SCRITPURE: 1 KINGS 20
BEN HADAD ATTACKS SAMARIA ( vs. 1-12)
Ben-Hadad, king of Aram mustered his entire army accompanied by 32 kings with their horse and chariots attacked Samaria. He sent messages to Ahab, king of Israel telling him that Ben-Hadad said: “Your silver and gold are mine and the best of your wives and children are mine” (v. 3). Ahab agreed. Later, the messenger of Ben- Hadad came again and told king Ahab that they were going to search his silver and houses of his officials. And they will siege everything and carry it away. (v. 6)
The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and told them what Ben-Hadad said. All the people and elders told him not to listen to him or agree to his demands. So king Ahab gave negative reply to Ben-Hadad’s messenger. Then Ben-Hadad ordered his men to make preparation to attack the city.
AHAB DEFEATS BEN-HADAD (v. 13-34)
A prophet came to Ahab, king of Israel and told him. “This is what the Lord says: “I will give the vast army into your hands today and you will know that I am the Lord”. So king Ahad summoned the young officers of the provincial commander 232 men and assembled 7,000 Israelites. They set out at noon and marched to the city and struck down their opponent. The Arameans fled and Ben-Hadad escaped in horseback with some of his horsemen. The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy loses on the Arameans. Afterwards, the people told king Ahab to strengthen his position because next spring, the king of Aram will attack him again.
The officials of the king of Aram told him that the gods of Israel are gods of the hill. So they must attack them on the plains. They asked him to remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. Then raise an army with chariots to fight against Israel on the plain. He agreed and acted accordingly.
The next spring, Ben-Hadad with his army went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. The Israelites camped opposite them. The man of God came and told the king of Israel: “This is what they Lord says: “Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands and you will know that I am the Lord” (v. 28).
They camped there for 7 days and on the 7th day, the battle began. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. The rest of them escape to the city of Aphek where the wall collapsed killing 27,000 of them. And Ben Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
Ben-Hadad’s officials told him that they will go to the king of Israel with sackcloth and asked mercy to spare his life and let him live. Then the king of Israel answered: “Is he still alive? He is my brother. Go and get him.” The men took this as a good will. So Ben-Hadad came to meet Ahab. Ben-Hadad offered to return to him the cities that his father took from them. He also allowed Ahab to set up his own market areas in Damascus. On the basis of that treaty, King Ahab set Ben-Hadad free.
A PROPHET CONDEMNS AHAB (vs. 35-43)
A prophet said to king Ahab: “This is what the Lord says. You have set free a man I had determined would die. Therefore,, it is your life for his life, your people for his people.”. Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria. (vs. 42-43)
THOUGHTS:
God gave the wicked king Ahab two victories not because of his might but to teach him that the Lord was the true God and Jehovah was strong and not to be treated like the heathen idols. Never think that we receive blessings because we deserve them.
Instead of claiming victory and destroying Ben Hadad, Ahab entered into a treaty with him. He lost his kingdom because of his disobedience. Remember that when you think the battle is over, you may face a greater degree of battle and experience your greatest defeat.
Satan led Ahab into wicked compromise with the enemy. The enemy king and his servants pretended to repent and humbled themselves before proud Ahab and the vain king fell for the trick. He considered his enemy as his brother. They made a treaty of peace and sent Ban-Hadad alive in direct disobedience to the Word of God.