Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it. Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army.Ben-hadad was a common name for the kings of Aram, also known as Syria, a powerful kingdom located to the northeast of Israel. The name "Ben-hadad" means "son of Hadad," with Hadad being the storm god worshiped in the region. This particular Ben-hadad is likely Ben-hadad II, who reigned during the time of King Ahab of Israel. The assembling of his entire army indicates a significant military campaign, suggesting a major threat to Israel. Aram was a frequent adversary of Israel, and their conflicts are well-documented throughout the Old Testament, highlighting the ongoing struggle for power and dominance in the region. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots,
The mention of thirty-two kings suggests a coalition of smaller city-states or tribal leaders allied with Ben-hadad. This coalition would have provided a formidable force, as each king would contribute troops, horses, and chariots, which were the premier military technology of the time. Horses and chariots symbolize strength and speed in warfare, often giving an army a significant advantage. The use of chariots is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, underscoring their importance in ancient Near Eastern military strategy. This coalition reflects the political landscape of the time, where alliances were crucial for military success. he marched up, besieged Samaria,
Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established by King Omri and fortified by his son Ahab. The city's strategic location made it a prime target for invading forces. A siege was a common military tactic used to cut off a city from supplies and reinforcements, often leading to surrender due to starvation or lack of resources. The siege of Samaria indicates the seriousness of Ben-hadad's campaign and his intent to subdue Israel. This event is part of a larger narrative of conflict between Israel and Aram, illustrating the constant threat faced by the Northern Kingdom from its neighbors. and waged war against it.
The act of waging war against Samaria signifies a direct and aggressive attempt to conquer the city and, by extension, the kingdom of Israel. This conflict is part of the broader theme of warfare in the Old Testament, where nations often clashed over territory, resources, and power. The wars between Israel and Aram are chronicled in several biblical accounts, reflecting the turbulent history of the region. This phrase also sets the stage for the subsequent events in the chapter, where God's intervention and the role of the prophet play a crucial part in the unfolding narrative. The warfare here can be seen as a backdrop for demonstrating God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His purposes through the history of Israel. Persons / Places / Events 1. Ben-hadadThe king of Aram (Syria), who is leading a coalition of kings against Israel. His name means "son of Hadad," a storm god worshiped in the region. 2. AramA region often in conflict with Israel, located in present-day Syria. Aram was a significant power in the ancient Near East. 3. Thirty-two KingsThese are likely vassal kings or regional leaders allied with Ben-hadad, indicating a formidable coalition against Israel. 4. SamariaThe capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established by King Omri. It is the focal point of Ben-hadad's siege. 5. Siege and BattleThe military action taken by Ben-hadad and his allies against Samaria, indicating a significant threat to Israel's security. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in ConflictDespite the formidable alliance against Israel, God remains sovereign. Believers can trust in God's ultimate control over nations and conflicts. The Reality of Spiritual WarfareJust as Israel faced physical battles, Christians face spiritual battles. Ephesians 6 reminds us to put on the full armor of God. The Importance of FaithfulnessIsrael's struggles often stemmed from unfaithfulness to God. This serves as a reminder to remain faithful and obedient to God's commands. Community and LeadershipThe coalition of kings against Israel highlights the importance of strong, godly leadership and community unity in facing external threats. Prayer and Dependence on GodIn times of siege or overwhelming odds, turning to God in prayer and dependence is crucial, as demonstrated by many biblical figures. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the coalition led by Ben-hadad reflect the challenges faced by believers today in a world often opposed to Christian values? 2. In what ways can the siege of Samaria serve as a metaphor for spiritual battles in our own lives? 3. How does the recurring conflict between Aram and Israel illustrate the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God? 4. What lessons can we learn from the leadership of Israel during this time, and how can they be applied to leadership within the church today? 5. How can we apply the principles of prayer and reliance on God, as seen in other biblical accounts of sieges, to our personal and communal challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 6-7These chapters describe another siege of Samaria by the Arameans, showing a pattern of conflict between Aram and Israel. Isaiah 7The alliance of kings against Israel is reminiscent of the coalition against Judah during the reign of Ahaz, highlighting the recurring theme of foreign threats. Psalm 2The gathering of kings against God's people can be seen as a fulfillment of the psalmist's depiction of nations conspiring against the Lord and His anointed. People Ahab, Aram, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Hadad, Israelites, SyriansPlaces Aphek, Damascus, Samaria, SyriaTopics Accompanied, Aram, Army, Assembled, Attacked, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Ben-ha'dad, Besieged, Carriages, Chariot, Chariots, Collected, Entire, Fighteth, Force, Fought, Gathered, Got, Hadad, Horse, Horses, Host, Kings, Layeth, Mustered, Samaria, Sama'ria, Shutting, Siege, Syria, Thirty, Thirty-two, War, WarredDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Kings 20:1 4657 horse
5214 attack
5252 chariots
5529 sieges
7233 Israel, northern kingdom
8728 enemies, of Israel and Judah 1 Kings 20:1-6 4333 gold Library The Lost Opportunity
TEXT: "And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it."--1 Kings 20:40. There is a very striking incident connected with this text. The great battle is raging, a certain important prisoner has been taken, and if you read between the lines you seem to know that upon him depend many of the issues of war. His skill in leading the enemy had been marvelous, his courage in the thick of the fight striking; …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas IscariotPutting on the Armour
And the king of Israel answered and said. Tell him. Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.'--1 KINGS xx. 11. For the Young. Ahab, King of Israel, was but a poor creature, and, like most weak characters, he turned out a wicked one, because he found that there were more temptations to do wrong than inducements to do right. Like other weak people, too, he was torn asunder by the influence of stronger wills. On the one side he had a termagant of a wife, stirring …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress.
(Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col. 577.) To our most religious and most serene princes, Constantine and Irene his mother. Tarasius, the unworthy bishop of your God-protected royal city, new Rome, and all the holy Council which met at the good pleasure of God and upon the command of your Christ-loving majesty in the renowned metropolis of Nice, the second council to assemble in this city. Christ our God (who is the head of the Church) was glorified, most noble princes, when your heart, …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils Nature of the Renderings
From the text we now turn to the renderings, and to the general principles that were followed, both in the Old and in the New Testament. The revision of the English text was in each case subject to the same general rule, viz. "To introduce as few alterations as possible into the Text of the Authorised Version consistently with faithfulness"; but, owing to the great difference between the two languages, the Hebrew and the Greek, the application of the rule was necessarily different, and the results …
C. J. Ellicott—Addresses on the Revised Version of Holy Scripture The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness, and when Thou Art Called to Die in the Lord.
As soon as thou perceivest thyself to be visited with any sickness, meditate with thyself: 1. That "misery cometh not forth of the dust; neither doth affliction spring out of the earth." Sickness comes not by hap or chance (as the Philistines supposed that their mice and emrods came, 1 Sam. vi. 9), but from man's wickedness, which, as sparkles, breaketh out. "Man suffereth," saith Jeremiah, "for his sins." "Fools," saith David, "by reason of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Kings 20:1 NIV1 Kings 20:1 NLT1 Kings 20:1 ESV1 Kings 20:1 NASB1 Kings 20:1 KJV
1 Kings 20:1 Commentaries
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