Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
1 Kings 20
Concise Complete
Benhadad besieges Samaria. (1-11) Benhadad's defeat.
(12-21) The Syrians again defeated. (22-30) Ahab makes peace with Benhadad.
(31-43)
Verses 1-11
Benhadad sent Ahab a very insolent demand. Ahab sent a very disgraceful
submission; sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of the Divine
protection. If God do not rule us, our enemies shall: guilt dispirits men, and
makes them cowards. Ahab became desperate. Men will part with their most
pleasant things, those they most love, to save their lives; yet they lose their
souls rather than part with any pleasure or interest to prevent it. Here is one
of the wisest sayings that ever Ahab spake, and it is a good lesson to all. It
is folly to boast of any day to come, since we know not what it may bring forth.
Apply it to our spiritual conflicts. Peter fell by self-confidence. Happy is the
man who is never off his watch.
Verses 12-21
The proud Syrians were beaten, and the despised Israelites were conquerors. The
orders of the proud, drunken king disordered his troops, and prevented them from
attacking the Israelites. Those that are most secure, are commonly least
courageous. Ahab slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. God often makes one
wicked man a scourge to another.
Verses 22-30
Those about Benhadad advised him to change his ground. They take it for granted
that it was not Israel, but Israel's gods, that beat them; but they speak very
ignorantly of Jehovah. They supposed that Israel had many gods, to whom they
ascribed limited power within a certain district; thus vain were the Gentiles in
their imaginations concerning God. The greatest wisdom in worldly concerns is
often united with the most contemptible folly in the things of God.
Verses 31-43
This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves before God; Have
we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him
so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from an apprehension of the mercy of
God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most
haughty in prosperity often are most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will
thus affect a man in both these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab,
success is ill bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their
generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour
be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophet
designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punished for
sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sorer punishment
should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enemy and God's, when God
said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy and displeased, not truly penitent,
or seeking to undo what he had done amiss; every way out of humour,
notwithstanding his victory. Alas! many that hear the glad tidings of Christ,
are busy and there till the day of salvation is gone.
Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
