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1 Kings 20:26

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 20:26 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
1 Kings 20:26 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;
25and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
29And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.
← 1 Kings 20:251 Kings 20:27 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it came to pass at the return of the year, etc.] In the spring, or autumn, as some think, (see Gill on “<101101>2 Samuel 11:1”) that Benhadad numbered the Syrians; took a muster of his army, to see if he had got the number he had before: and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel; not that in Judah, (<061553>Joshua 15:53), rather that in Asher, (<061930>Joshua 19:30), but it seems to be that which Adrichomius f431 places in Issachar, near to the famous camp of Esdraelon, or valley of Jezreel, where it is probable the king of Syria intended to have fought; the battle; and some travellers, as he observes, say f432 , the ruins of that city are still shown in that great camp or plain, not…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Aphek - There were several places of this name in Palestine (see the marginal reference). This Aphek has been almost certainly identified with the modern Fik, a large village on the present high road from Damascus to Nablous and Jersalem. The expression “went up to Aphek” is appropriate, for Fik, though in a level country, is at a much higher elevation than Damascus. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:26 Aphek was east of the Sea of Galilee in northern Ramoth-gilead. Ben-hadad’s officers assumed that this location would favor the Aramean chariots and take away the power of Israel’s “gods of the hills.””
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Aphek: Supposed to be the Aphek near the river Adonis, between Heliopolis and Biblos, and probably the same place that Paul Lucas mentions in his Voyage to the Levant. It was swallowed up by an earthquake, and formed a lake about nine miles in circumference, in which he says there were several houses still to be seen entire, under the water. Kg1 20:30; Jos 13:4, Jos 19:30; Jdg 1:31, Aphik, Sa1 4:1, Sa1 29:1; Kg2 13:17 to fight against Israel: Heb. to the war with Israel 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:27”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“With the new year (see Kg1 20:22) Benhadad advanced to Aphek again to fight against Israel. Aphek is neither the city of that name in the tribe of Asher ( Jos 19:30 and Jos 13:4), nor that on the mountains of Judah ( Jos 15:53), but the city in the plain of Jezreel not far from Endor ( Sa1 29:1 compared with Sa1 28:4); since Benhadad had resolved that this time he would fight against Israel in the plain. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:27”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification