1Ki 20:13-25 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Kgs 20:13-34: 20:13-34 Two distinct battles ensued, one in Samaria (20:13-25 ) and one at Aphek (20:26-34 ). The writer included similar details regarding both: (1) pre-battle counsel (20:13-14 , 23-25 ), (2) pre-battle conditions (20:15-16 , 26-28 ), (3) victory for Israel despite the superior numbers of the enemy (20:17-21 , 29-30 ), and (4) post-battle counsel (20:22 , 31 ). Summary for 1Kgs 20:13-16: 20:13-16 Ahab’s forces attacked about noontime after receiving assurance of victory from an unknown prophet. The Jewish historian Josephus suggested that the prophet was Micaiah (cp. 22:8 ). The timing of the Israelite attack, during the heat of the day (see Josh 8:14 ), took the enemy by surprise. Ben-hadad and the ... allied kings were still drinking , demonstrating their disdain for Ahab’s military capability.

Summary for 1Kgs 20:13-34: 20:13-34 ^a Two distinct battles ensued, one in Samaria (20:13-25 ^b) and one at Aphek (20:26-34 ^c). The writer included similar details regarding both: (1) pre-battle counsel (20:13-14 ^d, 23-25 ^e), (2) pre-battle conditions (20:15-16 ^f, 26-28 ^g), (3) victory for Israel despite the superior numbers of the enemy (20:17-21 ^h, 29-30 ⁱ), and (4) post-battle counsel (20:22 ^j, 31 ^k).
Summary for 1Kgs 20:13-16: 20:13-16 ^l Ahab’s forces attacked about noontime after receiving assurance of victory from an unknown prophet. The Jewish historian Josephus suggested that the prophet was Micaiah (cp. 22:8 ^m). The timing of the Israelite attack, during the heat of the day (see Josh 8:14 ⁿ), took the enemy by surprise. Ben-hadad and the ... allied kings were still drinking, demonstrating their disdain for Ahab’s military capability.
20:17 ^o first contingent: Ahab apparently sent this small squad to test the enemy. Surprise attacks in the ancient Near East often divided the attacking forces into assault groups designed to launch a pincer movement against the enemy (Judg 7:16 ^p; 1 Sam 11:11 ^q), to lure the opposing forces into an ambush (Josh 8:15-22 ^r), or to draw the enemy to a spot where the attacking army enjoyed a superior position (Judg 4:14-16 ^s; 5:19-21 ^t).
Summary for 1Kgs 20:20-22: 20:20-22 ^u Horses and chariots were a key asset in ancient warfare. Ahab’s destruction of the major portion of Ben-hadad’s striking power was essential to guard against a future incursion. Still, God’s prophet warned that the king of Aram would return.

• next spring: Late spring and early summer were standard seasons for warfare in the ancient Near East; the forces could count on good weather and a supply of grain from the early harvest.
20:23 ^v The reasoning that Israel had gods of the hills set the stage for the Lord to show his true identity (20:28 ^w). Ben-hadad’s officers had a pagan religious outlook. Perhaps their erroneous view was fostered by traditional knowledge of the Lord’s appearance to Israel on Mount Sinai (Exod 19:1-3 ^x, 16-18 ^y) or of Israel’s long-term settlement of the hill country of Canaan (see Josh 10:40 ^z; 11:16 ^aa; Judg 1:19 ^ab). The Arameans were not aware that God is the Creator and Lord of all the earth (Isa 40:28 ^ac; 54:5 ^ad), the only God who alone can save (Isa 45:5 ^ae, 22 ^af).
Summary for 1Kgs 20:24-25: 20:24-25 ^ag Ben-hadad’s field commanders reasoned that with trained military leadership and superiority in manpower and equipment, they would easily defeat Israel on the plains in the next encounter.