1 Kings 20 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Kings 20 Short Summary:

In 1 Kings 20, Ben-hadad king of Syria brought his army to Israel and fought against Samaria. God gave King Ahab victory, and his men routed the Syrians. The next spring, Ben-hadad returned with a new army, but once again, God gave Israel victory, and they killed over 125,000 Syrians. Unfortunately, Ahab let Ben-hadad return home after the battle. God sent a prophet to Ahab to tell him his life would be required of him because he failed to destroy Ben-hadad.

1 Kings 20 Extended Summary

WHEN:

• According to the timeline we are using for this study, the kingdom of Israel and Judah divided in 975 B.C.

• The period that followed, sometimes called the period of the “Divided Kingdom,” lasted the next few centuries. Israel remained a cohesive nation until 721 B.C. (Assyrian captivity), while Judah lasted until 607 B.C. (Babylonian exile).

• King Ahab’s reign over Israel (22 years) probably fits somewhere between 920-890 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Ahab – Omri’s son and one of Israel’s most wicked kings.

• Ben-hadad – King of Syria.

• A Prophet of God – This man delivered a message of punishment to King Ahab after his battle with the Syrians.

WHERE:

• The kingdom of Syria was just to the north of Israel’s territory.

• Israel’s capital was Samaria.

• The Syrian soldiers fled to Aphek after being routed by the army of Israel.

OUTLINE:

• AHAB REJECTS THE REQUESTS OF THE KING OF SYRIA (20:1-12):

  • Ben-hadad of Syria and a confederation of 32 kings attacked Samaria.

  • Ben-hadad sent messengers to Ahab claiming all of Ahab’s possessions as his own.

  • Later, Ben-hadad told Ahab he was sending men into Samaria to spoil the city and take anything they wanted.

  • At this, Ahab protested, and refused to let Ben-hadad proceed, so Ben-hadad readied his men to attack.

• AHAB’S FIRST BATTLE WITH THE SYRIANS (20:13-22):

  • God promised to give Ahab victory, even though his army was significantly smaller.

  • Ahab instigated the battle when Ben-hadad and his allies were drinking. They defeated Ben-hadad’s men, but the king escaped on a horse.

  • Israel “struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow” (20:21).

  • A prophet of God warned Ahab the Syrians would return in the spring.

• AHAB’S SECOND BATTLE WITH THE SYRIANS (20:23-34):

  • Ben-hadad’s advisors counseled him that is loss was due to the Israelite God being a god of the hills. They advised him to rebuild his army and fight in the plain next time.

  • Ben-hadad did as thy instructed and brought his new army to Israel in the spring.

  • The Syrians “filled the country” but the Israelites were like “two little flocks of goats.”

  • God’s prophet told Ahab Israel would be victorious. God was going to prove His lordship extended well beyond the hills of Samaria.

  • Israel killed 100,000 Syrians and 27,000 more were killed when the walls of Aphek fell on them (perhaps miraculously).

  • After the battle, Ahab let Ben-hadad live. He made a covenant with him and sent him home.

• A PROPHET CONDEMNS AHAB FOR ALLOWING BEN-HADAD TO LIVE (20:35-43):

  • A prophet told a man to strike him because the Lord commanded it.

  • When the man refused, the prophet told the man he would be killed by a lion for disobeying God.

  • The prophet found another man and repeated the instruction. This time the man struck him and injured him.

  • The wounded prophet bandaged his eye and sat in the road, waiting for King Ahab to come by.

  • When the king arrived, the prophet pretended he was a man who had been entrusted with guarding another man at the risk of his life, and he had failed his job. The man he was supposed to be guarding escaped.

  • Ahab told him he deserved to die.

  • But then the prophet took off his bandage and announced a condemnation on the king.

  • God had entrusted Ahab with destroying Ben-hadad, but Ahab had failed and let him go.

  • God was going to require Ahab’s life as punishment.

APPLICATIONS:

• We are not in a position to extend grace and pardon to the enemies of God.

• Ahab shouldn’t have extended grace or pardon to Ben-hadad.

• Unfortunately, many Christians promote a message of tolerance and acceptance, excusing and justifying people who live in rebellion to the word of God.

• Those who reject God’s instructions and blaspheme Him are enemies of God (Romans 5:10).

• Enemies of God will face His judgement. The last thing we want to be found doing is supporting those one whom God’s judgement is going to fall (Romans 1:32).