1 Kings 20:1--22:53
Ben Hadad <01130> [A.M. 3103. B.C. 901. Ben-hadad.]
thirty-two <08147 07970> [Thirty and two.]
horses <05483> [and horses.]
besieged <06696> [besieged.]
[I am thine.]
search <02664> [and they shall search.]
valuables <04261> [pleasant. Heb. desirable.]
leaders <02205> [all the elders.]
Notice <03045> [Mark.]
looking ... trouble <07451 01245> [seeketh mischief.]
resist <04513> [denied him not. Heb. kept not back from him.]
gods <0430> [The gods.]
dirt <06083> [if the dust.]
<07272> [follow me. Heb. are at my feet.]
gear <02296> [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."
boast <01984> [harness.]
The word harness is an obsolete word for armour, derived from the French {harnois;} see Ex 13:18.
reply <01697> [message. Heb. word. drinking.]
quarters <05521> [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."
ready ... attack So .... ready ... attack <07760> [Set yourselves in array. And they set, etc. or, Place the engines. And they placed engines.]
visited <05066> [came. Heb. approached. Hast thou.]
know <03045> [and thou shalt.]
servants <05288> [young men. or, servants.]
launch <0631> [order. Heb. bind, or tie.]
232 <03967 08147> [two hundred.]
7,000 <0505 07651> [seven thousand.]
Ben Hadad <01130> [Ben-hadad.]
thirty-two <07970> [the thirty.]
The Syrians, the besiegers, had their directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, while he was drinking at noon. Drunkenness is a sin which is most detestable in all, but more so in a king than in a private individual, inasmuch as the greater weight a man's situation carries, whether from accumulated riches, family connections, hereditary authority, or invested command, so is the influence which his vices must have on those around him. Perhaps it may be said, from past experience, that drunkenness, which is a most heinous sin in the sight of God, may be charged on those who indulge only now and then in that which may eventually lead them into drunkenness; for they shut their eyes against the most palpable facts, and rather than give up the paltry gratification of a debauch, involve thousands by their example to positive harm. Benhadad's drunkenness was the forerunner of his fall. Belshazzar also, we read, drank wine with his princes, his wives, and his concubines, and praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone: and in the same hour came forth the finger of a man's hand and wrote his doom on the plaster of the wall. Those who fancy themselves perfectly secure, and above the possibility of falling, are commonly nearest their destruction: there is always an Ahab read to take advantage of and improve the self-imposed imbecility.
struck <05221> [they slew.]
Syrians ........... Syria <0758> [the Syrians.]
escaped <04422> [escaped.]
Then <03318> [went out.]
prophet <05030> [the prophet.]
fortify <02388> [strengthen.]
spring <08666> [at the return.]
God .... god <0430> [Their gods.]
It was the general belief in the heathen world, that each district had its tutelary and protecting deity, who could do nothing out of his own province.
Dismiss ... kings <05493 04428> [Take the.]
lost <05307> [thou hast lost. Heb. was fallen. and surely.]
Aphek <0663> [Aphek.]
Supposed to be the Aphek near the river Adonis, between Heliopolis and Biblos, and probably the same place that Paul Lucas mentions in his Voyage to the Levant. It was swallowed up by an earthquake, and formed a lake about nine miles in circumference, in which he says there were several houses still to be seen entire, under the water.
[Aphik.]
fight Israel <04421 03478> [to fight against Israel. Heb. to the war with Israel.]
supplies <03557> [were all present. or, were victualled.]
two <08147> [like two.]
visited <05066> [there came.]
Syrians <0758> [Because.]
I will <05414> [therefore will.]
know <03045> [ye shall know.]
seven days On .... day ............... day <07651 03117> [seven days.]
100,000 <03967 0505> [an hundred thousand.]
remaining <03498> [the rest.]
wall <02346> [a wall.]
ran .................. ran <05127> [fled.]
inner room <02315> [into an inner chamber. or, from chamber to chamber. Heb. into a chamber within a chamber.]
advisers <05650> [his servants.]
kings ....... kind ................... king <04428 02617> [merciful kings.]
put <07760> [let us, I pray thee.]
Six of the citizens of Calais are reported to have acted nearly in the same manner, when they surrendered their city to Edward the Third, king of England, in 1346. See the whole story circumstantially related by Sir John Froissart, (who lived in that time,) with that simplicity and detail that give it every appearance of truth.
put sackcloth <08242 07760> [put sackcloth.]
spare <02421> [peradventure.]
servant <05650> [Thy servant.]
brother <0251> [he is my brother.]
