1 Kings 20:42

“And he said unto him, thus saith the Lord, etc.] He spake not his own sense, and in his own words, but in the name of the Lord, for which he had authority, that it might have the greater weight with Ahab: because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction; meaning Benhadad; or “the man of my anathema or curse” f441; cursed of God for his blasphemy of him, and devoted by him to ruin on that account; or “of my net” f442, being by his providence brought into a net or noose at Aphek, out of which he could not have escaped, had not Ahab let him go: therefore thy life shall go for his life; as it shortly did, and that by the hand of a Syrian soldier, (<112234>1…”

“A man whom I appointed to utter destruction - or to חרם chērem, i. e., a man on whom My curse had been laid (Leviticus 27:28 note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Thy life - What was the great sin of Ahab in this action, for which God so severely punisheth him? The great dishonour hereby done to God, in suffering so horrid a blasphemer, to go unpunished, which was contrary to an express law, Lev 24:16. And God had delivered him into Ahab's hand, for his blasphemy, as he promised to do, Kg1 20:28, by which act of his providence, compared with that law, it was most evident, that this man was appointed by God to destruction, but Ahab was so far from punishing this blasphemer, that he doth not so much as rebuke him, but dismisseth him upon easy terms, and takes not the least care for the reparation of God's honour, and the people were punished for their…”

“20:42-43 The Lord had apparently told Ahab to put Ben-hadad to death (cp. Josh 6:17-21), but Ahab violated his charge, perhaps viewing the Aramean king as part of the spoils of war (cp. 1 Sam 15:1-23). The king of Israel would regret his folly: He later faced Ben-hadad in another battle that would cost him his life (1 Kgs 22:29-37). Rather than learning from the prophet’s rebuke, Ahab went home angry and sullen. 20:42 destroyed: See “Complete Destruction” Theme Note.”

“Because: Kg1 20:34, Kg1 22:31-37; Sa1 15:9-11 thy life shall go: Kg1 22:31-37; Kg2 6:24, Kg2 8:12; Ch2 18:33, Ch2 18:34 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:43”