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1Kings 19:1 ¶ And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 

1Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 

Continuing the narrative from the last chapter…

When Ahab returned home, he told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets of Baal.  Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah swearing an oath in the name of her gods that she would kill Elijah by the same time the next day.

1Kings 19:3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 

1Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 

All of a sudden this great man of faith acted like a scared rabbit.  Upon receiving the message from Jezebel, Elijah ran for his life to Beersheba at the southern end of Judah and left his servant there.  He then went on for another day’s journey into the wilderness.  He finally sat down under a juniper tree and asked the LORD to let him die.  He decided that he was finished; he was no better than his fathers before him.  

Many commentators interpret the last statement of verse 4 to reference his inability to get the people to turn back to God.

Clarke adds an insightful note:  “Probably Elijah had played into Jezebel’s hands. Had she really wanted Elijah dead, she surely would have seized him without warning and would have killed him. What she desired was that Elijah and his God be discredited before the new converts who had aided Elijah by executing the prophets of Baal. Without a leader, revolutionary movements usually stumble and fall away.”

1Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 

1Kings 19:6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 

1Kings 19:7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 

1Kings 19:8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 

Elijah fell asleep under the tree.  Suddenly, an angel touched him and told him to get up and eat.  When he looked, Elijah saw that a cake had been prepared on coals of fire and there was a cruse of water at his head.  So he ate and drank and lay back down.

I am reminded of a verse in Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:13–14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

The angel of the LORD came a second time and again told him to get up and eat in preparation for the journey ahead of him.  Once again Elijah did as the angel commanded and journeyed in the strength of that meal for 40 days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God, the place where the LORD had appeared to Moses in the burning bush and later received the ten commandments.

I think the LORD must have fed him with special bread from heaven for it to be able to sustain Elijah for so long.

1Kings 19:9 ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 

1Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 

Arriving at Mount Horeb, Elijah found a cave in which to dwell.  The LORD spoke to him and asked him what he was doing here.

Elijah answered that he had been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts.  He was provoked because the people of Israel had forsaken their covenant with God, torn down their altars to Him, and killed His prophets. He then lamented that he was the only one left and now they sought to kill him.  

Actually, his threat was from Jezebel—not the people.  

1Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 

1Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 

The LORD then told Elijah to present himself before Him upon the mount.  When the LORD passed by, a powerful wind tore at the mountains; it was so powerful that it broke rocks into pieces; but the LORD did not reveal Himself in the wind.  After the wind, there was an earthquake; but the LORD did not reveal Himself in the earthquake.  After the earthquake, there was a fire; but the LORD did not reveal Himself in the fire.  After the fire, there was a still small voice.

God does not always reveal Himself in dramatic miraculous ways.  He often shows up quietly and without fanfare.  I liked Guzik’s observation:  “…displays of power and preaching God’s anger don’t necessarily change hearts. Instead, the still small voice of God speaking to the human heart is actually more powerful than outward displays of power or displays of Gods judgment.”

1Kings 19:13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 

1Kings 19:14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 

When Elijah heard the small voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle (as a sign of respect) and went to stand in the entrance to the cave.  He knew it was the LORD.  He heard a voice that asked him once again what he was doing here.

Elijah gave the same answer that he had the first time.

1Kings 19:15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 

1Kings 19:16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 

1Kings 19:17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 

1Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 

The LORD then told Elijah that there was more He wanted him to do.  He commanded Elijah to go back by way of the wilderness of Damascus.  He was to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.   He was also to go and anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi, as king over Israel.  Thirdly, he was to anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as his successor.  Those that escaped death at the sword of Hazael would find death at the hand of Jehu.  Those that escaped Jehu would suffer death at the hand of Elisha.  I think the significant point being made is that these three men would be the ones through whom God brought judgment against the idolatrous people of Israel.

This is the first time that I noticed that God anointed a Gentile king.  We know from the Holy Spirit’s words through the prophet Daniel that God is ever sovereign over the rulers of this world.

Daniel 2:20–21 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings….”

The LORD then told Elijah that he was not alone in his commitment to the LORD; there were yet 7000 men in Israel faithful to Him that had not bowed their knee to Baal or worshipped him.

1Kings 19:19 ¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 

1Kings 19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 

1Kings 19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Once again, we see the obedient prophet.  When he got to Elisha (after anointing Hazael and Jehu?), he was plowing the field with a total of 12 teams of oxen.  He was working as part of the 12th team.  As Elijah passed by him, he threw his mantle upon him.  

Elisha understood what this meant.  He left the oxen and ran after Elijah asking permission to say goodbye to his parents.  Elijah basically said OK.  

Constable notes that what have I done to thee “is an idiom that means, ‘Do as you please.’”

Elisha went back and killed a yoke of oxen (presumably his own) and boiled the flesh over a fire fueled by the wood of the yoke.  He gave the food to the people (his family and close friends I presume) and then ran after Elijah to serve him and be his companion.