<0582> [the men.]
pulled ... up <05927> [and he caused.]
cities <05892> [The cities.]
set up ......... did ............ treaty .......... made ... treaty <07760 03772 01285> [So he made a covenant.]
One of the conditions of this covenant, we learn, was, that Ahab should have "streets (chutzoth) in Damascus;" a proposal better relished by Ahab then understood by the generality of commentators. This, however, is well illustrated by Mr. Harmer, from William of Tyre, the great historian of the Crusades; from whom it appears that it was customary to give those nations which were engaged in them, churches, streets, and great jurisdiction therein, in those places which they assisted to conquer. The Genoese and Venetians had each a street in Acon, or Acre, in which they had their own jurisdiction, with liberty to have an oven, mill, baths, weights, and measures, etc.
members <01121> [of the sons.]
<01697> [in the word.]
Wound ..... man .... wound him <05221 0376> [Smite me.]
man .... Wound ..... man wounded ... severely <05221 0376> [Smite me.]
Wound ...... wounded ... severely <05221> [so that, etc. Heb. smiting and wounding.]
disguised <02664> [disguised.]
servant <05650> [Thy servant.]
life <05315> [thy life.]
<08254> [or else.]
<08254> [pay. Heb. weigh.]
<0369> [he was gone. Heb. he was not. So shall thy judgment be.]
removed ... bandage <05493 0666> [the ashes away.]
released <07971> [Because.]
life <05315> [thy life shall go.]
<03212> [went.]
After <0310> [A.M. 3105. B.C. 899. after.]
Jezreel <03157> [Jezreel.]
Give .... vineyard ..................... give ...... vineyard ........... pay <05414 03754> [Give me.]
The request of Ahab, at first view, appears fair and honourable. But, as he most evidentially wished Naboth to alienate it finally, which was expressly forbidden and provided against in the law of God, (Le 25:14-28,) it was high iniquity in Ahab to tempt him to do it, and to covet it showed the depravity of his soul.
vegetable garden <03419 01588> [a garden of herbs.]
better ......... prefer <05869 02896> [seem good to thee. Heb. be good in thine eyes.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
sell <05414> [I should give.]
bitter <05620> [heavy.]
sell <05414> [I will not.]
lay down <07901> [And he laid him.]
Jezebel <0348> [Jezebel.]
attitude <07307> [Why is thy spirit.]
answered ...... talking <01696> [Because.]
Sell ............. give .............. sell <05414> [I will not give.]
<06213> [Dost thou now.]
will .... vineyard <05414 03754> [I will give thee.]
wrote <03789> [she wrote.]
leaders <02205> [the elders.]
nobles <02715> [the nobles.]
Observe ..... fasting <07121 06685> [Proclaim a fast.]
front .... people <07218 05971> [on high among. Heb. in the top of.]
villains <01121 01100> [sons of Belial.]
cursed <01288> [Thou didst blaspheme.]
Some, with Parkhurst, would render the original, {bairachta elohim wamailech,} "Thou hast blessed the gods and Molech;" a sense, however, which seems extremely forced, and is not acknowledged by any of the ancient versions, though the LXX. and Vulgate render {bairachta} by [eulogese,] {benedixit,} "blessed." It is no unusual thing for a word to have opposite senses.
Jezebel <06213 0348> [did as Jezebel.]
villains ......... villains <0582 01100> [the men of Belial.]
cursed God <0430 01288> [blaspheme God.]
king <04428> [the king.]
dragged <03318> [they carried him.]
Naboth .... stoned <05022 05619> [Naboth is stoned.]
Get <06965> [Arise.]
Ahab ....... he got up <06965 0256> [Ahab rose up.]
Samaria <08111> [which is in Samaria.]
committed murder <07523> [Hast thou killed.]
spot <04725> [In the place.]
This punishment, on Ahab's humiliation and repentance, was transferred from him to his son Jehoram, (ver. 29,) in whom it was literally accomplished: see the parallel texts.
found .... enemy ...... found <04672 0341> [Hast thou found me.]
committed <04376> [thou hast sold.]
doing <06213> [to work.]
bring <0935> [Behold.]
male <08366> [him that pisseth.]
weak <06113> [him that is shut up.]
make ... dynasty <05414 01004> [make thine.]
