The role of the king was to not only lead the people with military, but to also lead them to follow God. When a king led the people to worship idols instead, the Lord would send his prophets to speak against his actions. Although Elijah was the most well known prophet during the time of Ahab, he wasn’t the only one sent to Ahab to correct him. Another unique thing about these times of the kings is how the king of Aram, Ben-Hadad, plays a huge role in God’s judgment to Israel and Judah. He was first seen during the reigns of Asa in Judah and Baasha in Israel. King Asa had paid Ben-Hadad a huge amount of gold to serve as an ally to attack Israel long before Ahab had ever become king.
Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”
The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”
The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’” 1 Kings 20:1-6
Not only has Ahab had to deal with the “troubles” of Elijah and the judgement of God, but Aram, along with 32 smaller kingdoms come to attack Israel. They will back off if Ahab sends the treasures and his own families to them for payment.
Although it seems that Ahab gladly obliges to get them to back off, perhaps he gave only what he felt would satisfy their wants. Not satisfied with the treasure he receives, Ben-Hadad sends a message that it isn’t enough. They will attack the next day and take everything Ahab owns.
The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”
The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”
So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad. 20:7-9
When Ahab hears the new demands of Benny, he has had enough. He turns to his elder and wisemen to ask for their advice. What else can they do?! Ahab sends the reply back, “No! We’re not gonna take it!” Of course this means that they will have to fight it out. This is now a call to war.
Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”
The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’”
Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he ordered his men: “Prepare to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city. 20:10-12
The two kings are trying to call each other’s bluff. The banter back and forth with threats and insults. Ben-Hadid tries to intimidate Ahab by saying he will level him beyond the point of dust. Ahab quick replies back by calling out his claim. Don’t brag about what you will do until you actually can.
Then it seems Ban-Hadad has heard enough. Notice here that he calls the kings and army to battle WHILE they are drinking in their tents. I think this is an important time asterisk. I think that between the time that Ahab sends his reply and Ben-Hadad receives it, the following verses occur.
Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
“But who will do this?” asked Ahab.
The prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’”
“And who will start the battle?” he asked.
The prophet answered, “You will.”
So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all. They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk. 20:13-16
Insert the time asterisk here. Notice the word “meanwhile”. So as Ahab is sending his message, or even while the two kings are bantering, a prophet of God delivers a message to Ahab. We don’t know the prophets name, but the test of a true prophet is in their message. If it come true, the prophet is telling the truth.
I can picture Ahab, looking out to where the other army lies in a nearby hilltop. He’s probably wondering if he is dong the right thing or if this is the end of him. The prophet points out this view. See them? Don’t be afraid! This is ending today, but not for you, Ahab. It will happen so that, again, you will know the LORD is God.
Ahab asks for details. How will this happen? Who should lead out? Who will attack first? Notice the answer to who will attack first is not Ben-Hadad. Again a marker to that time asterisk. Then as Ahab’s army goes out we see it all come together. At noon, Israel’s army goes out while the Aramean army is drinking in their tents.
The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first.
Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”
He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans. 20: 17-21
Ben-Hadad, when the report is sent that Ahab is sending an attack, is quite arrogant. He thinks, “Just take all of them captive. They are not a threat.” Even with the weaker junior officers leading, Israel strikes the Aramean down. They were drunk and not ready for battle. Israel was able to overpower and inflict heavy losses to their enemies.
Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.” 20:22
After the victory, the prophet returns to Ahab with an important message. Don’t waste this victory. Aram will be back next spring. Do what you can to prepare for another battle.
Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they. Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.” He agreed with them and acted accordingly. 20:23-25
Even the Arameans recognized Israel’s victory as a supernatural one. They claimed the victory was only because their gods were gods of the hills. The worship of Baal occurred on the hilltops. Psalm 121:1 says, “I lift my eyes up to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. Maker of heaven and earth.” The Psalmist was pointing out the worship to false gods in the hilltops, and proclaiming that is not where his help comes from. True help comes from the Creator of the hills, the LORD alone. The officials told Ben-Hadad, go back, but fight Ahab in the valleys, because their gods won’t be able to help them.
The next spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.
The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the 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.’” 20:26-28
The following spring, Ben-Hadad took his massive army that he had built up and went back to attack Israel. This time he prepared his army in a valley. Israel also set up their camp to oppose them. The writer describes Israel as two small flocks of goats in the valley compared to the entire countryside or Arameans.
The prophet appears before Ahab again with a message. God will deliver them again, but only because Ben-Hadad thinks the Lord is weak and limited. He is not the god of the Hills. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek, where the wall collapsed on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 20:29-31
Just as the prophet had said, Israel defeated Aram. 100,000 Arameans died on the valley floor. Another 27,000 died when a city wall collapsed on them while they tried to hide. Ben-Hadid’s official told him to see if Ahab would show mercy and spare his life.
Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”
The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said.
“Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
“I will return the cities my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad offered. “You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”
Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go. 20:32-34
Dressed to not impress, some officials appear to Ahab. They beg for mercy to let Ben-Hadad live. Ahab doesn’t even hesitate. He is surprised to hear he is alive and impressed to know that he wants to make peace. Ben-Hadad came out from hiding. While meeting in a chariot, they make a peace treaty. Benny will return the cities he’s taken captive and help reestablish peace. All is well for Ahab. That is, except he stole the glory of the Lord.
The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him. Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.’ While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”
“That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”
Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should 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. 20:37-43
Although Ahab though his actions were good, they were not obedient. They benefitted Ahab. It’s almost as if he can’t believe he actually won and makes a deal he doesn’t actually need. The sentence for Ahab’s life was given. He would have no more chances with the Lord. His punishment for not obeying would be certain death. Ahab returns to his palace. Instead of celebration, he is sullen and angry.
To make this craft, I found a jester image. The kids will color in the picture. The will also write the thoughts of the fool, which is the Bible verse from Psalm 14:1
All scripture is in bold print and is used from the NLT.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Ascend: Bible Adventures 