When we get to 2Kings 8-9, it would appear that Elijah delegated the responsibility of anointing Hazael and Jehu to Elisha.

I liked Wiersbe’s summary at the end of this chapter:  “As you review the chapter, you can see the mistakes that Elijah made and how God overruled them and accomplished His will.  Elijah often walked by sight and not by faith, yet the Lord sustained him.  He looked at himself and his failures instead of at God’s greatness and power.  He was more concerned about accomplishing more than his ancestors than he was about calling and preparing new servants for the future.  He isolated himself from God’s people and thereby lost the strength and encouragement of their fellowship and prayers.  But let’s not be too tough on Elijah, for he did have a sensitive ear to the still, small voice of the Lord, and he did obey what God told him to do.  The Lord gently rebuked Elijah and brought him out of his cave and back into active service.  Let’s keep these things in mind and recall them the next time we’re under our broom tree or in our cave.”

1Kings 20:1 ¶ And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. 

1Kings 20:2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad, 

1Kings 20:3 Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. 

Benhadad, the king of Syria, gathered together an army including horses and chariots from a coalition of 32 kings (rulers, probably of smaller tribes) and set siege to Samaria.  He then sent messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, telling him that he was going to take possession of his gold, silver, and his best looking wives and children.

1Kings 20:4 And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have. 

Ahab answered by declaring that Benhadad could have it all.  He knew he was vastly outnumbered and could not win. 

I wonder if Jezebel knew about his response.  Was she exempt because she was queen?

1Kings 20:5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children; 

1Kings 20:6 Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away. 

Benhadad sent messengers a second time to Ahab.  He basically said:  Even though I told you I was only going to take your silver, gold and best looking wives and children, I have decided to send my servants to also search your house and the houses of your servants to take away the things that you value the most.

1Kings 20:7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not. 

1Kings 20:8 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent. 

1Kings 20:9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again. 

The second message upset Ahab.  It seems he did not mind giving up his wives and children, but he certainly did not want to give up his favorite treasures.  Today, that would probably equate with his fancy cars and technology gadgets.  He met with the elders of the land and told them about the messages.  

The elders urged him not to consent.  So Ahab sent the messengers back to tell Benhadad that he had asked for too much.  He would not comply.

1Kings 20:10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. 

1Kings 20:11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. 

Benhadad then sent back a threatening message.  He swore with an oath by his gods, that he would attack with an army so large that the dust of Samaria would only allow each a handful.

Ahab basically responded:  I wouldn’t boast until the battle is over.  Or…Don't count your chickens before they hatch (as we would say today).

1Kings 20:12 ¶ And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city. 

1Kings 20:13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 

When Benhadad received Ahab’s answer, he was enjoying a drinking fest with the kings that formed his coalition.  He ordered his soldiers to prepare for battle against Samaria.

Meanwhile, an unnamed prophet came to Ahab with a message from the LORD.  He remarked about the vast army arrayed against him.  He then declared that the LORD would give him the victory that day to once again attest to the truth that He is the LORD, the self-existent eternal God.

1Kings 20:14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou. 

1Kings 20:15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 

1Kings 20:16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him. 

Ahab basically asked how the LORD would do this.  The prophet declared that the LORD would use the young men that serve the district governors.  Ahab then asked who should attack first and was told that he should.

So Ahab numbered the young men and found that there were 232.  He then numbered the fighting men of Israel and found 7000.  They went out to meet the enemy at noon.  Meanwhile, Benhadad and his cohorts were getting drunk.

Clarke adds possible insight:  “These were probably the king's life or body guards; not all the militia, but two hundred and thirty of them who constituted the royal guard in Samaria.”

Sometimes I can’t help but wish there was a prophet of God available to answer questions so immediately and specifically.

1Kings 20:17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria. 

1Kings 20:18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. 

1Kings 20:19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. 

1Kings 20:20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. 

1Kings 20:21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. 

The 232 young men went out first, and Benhadad’s lookouts warned him that troops from Samaria were headed their way.  Benhadad ordered that they be captured alive whether they approached in peace or for war.  The army of 7000 then followed the young men.  The men of Israel killed the men they encountered, until the rest of the Syrians fled in fear with the men of Israel in pursuit.  Benhadad escaped on a horse with his cavalry.  Ahab led the attack on the horses and chariots; they destroyed the Syrians in a great victory.

So where are the words of praise and gratitude to the LORD God of Israel?

1Kings 20:22 ¶ And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. 

The same prophet came again to Ahab and told him to get prepared because Benhadad and his troops would return the next year.

Principle:  God expects His people to stay prepared and ready to engage the enemy even as they depend on Him to fight for them and through them.

