1 Kings 20:13

“And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, etc.] Supposed by the Jewish writers to be Micaiah the son of Imlah, (<112209>1 Kings 22:9) one of those perhaps that Obadiah hid in the cave, and now is sent out publicly on an errand to Ahab: saying, thus saith the Lord, hast thou seen all this great multitude? considered what a vast number Benhadad’s army consisted of: behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; as great as it is: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; and not Baal, who can save by few as well as by many, and from a great multitude.”

“THE SYRIANS ARE SLAIN. (Kg1 20:13-20) behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab--Though the king and people of Israel had highly offended Him, God had not utterly cast them off. He still cherished designs of mercy towards them, and here, though unasked, gave them a signal proof of His interest in them, by a prophet's animating announcement that the Lord would that day deliver the mighty hosts of the enemy into his hand by means of a small, feeble, inadequate band. Conformably to the prophet's instructions, two hundred thirty-two young men went boldly out towards the camp of the enemy, while seven thousand more, apparently volunteers, followed at some little distance, or posted themselves at the…”

“The rabbinical commentators conjecture that this prophet was Micaiah, the son of Imlah, who is mentioned below 1 Kings 22:8. Hast thou seen all this great multitude? - The boast of Ben-hadad 1 Kings 20:10, was not without a basis of truth; his force seems to have exceeded 130, 000 (compare 1 Kings 20:25, 1 Kings 20:29-30). In his wars with the Assyrians we find him sometimes at the head of 100, 000 men. return to 'Top of Page'”

“And behold, &c. - God, though forsaken and neglected by Ahab, prevents him with his gracious promise of help: that Ahab and the idolatrous Israelites, might hereby be fully convinced, or left without excuse, that Ben - hadad's intolerable pride, and contempt of God, and of his people, might be punished: and that the remnant of his prophets and people who were involved in the same calamity with the rest of the Israelites, might be preserved and delivered. I am the Lord - And not Baal, because I will deliver thee, which he cannot do. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:14”

“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). 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…”

“came: Heb. approached Hast thou: Kg2 6:8-12, Kg2 7:1, Kg2 13:23; Isa 7:1-9; Eze 20:14, Eze 20:22 and thou shalt: Kg1 20:28, Kg1 18:37; Exo 14:18, Exo 16:12; Psa 83:18; Isa 37:20; Eze 6:7; Joe 3:17 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:14”