covered with green boughs to keep off the sun. He entered as we were standing by, and fell down on it to sleep, without taking any notice of us.""Jer 43:10

Set yourselves in array, And they set : etc. or, Place the engines, And they placed engines

TSK: 1Ki 20:13 - came // Hast thou // and thou shalt

came : Heb. approached

Hast thou : 2Ki 6:8-12, 2Ki 7:1, 2Ki 13:23; Isa 7:1-9; Eze 20:14, Eze 20:22

and thou shalt : 1Ki 20:28, 1Ki 18:37; Exo 14:18, Exo 16:12; Psa 83:18; Isa 37:20; Eze 6:7; Joe 3:17

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 1Ki 20:1 - Ben-hadad // Gathered all his host together

Ben-hadad called Adad by Josephus, and Ader by the LXX., and Adores by Justin; such changes of names being usual in their translations into other languages, and by other authors.

Gathered all his host together to war against Israel; wherein his design was to amplify the conquests which his father had made, 1Ki 15:20 , but God’ s design was to punish Israel for their apostacy and idolatry. Thirty and two kings petty kings, such as were in Canaan in Joshua’ s time, who indeed were no more than governors of cities or small territories. These were either subject or tributary to Ben-hadad, or hired by him.

Poole: 1Ki 20:3

I challenge them as my own, and accordingly expect to have them forthwith delivered into my possession, if thou expectest peace with me.

Poole: 1Ki 20:4

I do so far comply with thy demand, that I will own thee for my lord, and myself for thy vassal and tributary; and will hold my wives, and children, and estate as by thy favour, and with an acknowledgment. But it is not likely that he would deliver up his wives and children into the barbarian’ s hand, or that his proud and imperious wife Jezebel would permit him to do so.

Poole: 1Ki 20:5

Although I did before demand not only the dominion of thy treasures, and wives, and children, as thou mayest seem to understand me, but also the propriety and actual possession of them, wherewith I would then have been contented;

Poole: 1Ki 20:6

Yet now I will not accept of those terms, but, together with thy royal treasures, I expect all the treasures of thy servants or subjects; nor will I wait till thou deliver them to me, but I will send my servants into the city, and they shall have free liberty and power to search out and take away all which they desire, and this to prevent fraud and delay; and then I will grant thee a peace.

Poole: 1Ki 20:7 - The elders of the land // See how this man seeketh mischief // I denied him not

The elders of the land whose counsel and concurrence he now desires in his distress.

See how this man seeketh mischief though he pretended peace, and a friendly agreement upon these terms propounded, it is apparent by those additional demands that he intends nothing less than our utter ruin.

I denied him not I granted his demands in the sense before mentioned.

Poole: 1Ki 20:9 - This thing I may not do

This thing I may not do if I would do it, I cannot, because my people will not suffer it.

Poole: 1Ki 20:10

If I do not assault thy city with so potent and numerous an army, that shall turn all thy city into a heap of dust, and shall be sufficient to carry it all away, though every soldier take but one handful of it: see the like boast 2Sa 17:13 .

Poole: 1Ki 20:11

Do not triumph before the fight and victory, for the events of war are uncertain.

Poole: 1Ki 20:12 - Set yourselves in array

Set yourselves in array put yourselves and engines in order to make the assault.

Poole: 1Ki 20:13 - There came a prophet // Thus saith the Lord // Thou shalt know

There came a prophet who having hid himself before, now ventures to come to Ahab, having this welcome message in his mouth.

Thus saith the Lord: God, though forsaken and neglected by Ahab, prevents him with his gracious promise of help; partly that Ahab and the idolatrous Israelites might hereby be fully convinced, and won to God, or left without all excuse; and partly, that Ben-hadad’ s intolerable pride, and contempt of God, and of his people, might be repressed and punished; and partly, that the remnant of his prophets and people who were involved in the same calamity with the rest of the Israelites might be preserved and delivered.

Thou shalt know that I am the Lord, and not Baal, because I will deliver thee, which he cannot do.

Haydock: 1Ki 20:1 - And // Kings

And. The Roman Septuagint and Josephus place this war after the account of Naboth, chap. xxi. But the Alexandrian copy follows the order of the Hebrew. (Haydock) ---

The style Benadad, "the son of Ader." He succeeded (ver. 34.) the king who attacked Baasa, chap. xv. 18. We know not the time nor the occasion of this war. (Calmet) ---

Probably Achab had refused to pay tribute, and God had a mint to try if his obstinacy would yield to kindness, ver. 13., and 28. (Salien, the year before Christ 919.) ---

Kings. Almost every city had one.

