1 Kings 22:31

_AND THE KING OF ISRAEL SAID UNTO JEHOSHAPHAT, I WILL DISGUISE MYSELF, AND ENTER INTO THE BATTLE; BUT PUT THOU ON THY ROBES. AND THE KING OF ISRAEL DISGUISED HIMSELF, AND WENT INTO THE BATTLE._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

29-40 Ahab basely intended to betray Johoshaphat to danger, that he might secure himself. See what they get that join with wicked men. How can it be expected that he should be true to his friend, who has been false to his God! He had said in compliment to Ahab, I am as thou art, and now he was indeed taken for him. Those that associate with evil-doers, are in danger of sharing in their plagues. By Jehoshaphat's deliverance, God let him know, that though he was displeased with him, yet he had not deserted him. God is a friend that will not fail us when other friends do. Let no man think to hide himself from God's judgment. God directed the arrow to hit Ahab; those cannot escape with life, whom God has doomed to death. Ahab lived long enough to see part of Micaiah's prophecy accomplished. He had time to feel himself die; with what horror must he have thought upon the wickedness he had comm...

COMMANDED - “Had commanded.” Ben-hadad delivers his order in the hyperbolical style common in the East. His meaning is, “Make it your chief object to kill or take the king of Israel.” Apparently, his own defeat and captivity were still rankling in his mind, and he wished to retaliate on Ahab, the humiliation which he considered himself to have suffered. He shows small appreciation of the generosity which had spared his life and restored him to his kingdom....

EXPOSITION THE EXPEDITION OF AHAB AND JEHOSHAPHAT AGAINST HRAMOTH-GILEAD. THE DEATH OF AHAB. THE REIGNS OF JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAZIAH. 1 KINGS 22:1 AND THEY CONTINUED [rather, _rested_._ _Heb. _sate_, _dwelt_._ _Cf. Judges 5:17. The LXX. has ἐκάθισε, sing.] THREE YEARS WITHOUT WAR [The Hebrew explains the "rested"—_there was not war, _etc. See Ewald, 286 g

BUT THE KING OF SYRIA COMMANDED HIS THIRTY AND TWO CAPTAINS THAT HAD THE RULE OVER HIS CHARIOTS,.... This was the number of his kings in the first battle with Israel, and of his captains in the second, 1 Kings 20:1, and the same number he had now, being very probably not only the number of his chariots, but the division of his army was into so many battalions, under the command of these captains of chariots: SAYING, FIGHT NEITHER WITH SMALL NOR GREAT; of those that belonged to Jehoshaphat: SAVE ONLY WITH THE KING OF ISRAEL; and his men; for it can hardly be thought that his orders were to fight with none, nor kill any in the battle but Ahab personally; though it is very probable he might give them directions to aim at him chiefly, knowing that, if he was killed or taken, his army would flee or surrender; and he might be desirous of getting him into his

CHAPTER 22 THE DEATH OF AHAB _ 1. Jehoshaphat and Ahab (1 Kings 22:1)_ 2. The prophet Micaiah (1 Kings 22:13) 3. The battle and Ahab's death (1 Kings 22:29) 4. Jehoshaphat of Judah (1 Kings 22:41; 1 Kings 2 Chron. 19-20) 5. Ahaziah, King of Israel (1 Kings 22:51) Three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. In the third year Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to Ahab. Jehoshaphat's son and heir-apparent ha

AHAB'S ATTACK ON RAMOTH-GILEAD AND HIS DEATH. The death of Ahab must have taken place before or during the year 854 B.C., when the battle of Qarqara was fought, and his name is mentioned in the Assyrian inscription (p. 69). The question is, did he take part in that battle as a vassal of Bir-' idri (Ben-hadad) before or after the war related in 20. In the latter case his death was probably later in 854 B.C. The chapter is a continuation of the latter case his 20, and from the same source with additions. Jehoshaphat, whose son married Ahab's daughter (2 Kings 8:18), is present as Ahab's ally. Here, as in 1 Kings 20, 21, there is no allusion to the Baal worship. Ahab's prophets are prophets of Yahweh, and the king can muster four hundred. The rivalry is between true and false prophecy. It is not known where Ramoth-gilead (the heights of G.) actually was. It was a most important place, menti...

_But_[R.V. NOW] _the king of Syria commanded_[R.V. HAD COMMANDED] _his thirty and two captains_. The changes are as usual to conform to 2 Chronicles. These thirty-two captains were most likely those who had been chosen to supply the places of the thirty-two kings that were removed in the campaign of three years before (1 Kings 20:24). _that had rule over his chariots_ R.V. OF HIS CHARIOTS. For one word is rendered twice over, first -captains" and then -that had rule." The command was given to these officers because they were in the front of the battle, the cavalry taking lead of the infantry. _Fight neither with small nor great_ The meaning of the order is, that they should let no engagement with other persons prevent them, any more than they could help, from singling out Ahab and attacking him. It was the single combat of chiefs, but ther

FIGHT NEITHER WITH SMALL NOR GREAT— Ben-hadad might give this order, either in policy, supposing this to be the best and readiest way to put an end to the war, or with a design to take Ahab prisoner, that thereby he might wipe out the stain of his own captivity, and recover the honour and advantages which he then lost. We shall have occasion in the second book of Chronicles to speak concerning Jehoshaphat....

C. THE DEATH OF AHAB 22:29-38 TRANSLATION (29) And the king of Israel went up along with Jehoshaphat to Ramoth-gilead. (30) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but as for you, put on your garments. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into battle. (31) Now the king of Aram had commanded his thirty-two chariot commanders, saying, Do not fight small or great, but only the king of Israel. (32) And it came to pass when the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely he is the king of Israel; and they turned against him to fight; and Jehohsaphat cried out. (33) And it came to pass when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned from after him. (34) And a man drew his bow by chance and smote the king of Israel between the joints and the breastplate. And he said to his c...