Ahab Defeats Benhadad I of Syria

This chapter (1 Kings 20) is quite different in contents and spirit from most of the material in Kings. It gives an interesting and valuable picture of the political life of the times. Benhadad had grown to be a powerful king and now occupied the dominant position among the rulers of western Asia, as is evidenced by the fact that the Assyrian records list him first among the western allies who fought against Shalmaneser III at Qarqar.

When Behadad besieges Samaria, he demands Ahab surrender. Amidst threats a prophet of the Lord approaches Ahab and assures him victory through the young men of Israel. Seven thousand gather at noon when at the heat of the day the attackers were probably resting unarmed, with no expectation of being attacked. Benhadad at this time was probably well under the influence of liquor, unable to evaluate the situation or to make wise decisions. Since the sortie was made at noon, the approach was detected and there was not complete surprise.

Word was sent to the king that a group of Hebrews was seen approaching. In his haughtiness Benhadad ordered all the Hebrews to be seized, whether they had come out to negotiate terms of peace, whether they were offering to surrender, or whatever their purpose might be. The men attacked. They fought man to man and hand to hand. An alert group of archers or spearmen might have been able to keep the little band of Hebrews at bay, but the Syrians did not awake to the situation till it was too late. Panic seized the host, and they turned and fled.