1 Kings 20:22

“And the prophet came to the king of Israel, etc.] The same that came to him before: and said unto him, go, strengthen thyself; exhorted him to fortify his cities, especially Samaria, and increase his army, that he might be able to oppose the king of Syria: and mark, and see what thou doest: observe his moral and religious actions, and take heed that he did not offend the Lord by them, as well as make military preparations: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee; about the same time in the next year, at the spring of the year, when kings go out to war, (see <101101>2 Samuel 11:1).”

“the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said--The same prophet who had predicted the victory shortly reappeared, admonishing the king to take every precaution against a renewal of hostilities in the following campaign. at the return of the year--that is, in spring, when, on the cessation of the rainy season, military campaigns (Sa2 11:1), were anciently begun. It happened as the prophet had forewarned. Brooding over their late disastrous defeat, the attendants of Ben-hadad ascribed the misfortune to two causes--the one arose from the principles of heathenism which led them to consider the gods of Israel as "gods of the hills"; whereas their power to aid the Israelites would be gone if…”

“Go, strengthen thyself ... - That is, “collect troops, raise fortifications, obtain allies ... take all the measures thou canst to increase thy military strength. Be not rash, but consider well every step ... for a great danger is impending.” At the return of the year - i. e., “When the season for military operations again comes round.” The wars of the Oriental monarchs at this time, like those of early Rome, were almost always of the nature of annual incursions into the territories of their neighbors, begun in spring and terminating in early autumn. Sustained invasions, lasting over the winter into a second or a third year, are not found until the time of Shalmaneser 2 Kings 17:5; 2 Kings…”

“Mark, and see - Consider what is necessary for thee to do by way of preparation. The enemies of the children of God, are restless in their malice and tho' they may take some breathing time for themselves, they are still breathing out slaughter against the church. It therefore concerns us always to expect our spiritual enemies, and to mark and see what we do. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:23”

“the prophet: Kg1 20:13, Kg1 20:38, Kg1 19:10, Kg1 22:8; Kg2 6:12 strengthen: Ch2 25:8, Ch2 25:11; Psa 27:14; Pro 18:10, Pro 20:18; Isa 8:9; Joe 3:9, Joe 3:10; Eph 6:10 at the return: Kg1 20:26; Sa2 11:1; Ch1 20:1; Psa 115:2, Psa 115:3; Isa 26:11, Isa 42:8 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:23”