Haydock: 1Ki 20:3 - Mine

Mine. He had a desire to dispose of them, as he though proper. Achab was willing to pay tribute, to remove the impending danger. (Calmet)

Haydock: 1Ki 20:4 - Have

Have. Achab is not in earnest, but strives to pacify the barbarian. (Menochius)

Haydock: 1Ki 20:6 - Servants

Servants, or subjects. The king of Israel has thus a plea to interest all his people, as the danger was common. (Salien) ---

He assumes the character of disinterestedness, as if he had been willing to abandon all his private property; knowing that Banadad would not accede even to that hard proposal. (Haydock) ---

Thus "Nero consulted the first men of the city, whether they would prefer a doubtful war or a disgraceful peace." (Tacitus, An. xv.)

Haydock: 1Ki 20:10 - Handfuls

Handfuls. Hebrew shohal. The Septuagint, read " shuhal " and render it, "suffice for the foxes, for all the people, (even for) my infantry;" (Haydock) as if his forces were so numerous as to cover the whole land, and leave no room for even foxes to occupy. The hyperbole is equally great, supposing that his soldiers could by each taking a handful, or what might stick to his feet, (Chaldean) carry off all Samaria. Josephus intimates, that Benadad speaks of erecting terraces of equal height with the walls; others, that he would level the city with the ground, Ezechiel xxvi. 4. (Sanctius)

Haydock: 1Ki 20:11 - Let not the girded

Let not the girded, &c. Let him not boast before the victory: it will then be time to glory when he putteth off his armour, having overcome his adversary. (Challoner) ---

"Let not him who goes to battle, though well armed, boast; but the man who returns victorious." (Chaldean) "Enough: let not the man with a crooked back boast, as one that is upright." (Septuagint) "Let not him that girdeth, (Haydock) or is bound," (Hebrew) or rather "shutteth up, boast, as he that openeth." (Syriac) It is easy to besiege: but the city does not always fall. Neither people in arms, nor the unarmed, have reason to boast; as the former are often made prisoners, as soon as the latter. (Calmet) ---

A despised enemy sometimes proves most dangerous. (Haydock) ---

Those who distrust in themselves, and place their confidence in God, prevail: a necessary lesson both in temporal and spiritual warfare. (Worthington) ---

The fortune of war is very doubtful. (Tirinus)

Haydock: 1Ki 20:12 - Pavilion // Beset

Pavilion, ( umbraculis ) or even under "the shade" of the trees, in full security. (Menochius) ---

Beset. Hebrew, "set, and they set against the city." Chaldean, "hold yourselves in readiness, and they laid ambushes round the city." The siege had not been yet commenced in form, as it was never expected that Achab would dare to make any resistance.

Haydock: 1Ki 20:13 - Prophet

Prophet. It does not appear who this and the other prophets were who address Achab so boldly during these wars; if indeed they were different persons: Elias is never mentioned. Did Jezabel leave the rest alone? or did these wars break out before she began to persecute them? (Calmet) ---

Many suppose that the prophet, who spoke on this occasion, was Micheas. (Menochius) ---

But Achab complains that he always brought him evil tidings, chap. xxii. 8. (Salien)

Gill: 1Ki 20:1 - And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together // and there were thirty and two kings with him // and horses and chariots // and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it

And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together,.... This was Benhadad the second, the son of that Benhadad, to whom Asa sent to help him against Baasha, 1Ki 15:18.

and there were thirty and two kings with him; these were heads of families, so called, and at most governors of cities under Benhadad; petty princes, such as were in the land of Canaan in Joshua's time:

and horses and chariots; how many is not said:

and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it; he went up with such an intent, but had not as yet done it in form; what moved him to it cannot be said precisely, whether an ambitious view of enlarging his dominions, or because the king of Israel paid not the tribute his father had imposed upon him, see 1Ki 20:34, however, so it was, through the providence of God, as a scourge to Ahab for his impiety.

Gill: 1Ki 20:2 - And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city // and said unto him, thus saith Benhadad

And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city,.... Who there remained, and attempted not to go forth and meet him, and stop his progress, though he must have passed great part of his dominions to come to Samaria:

and said unto him, thus saith Benhadad; by them, his messengers, as follows.

Gill: 1Ki 20:3 - Thy silver and thy gold is mine // and thy wives also // and thy children // even the goodliest are mine

Thy silver and thy gold is mine,.... Not of right, but reckoning it as good as in his hands, Ahab not being able to resist him:

and thy wives also; for it seems he had more than Jezebel:

and thy children; which were many, for he had no less than seventy sons, 2Ki 10:1,

even the goodliest are mine: some aggravate this, as if his view was to commit the unnatural sin with his male children, when in his possession.

Gill: 1Ki 20:4 - And the king of Israel answered and said, my lord, O king // according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have

And the king of Israel answered and said, my lord, O king,.... So he said to Benhadad's messengers, representing him, as acknowledging his sovereignty over him:

according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have: which he understood of holding all that he had of him, by giving him homage, and paying him tribute; not that he was to deliver all his substance, and especially his wives and children, into his hands.

