1 Kings 22:30-38 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

The Battle For Ramoth-gilead And The Death Of Ahab (1 Kings 22:30-38)

The prophetic author is not really interested in the details of the battle. His concern is with the failure of the subterfuge which sought to prevent the fulfilment of Micaiah's prophecy, and with the subsequent death of Ahab and his ‘ritual' disgracing. For while the king's body was no doubt being buried with all honours, as a hero of the battlefield, YHWH was revealing his true worth by arranging for his blood, his very life source, to be licked up by scavenger dogs and mingled with the dirt washed from common prostitutes. It was a picture of YHWH's view of him.

The description of the battle is split into two sections.

The Failure Of The Subterfuge To Prevent The Fulfilment Of Micaiah's Prophecy (1 Kings 22:30-34).

The Death Of Ahab And YHWH's Arrangements For The Disposal Of His Blood (1 Kings 22:35-38).

Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 22:30

1 Kings 22:30-38

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 him.

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 increasedd 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 broughte 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.