1Kings 20:23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 

1Kings 20:24 And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 

1Kings 20:25 And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. 

Benhadad’s servants explained to their king that the gods of the men of Israel were the gods of the hills.  This was why they had lost.  They advised the king to engage them in battle in the plain, and they would surely overcome them.  They also advised him to replace the kings with military commanders.  He should prepare an army that matched the one he had lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot.  By choosing to fight the men of Israel in the plain, they would prove to be stronger.

The king did as his servants advised.

1Kings 20:26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 

1Kings 20:27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 

The next year, Benhadad took his troops and encamped at Aphek to engage the Israelites in battle.  The troops of Israel resembled little flocks of goats in comparison to the massive army of the Syrians.

1Kings 20:28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

1Kings 20:29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day. 

1Kings 20:30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. 

Another man of God came to Ahab with another message from the LORD.  He basically said:  The Syrians have claimed that I am the God of the hills, but not of the valleys.  I will respond to such lies by giving you the victory yet again.  You (and they) will know that I am the LORD over all of My creation.

For seven days the two armies did nothing.  On the evening of the seventh day the battle began.  The children of Israel killed 100,000 Syrian footmen in one day.  The rest of the Syrian troops fled to the city of Aphek, but the wall fell and crushed 27,000 more.  Benhadad escaped into the city proper and hid.

Can anyone honestly deny that Israel’s victory was a miracle of God?  I have a set of DVDs entitled, “Against All Odds:  Israel Survives.”  I believe the evidence proves that the LORD is still working miracles today on behalf of yet unrepentant Israel as He nears the conclusion of the fulfillment of His plan that will culminate in the return of the LORD Jesus as King of kings.

1Kings 20:31 ¶ And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. 

1Kings 20:32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. 

Benhadad’s servants proposed that they throw themselves on the mercy of the king since they had heard that the kings of Israel were usually merciful.  They suggested that they present themselves clothed in sackcloth and with ropes on their heads (a sign of submission).  They went to Ahab and told him that Benhadad asked that his life be spared.  Ahab asked if he was really still alive and then acknowledged him as his brother.  

Ahab just didn’t have much common sense it seems.  He’s so ready to forgive and forget the actions of this evil king that had threatened him, his family and his kingdom with such obvious disdain in arrogance and pride.

1Kings 20:33 Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 

1Kings 20:34 And Benhadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away. 

The men took Ahab’s response as meaning that he would spare Benhadad’s life, and affirmed that he was indeed Ahab’s brother.  The king then instructed them to go and bring Benhadad to him.  When he arrived, Ahab took him up into his chariot.  Benhadad promised to restore the cities to Israel that his father had captured.  He also promised to allocate a portion of Damascus to the Israelites to establish places of business as his father had done in Samaria.  Ahab then promised to set him free under those terms.  They then affirmed their covenant.

The NIV Commentary adds some possible insight:  “One reason for Ahab’s leniency toward Ben-Hadad may lie in his appraisal of the troublesome political situation of those days. Already Assyria was on the move against the Aramean tribes. By joining in forces with Ben-Hadad, Ahab hoped to have a sufficiently large force of chariots and infantry to stand up to the Assyrians.”

If that is true, he was totally disregarding what the LORD had done on his behalf.  He should have realized that turning to the LORD in faith and repentance would have made him and his kingdom far more secure.

1Kings 20:35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. 

1Kings 20:36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. 

1Kings 20:37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. 

1Kings 20:38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. 

Enter on the scene a “certain man” of the sons of the prophets.  He asked one of his associates to hit him, but the man refused.  He told the man that because he had refused, a lion would kill him that very day; and it did.  He then approached another man and asked him to hit him.  The man hit him so hard that it wounded him.  This was evidently what the man of God wanted.  He then disguised himself with a covering or bandage on his head and went out to wait for the king to pass by.

1Kings 20:39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. 

1Kings 20:40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 

When he saw the king, he called out to him.  He told the king that he was in the midst of battle when a soldier brought a man to him and told him to guard him with his life.  If he allowed the man to escape, he would forfeit his life or pay a talent of silver.  He continued to explain that he got very busy, and the man escaped.  The king told him that he would be judged as had been decreed and he had reported to him.

1Kings 20:41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 

1Kings 20:42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. 

1Kings 20:43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria. 

The man of God quickly pulled the bandage from off his face, and the king recognized him as one of the prophets.  He then told Ahab that because he had let Benhadad live, a man that the LORD had appointed to utter destruction, he had forfeited his life and the lives of his people.

Commentators note that the man of God used the same method that Nathan had used against David in confronting him concerning his actions toward Uriah and Bathsheba (see 2Samuel 12).  He basically got him to pronounce sentence upon himself.

Ahab went back home to Samaria both sad and angry.

It seems he at least had enough of a healthy fear of God that he did no harm to the prophet.