Gill: 1Ki 20:5 - And the messengers came again // and said, thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, although I have sent unto thee, saying // thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children

And the messengers came again,.... From Benhadad:

and said, thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, although I have sent unto thee, saying: at the first message:

thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children; into his possession, and not as Ahab understood it, that he should be his vassal, and pay a yearly tribute for his quiet enjoyment of them; yet even this he would not now abide by, growing still more haughty upon the mean submission of Ahab, as by what follows.

Gill: 1Ki 20:6 - Yet I will send my servants unto thee tomorrow about this time // and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants // and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant (or desirable) in thine eyes, they shall put it in, their hand, and take it away

Yet I will send my servants unto thee tomorrow about this time,.... He gave him twenty four hours to consider of it:

and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; the royal palace, and the houses of the noblemen, and even of every of his subjects in Samaria:

and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant (or desirable) in thine eyes, they shall put it in, their hand, and take it away; not be content with what should be given, but search for more; and if any in particular was more desirable to the possessor than anything else, that should be sure to be taken away; which was vastly insolent and aggravating.

Gill: 1Ki 20:7 - Then the King of Israel called all the elders of the land // and said, mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief // for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I denied him not

Then the King of Israel called all the elders of the land,.... His poor sneaking spirit was a little aroused with the last message, and therefore called a council of the elders of the people upon it, which was a piece of wisdom in him:

and said, mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief; nothing less than the entire ruin of the nation:

for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I denied him not; in the sense he understood him, which was, that he was to be a vassal, and tributary to him, for the sake of holding these, which yet was very mean; but he wanted to have these in hand, and not them only, but the pillaging of all his subjects.

Gill: 1Ki 20:8 - And all the elders and all the people said unto him // hearken not unto him, nor consent

And all the elders and all the people said unto him,.... They were unanimous in their advice:

hearken not unto him, nor consent; promising, no doubt, that they would stand by him.

Gill: 1Ki 20:9 - Wherefore he sent unto the messengers of Benhadad // tell my lord the king, all that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do // but this thing I may not do // and the messengers departed, and brought him word again

Wherefore he sent unto the messengers of Benhadad,.... Upon the advice the elders had given him, and encouraged thereby, though in a poor sneaking manner after all:

tell my lord the king, all that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do; owning him as his lord, and himself as his servant, and promising to grant his first demand, though so insolent, in the sense he understood him, of paying tribute to him for it:

but this thing I may not do; to have not only all put into his hands, but his and his servant's houses to be searched and pillaged, because the elders of his people would not agree; and yet he seems to speak as if he himself would have submitted to it, but was restrained by his council:

and the messengers departed, and brought him word again; reported to Benhadad the answer they received from Ahab.

Gill: 1Ki 20:10 - And Benhadad sent unto him, and said // the gods do so unto me, and more also // if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me

And Benhadad sent unto him, and said,.... That is, to Ahab:

the gods do so unto me, and more also; bring greater evils upon me than I can think or express:

if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me, signifying that he made no doubt of it of reducing it to dust by numbers of men he should bring with him, which would be so many, that if each was to take an handful of dust of the ruins of Samaria, there would not enough for them all; which was an hectoring and parabolical speech, uttered in his wrath and fury.

Gill: 1Ki 20:11 - tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off

Very mildly and very wisely:

tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off; that is, he that prepares for the battle as he that has got the victory; the sense is, let no man triumph before the battle is over and the victory won; the events of war are uncertain; the battle is not always to the strong.

Gill: 1Ki 20:12 - And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message (as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions) // that he said unto his servants // set yourselves in array // and they set themselves in array against the city

And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message (as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions),.... Though it was at noon, or before, 1Ki 20:16, which shows that he and they were addicted to intemperance:

that he said unto his servants; some of the principal officers of his army:

set yourselves in array; prepare for battle, betake yourselves to your arms, invest the city at once, and place the engines against it to batter it down:

and they set themselves in array against the city; besieged it in form, at least prepared for it; for it seems after all that it was not properly done.

Gill: 1Ki 20:13 - And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel // saying, thus saith the Lord, hast thou seen all this great multitude // behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day // and thou shalt know that I am the Lord

And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel,.... Supposed by the Jewish writers to be Micaiah the son of Imlah, 1Ki 22:9 one of those perhaps that Obadiah hid in the cave, and now is sent out publicly on an errand to Ahab:

saying, thus saith the Lord, hast thou seen all this great multitude? considered what a vast number Benhadad's army consisted of:

behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; as great as it is:

and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; and not Baal, who can save by few as well as by many, and from a great multitude.