This chapter is the history of a war between Ben-hadad king of Syria and Ahab king of Israel, in which Ahab was, once and again, victorious. We read nothing of Elijah or Elishain all this story; Jezebel’s rage, it is probable, had abated, and the persecution of the prophets began to cool, which…

Here is, I. The threatening descent which Ben-hadad made upon Ahab’s kingdom, and the siege he laid to Samaria, his royal city, 1 Kings 20:1. What the ground of the quarrel was we are not told; covetousness and ambition were the principle, which would never want some pretence or other.

The treaty between the besiegers and the besieged being broken off abruptly, we have here an account of the battle that ensued immediately. I. The Syrians, the besiegers, had their directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, as he was drinking , drinking himself drunk with the…

We have here an account of another successful campaign which Ahab, by divine aid, made against the Syrians, in which he gave them a greater defeat than in the former.

Here is an account of what followed upon the victory which Israel obtained over the Syrians. I. Ben-hadad’s tame and mean submission. Even in his inner chamber he feared, and would, if he could, flee further, though none pursued.