Day 113, 1 Kings 20-22

Ahab’s Wars with Syria

Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. He went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it.

Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and told him to hand over all his gold and silver, and their best wives and children. The king of Israel answered saying that what he wanted would be his. Ben-hadad would send his servants and whatever they liked they would take away.

The king of Israel called all the elders of the land and explained how he was not seeking trouble because he had not refused Ben-hadad. They all responded by saying not to listen or give consent. When Ben-hadad heard all of this, he told his men to take their positions against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

A prophet went to Ahab king of Israel and told him that the Lord would give their enemies into their hands. He asked who would begin the battle, and he was told that he would. He mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and there were 232. Then he mustered all the people of Israel, which were seven thousand.

They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk with the thirty-two kings who helped him. Ben-hadad sent out scouts and they reported to him that men were coming out from Samaria. He said whether they came in peace or for war, they were to be taken alive.

The army went out to meet them, and they were struck down. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

The prophet came again to the king of Israel and told him to strengthen himself for Syria would attack him in the spring. The servants of the king of Syria said that, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they are stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.”

They rebuilt their army, man for man and horse for horse that they had lost. They prepared to fight them in the plain, certain they would be stronger that way.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again

In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went to fight Israel again. A man of God came near and told the king of Israel that they would be given into his hands so they would know that the Lord is God.

They encamped opposite each other for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle began. The people of Israel struck down the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. The rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.

Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. His servants decided to put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and go out to the king of Israel hoping he would spare their lives.

They went out and told the king of Israel that Ben-hadad asked to live. He said that he was his brother and was told to bring him there. Then Ben-hadad came out to meet him and said that the cities his father had taken from his father he would restore. Ahab said that he would let him go on certain terms, and they made a covenant with him and let him go.

Naboth’s Vineyard

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab told him that he wanted his vineyard to make it into a vegetable garden, because it was near his house. He would give him a better vineyard for it and it’s value in money.

But Naboth told him that the Lord had forbid him to give up his father’s inheritance. Ahab lay down on his bed and refused to eat anything. Jezebel his wife came to him and asked why his spirit was so vexed. She told him that he was indeed the ruler of Israel and to get up and eat, and she would give him the vineyard of Naboth.

She wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. She wrote in the letters that they should proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. Then he should be charged with offenses against him so he would be stoned to death.

The elders and the leaders did all that was written in the letters, and Naboth was killed. As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she told Ahab to go and take possession of the vineyard because Naboth was dead.

The Lord Condemns Ahab

The word of the Lord came to Elijah and told him to go and meet Ahab in the vineyard. He was to relay the message from the Lord that since he had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord, he would be killed as Naboth was; “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”

There would be disaster brought upon Ahab and his household. The Lord would burn them up and cut off from Ahab every male in Israel. As for Jezebel, the Lord said that the dogs would eat her within the walls of Jezreel.

Ahab’s Repentance

There were no other who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols. Ahab tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted.

The word of the Lord came to Elijah and told him that since Ahab had humbled himself before the Lord He would not bring the disaster in Ahab’s days, but in his son’s days.

Ahab and the False Prophets

For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel, wanting to go to battle with Ramoth-gilead over land.

Before they could go, they thought it was a good idea to inquire first the word of the Lord from the prophets. They gathered all the prophets together, about four hundred men and asked if they should go to battle. All the prophets said they should and that the Lord would give their enemies into their hands.

However, there was one prophet who was not there named Micaiah the son of Imlah. The king of Israel said that he hated Micaiah because he always prophesied evil against him.

Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab

Micaiah was sent for and told that all the prophets were favorable to the king, and that his word should be the same. Micaiah went to the king and said that he would be triumphant in the battle.

Except Ahab new he was lying and made him swear to tell the truth. So Micaiah told him that he had seen all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said that these have no master, let each return to his home in peace.

Micaiah said that he saw the Lord sitting on his throne with the host of heaven standing beside him on his right and on his left. The Lord asked who would entice Ahab so he would go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead. A spirit came forward and said that he would entice him by putting a lying spirit in the mouths of all the prophets.

Micaiah explained that the prophets were lying to him by means of the Lord, and the Lord had declared disaster for him. So Ahab put Micaiah in prison.

Ahab Killed in Battle

The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel said that he would disguise himself and go into battle, but Jehoshaphat should remain in his robes.

The king of Syria had commanded his army to only fight with the king of Israel. When they saw that Jehoshaphat was not the king of Israel they pulled back and stopped pursuing him.

But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between his armor and breastplate. Therefore he said to turn around for he was wounded. That evening the king died and every man went to his city, and to his country.

So the king died and he was brought to Samaria and they buried him there. Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. He walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from the Lord, and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He also made peace with the king of Israel. When he died he was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

Ahaziah Reigns in Israel

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years over Israel. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and his mother. He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done.