Ben-hadad of Syria besieges Samaria with thirty-two kings, demanding Ahab's silver, gold, wives, and children; Ahab agrees, but when Ben-hadad adds the right to search and take whatever pleases him, Ahab refuses. A prophet promises victory through the district governors' young men. Israel's small force of seven thousand routs the Syrians; a prophet warns Ben-hadad will return next spring. Ben-hadad's servants advise that Israel's God is a god of hills, so they should fight in the plain. The next year at Aphek, the vastly outnumbered Israelites kill one hundred thousand Syrian infantry in one day; Ben-hadad hides as a wall falls on twenty-seven thousand. His servants appeal to Ahab's mercy; Ahab makes a covenant, releasing him. A prophet in disguise rebukes Ahab: because he let go a man devoted to destruction, his life will be forfeit for the other's life, his people for the other's people.
Read 1 Kings Chapter 20 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
David's son, wisest and wealthiest king, builder of the temple, but later fell into idolatry
Prophet who confronted Baal worship and demonstrated God's power on Mount Carmel
Wicked king of Israel who promoted Baal worship through his wife Jezebel
Ahab's Phoenician wife who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets
Solomon's son whose harsh policies caused the kingdom to divide
Places in This Chapter
Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and later became the name for the entire region between Judea and Galilee. After the Assyrian conquest, the population became mixed, and the Samaritans developed their own form of worship. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility. Jesus broke social barriers by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Aphek was a significant Canaanite city and military stronghold mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament. It served as a strategic location where the Philistines assembled their armies against Israel, including the battle where the Ark of the Covenant was captured and Eli's sons were killed.
Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and plays a significant role in biblical history. It was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus had his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ and was converted, becoming the apostle Paul. The prophet Elijah was told to anoint Hazael as king of Syria in Damascus. The city is mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
Position in Book
Elijah confronts Baal worship, defeats prophets of Baal on Carmel, flees from Jezebel, Ahab's wars.