I Kings Chapter 20
Please read: I Kings 20 –
The northern kingdom of Israel had just been through a three-year drought. They were in a weak and vulnerable state. The king of Syria, Ben-hadad took the opportunity to capture Samaria. This is likely the same king that Asa had made a covenant with back in chapter 15 or a son of that man with the same name. He would have known about the riches in Israel. When the king of the northern tribe heard that Ben-hadad was going to just take spoils of war, gold, silver and his choice wives, he was in agreement. He was probably thinking that he was happy that he was not going to be taken captive or killed. But then Ben-hadad demanded more. He wanted to come in and take whatever he wanted. Which more than likely meant – everything.
But God intervened; He was not going to allow Ben-hadad to take possession of Israel. God sent a prophet to Ahab to let him know that God would give him the victory over the great army of Syria. God did give them the victory just as He said He would, but the Syrians reconvened in the spring to come up against them in the plains rather than the hilly country of Israel. Once again God would prove that He is God of all, and the Syrians would be defeated.
Let's Reflect
1. What had the king of Syria done to the northern king of Israel according to verse 1?
2. Ben-hadad was not content with taking just some spoils of war, he wanted more. Who did Ahab meet with for advice on the situation?
3. An unnamed prophet came to speak to Ahab to let him know that God was going to give the great army of Syria into his hand. What did God tell Ahab would be the result of this great victory? What would Ahab know?
4. Ahab might have spent his time worshipping the wrong god but he had seen the power of God with his own eyes at Mount Carmel and he trusted the word of this prophet and prepared his men for battle. When Ben-hadad got word that men were coming for them out of Samaria, what was his command regarding this small army coming their way?
5. God gave them victory, but Ben-hadad had escaped. A prophet told Ahab that it was not the end of it. The Syrians would attack again in the spring. According to verse 22 what advice did the prophet give to Ahab?
6. The spring came and the northern tribe of Israel was prepared for battle. It seemed impossible since the army of the Syrians far out-numbered them, but God was on the side of Israel. Ben-hadad thought he would have the advantage this time because they had mustered in the plains rather than the hills. According to verse 28, what reason did the prophet give that God had said would be the reason Ahab would have the victory?
7. The Israelites took out 100,000 Syrian soldiers and 27,000 more escaped. What happened to the 27,000?
8. Ben-hadad had escaped once again from battle, but he was captured. He made a deal with Ahab to preserve his life. Ahab did the wrong thing. What did he do?
9. A prophet came to Ahab in a dramatic fashion, looking like a victim of an assault. He told the king a made-up story of how he had been tasked with guarding a prisoner of war, but the man supposedly beat him and escaped. He said he had been told if the man escaped it would cost him his life. The king thought that it all seemed fair and there was no decision for him to make on the matter. When the prophet removed the bandage from his eye, the king recognized him as a prophet. What news did the prophet give Ahab?
10. Do you see how the prophet’s dramatic acting helped to explain to Ahab where he had gone wrong?