Israel sin <02398 03478> [made Israel to sin.]
Jezebel ..... Jezebel <0348> [Jezebel.]
Dogs <03611> [the dogs.]
Shocking as this must appear to minds that have been humanized by the kindly influence of Christianity, we still find similar instances in the accounts of modern travellers. Mr. Bruce says, that when at Gondar, "the bodies of those killed by the sword were hewn to pieces and scattered about the streets, being denied burial. I was miserable, and almost driven to despair, at seeing my hunting dogs, twice let loose by the carelessness of my servants, bringing into the court-yard the heads and arms of slaughtered men, and which I could no way prevent, but by the destruction of the dogs themselves."
<02426> [wall. or, ditch.]
ones ... die <04191> [that dieth.]
Ahab <0256> [But there.]
firmly committed ... doing <04376 06213> [sell himself.]
Jezebel <0348> [whom Jezebel.]
urged <05496> [stirred up. or, incited.]
was ... wicked ... worshiped ... disgusting <08581 03966> [very abominably.]
<06213> [according to.]
tore <07167> [he rent.]
sackcloth ..... slept ... sackcloth <08242 07901> [lay in sackcloth.]
walked ... dejected <0328 01980> [went softly.]
Have ... noticed ... Ahab <07200 0256> [Seest thou.]
Ahab <0256> [Ahab.]
bring <0935> [I will not.]
disaster on .... during ... lifetime <07451 03117> [the evil in.]
on .... during ... lifetime ........ son <03117 01121> [in his son's days.]
[A.M. 3104-3107. B.C. 900-897.]
third <07992> [A.M. 3107. B.C. 897. in the third.]
Jehoshaphat <03092> [Jehoshaphat.]
Ramoth <07433> [Ramoth.]
hesitant <02814> [still. Heb. silent from taking it.]
<03212> [Wilt thou go.]
support <03644> [I am as thou.]
seek <01875> [Enquire.]
assembled ..... prophets <05030 06908> [the prophets together.]
Attack <05927> [Go up.]
sovereign <0136> [the Lord.]
This prophecy is couched in the ambiguous terms in which the heathen oracles were delivered. It may mean, either "The Lord will deliver it (Ramoth Gilead) into the king's (Ahab's) hand;" or, "The Lord will deliver (Israel) into the king's (of Syria) hand." So in the famous reply of the Delphian oracle to Pyrrhus: {Aio te ’acida, Romanos vincere posse: Ibis redibis nunquam in bello peribis;} "I say to thee, Pyrrhus the Romans shall overcome: thou shalt go, thou shalt return never in war shalt thou perish."
prophet <05030> [Is there not.]
one man <0376 0259> [yet one man.]
despise ....... prophesy <08130 05012> [but I hate him.]
prosperity <02896> [good.]
disaster <07451> [concerning me.]
king ........................................... king <04428> [Let not the.]
official <05631> [officer. or, eunuch.]
Quickly <04116> [Hasten.]
dressed <03847> [having put.]
threshing floor <01637> [void place. Heb. floor. all the prophets.]
iron horns <01270 07161> [horns of iron.]
said ....... says <0559> [Thus saith.]
Attack <05927> [Go up.]
words ... agree ....... success <01697> [Behold now.]
Lord ........ Lord <03068> [what the Lord.]
<03212> [shall we go.]
succeed <06743 03212> [Go and prosper.]
This was strong irony; they were the precise words of the false prophets; but were spoken by Micaiah in such a tone and manner as at once shewed Ahab that he did not believe, but ridiculed these words of uncertainty. The reply of the Delphian oracle to Crosesus was as ambiguous as that returned to Pyrrhus, {Croesus Halym penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim,} "If Croesus crosses the Halys, he will overthrow a great empire." This he understood of the empire of Cyrus; the event proved it to be his own: he was deluded, yet the oracle maintained its credit.
solemnly <07650> [shall I adjure.]
tell <01696> [that thou tell.]
saw <07200> [I saw.]
sheep <06629> [as sheep.]
said ...... tell <0559> [Did I not tell.]
hear ... word <08085 01697> [Hear thou.]
Lord ... saw ... Lord <07200 03068> [I saw the Lord.]
