Keraia
1 Kings 20

1 Kings 20:43

A Prophet Reproves Ahab · 1 Kings 20:35–43
Read 1 Kings 20

Translations

Modern
Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.
Traditional
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
Literal
And the king of Israel went to his house, sullen and angry, and he came to Samaria.
Latin
Reversus est igitur rex Israël in domum suam, audire contemnens, et furibundus venit in Samariam.

Original

Hebrew
English
Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.

Notes

1 Kings 20:42–43

The Lord had told Ahab to execute Ben-hadad (see Joshua 6:17–21), but Ahab disobeyed. He might have seen the Aramean king as a prize of war (see 1 Samuel 15:1–23). Ahab, the king of Israel, would later regret this mistake. He faced Ben-hadad in another battle, which led to his own death (1 Kings 22:29–37). Instead of learning from the prophet’s warning, Ahab returned home angry and upset.

1 Kings 20:35–43

Ahab showed mercy to Ben-hadad, which displeased God. An unnamed prophet used symbolic actions to show this disapproval. God's prophets often used symbols to deliver his messages (Isaiah 20; Jeremiah 27:1–7; Ezekiel 4:1–3, 9–17; 5:1–4). By sparing an untrustworthy enemy, Ahab brought judgment on himself and his people instead of relying more on the Lord.

Theme notes and profiles

Ahab Jezebel Prophets in 1 Kings

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants

Glossary

Ahab (King) Ben-Hadad Gilead (Place) Kings, Books of First and Second Samaria Sons of the Prophets

Topics

Syria: The Israelites: Craftily Drawn Into a League With