1 Kings 22:29-40

1 Kings 22:29-40

[29] So the king  of Israel  and Jehoshaphat  the king  of Judah  went up  to Ramothgilead.  [30] And the king  of Israel  said  unto Jehoshaphat,  I will disguise  myself, and enter  into the battle;  but put thou on  thy robes.  And the king  of Israel  disguised  himself, and went  into the battle.  [31] But the king  of Syria  commanded  his thirty  and two  captains  that had rule over his chariots,  saying,  Fight  neither with small  nor great,  save only with the king  of Israel.  [32] And it came to pass, when the captains  of the chariots  saw  Jehoshaphat,  that they said,  Surely it is the king  of Israel.  And they turned aside  to fight  against him: and Jehoshaphat  cried out.  [33] And it came to pass, when the captains  of the chariots  perceived  that it was not the king  of Israel,  that they turned back  from pursuing  [34] And a certain man  drew  a bow  at a venture,  and smote  the king  of Israel  between the joints  of the harness:  wherefore he said  unto the driver of his chariot,  Turn  thine hand,  and carry me out  of the host;  for I am wounded.  [35] And the battle  increased  that day:  and the king  was stayed up  in his chariot  against  the Syrians,  and died  at even:  and the blood  ran out  of the wound  into the midst  of the chariot.  [36] And there went  a proclamation  throughout the host  about the going down  of the sun,  saying,  Every man  to his city,  and every man  to his own country.  [37] So the king  died,  and was brought  to Samaria;  and they buried  the king  in Samaria.  [38] And one washed  the chariot  in the pool  of Samaria;  and the dogs  licked up  his blood;  and they washed  his armour;  according unto the word  of the LORD  which he spake.  [39] Now the rest  of the acts  of Ahab,  and all that he did,  and the ivory  house  which he made,  and all the cities  that he built,  are they not written  in the book  of the chronicles  of the kings  of Israel?  [40] So Ahab  slept  with his fathers;  and Ahaziah  his son  reigned  in his stead.

What does 1 Kings 22:29-40 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Ahab probably disguised himself ( 1 Kings 22:30) since he was Ben-Hadad"s primary target. He had broken their treaty ( 1 Kings 22:31). However, his plan to thwart God"s will failed. He could not fool or beat Yahweh. One arrow providentially guided was all God needed ( 1 Kings 22:34). Wounded Ahab watched the battle from his chariot until he died that evening ( 1 Kings 22:35). Israel lost the battle ( 1 Kings 22:36; cf. 1 Kings 22:17). Ahab became the source of much discipline rather than a source of great blessing to Israel because he disregarded God"s word and will (cf. Saul).
The fact that the Israelites buried Ahab at all is a tribute to God"s grace. All the same, he suffered the ignominy of having the dogs lick his blood, and that at the pool where the despised and unclean prostitutes bathed ( 1 Kings 22:38). Perhaps this was fitting since Hebrews , too, had sold himself.
Ahab was really a capable ruler in spite of his gross spiritual idolatry, which the writer of Kings emphasized. He was generally successful militarily because of the native abilities God had given him and because God showed mercy to Israel. Saul, too, had the potential to be a good king of Israel. Ahab"s alliance with Jehoshaphat began the period of peace between Israel and Judah that lasted33years. Archaeologists have discovered more than200 ivory figures, bowls, and plaques in only one storeroom of Ahab"s Samaria palace, a tribute to the wealth he enjoyed (cf. 1 Kings 22:39). He also fortified several cities in Israel ( 1 Kings 22:39). However, in spite of all his positive contributions, his setting up of Baal worship as the official religion of the nation weakened Israel as never before. His reign took the Northern Kingdom to new depths of depravity. Because he did not acknowledge Yahweh as Israel"s King and did not submit to Him, Ahab"s personal life ended in tragedy, even a violent death (cf. Saul; 1 Samuel 31). Furthermore, the nation he represented experienced God"s chastening instead of His blessing. Agricultural infertility and military defeat marked Ahab"s reign as we read of it in1Kings.