Micaiah evidently gives here an account of what appeared to him in a vision: many of the circumstances must be considered as parabolical; for truth, rather than facts, is revealed in such representations.
assembly <06635> [all the host.]
deceive <06601> [persuade. or, deceive.]
lying spirit <07307 08267> [a lying spirit.]
Deceive <06601> [Thou shalt.]
Lord .................. Lord <03068> [behold, the Lord.]
Lord .................. Lord <03068> [and the Lord.]
Zedekiah <06667> [Zedekiah.]
hit Micaiah <04321 05221> [smote Micaiah.]
Which <0335> [Which way.]
see <07200> [Behold.]
inner room <02315> [into an inner chamber. or, from chamber to chamber. Heb. a chamber in a chamber.]
return <07725> [carry him back.]
Put ..... prison <07760 01004> [Put this fellow.]
bread <03906 03899> [bread of affliction.]
safely return <0935 07965> [until I come in peace.]
really .... return <07725> [If thou return.]
note <08085> [Hearken.]
disguise .................... disguised <02664> [I will, etc. or, when he was to disguise himself, and enter into the battle. put thou on.]
disguise ..... enter ................ disguised ..... entered <02664 0935> [disguised himself.]
thirty-two <08147 07970> [thirty and two.]
fight <03898> [Fight.]
common .... high-ranking <01419 06996> [small nor great.]
turned <05493> [they turned.]
Jehoshaphat .................. Jehoshaphat <03092> [Jehoshaphat.]
turned <07725> [that they turned.]
random <08537> [at a venture. Heb. in his simplicity.]
struck <05221> [and smote.]
plates .... armor <08302 01694> [joints of the harness. Heb. joints and the breast-plate.]
wounded <02470> [wounded. Heb. made sick.]
raged <05927> [increased. Heb. ascended. died at even.]
bottom <02436> [midst. Heb. bosom.]
setting <05674> [there went.]
Each one <0376> [Every man.]
taken <0935> [was brought. Heb. came.]
dogs <03611> [and the dogs.]
rest <03499> [A.M. 3086-3107. B.C. 918-897. the rest.]
palace <01004 08127> [the ivory house.]
That is, probably, decorated with ivory in such abundance as to merit the appellation of an ivory house.
passed away <07901> [slept.]
Ahaziah <0274> [Ahaziah.]
Jehoshaphat <03092> [A.M. 3090. B.C. 914. Jehoshaphat.]
king <04427> [began to reign.]
"Began to reign alone. ver. 51."
thirty-five ............ twenty-five <02568 07970> [thirty and five.]
mother <0517> [And his mother's.]
<03212> [he walked.]
careful .............. eliminated <05493> [he turned.]
do what <06213> [doing.]
high places ................ high places <01116> [the high.]
peace <07999> [made peace.]
rest <03499> [Now.]
recorded <03789> [are they.]
<03499> [the remnant.]
king ......... ruled <04428> [no king.]
Jehoshaphat <03092> [Jehoshaphat.]
ships ................. shipwrecked <06213 0591> [made ships. or, had ten ships.]
large merchant ships <08659> [Tharshish.]
Josephus and the Chaldee and Arabic paraphrasts explain this place of Tarsus in Cilicia; the LXX., Theodoret, and Jerome, understand it of Carthage; but the learned Bochart makes it Tartessus, an island in the straits of Gades. Ibn Haukal describes Tarsousa as belonging to Andalus, or Andalusia; and Festus Avienus expressly says, {Hic Gadir urbs est dicta Tartessus prius,} "the city Cadiz was formerly called Tartessus."
Ophir <0211> [to Ophir.]
ships ... travel ......... made ... voyage ..... shipwrecked <01980 0591> [they went not.]
Ezion Geber <06100> [Ezion-geber.]
passed away ....... ancestors ....... ancestor <07901 01> [A.M. 3115. B.C. 889. slept with his fathers.]
city <05892> [in the city.]
Jehoram <03088> [Jehoram.]
king ....... ruled <04427> [A.M. 3107-3108. B.C. 897-896. began.]
"Now he begins to reign alone. ver. 40."
year ..................... years <08141> [two years.]
did evil <07451 06213> [he did evil.]
footsteps ....... like <01870> [in the way.]
footsteps ....... like <01870> [and in the way.]
worshiped ...... Baal <01168 05647> [he served Baal.]
angering <03707> [provoked.]
father <01> [according to all.]
