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1 Kings CHAP. XX.
THIS Chapter is a Narrative of Ahab's two great Victories over the Syrians for two years together: First, of the first Victory, in which the Antecedents, Concomitants and Consequents are remarkable.
Remarks first upon the Antecedents: As, 1. Benhadad (the Son of him who had spoil∣ed sundry Cities in Israel, chap. 15.20. and the same whom Hazael murdered and suc∣ceeded, 2 Kings 8.15.) waged War against Ahab. The Cause of this War is variously assigned: As, (1.) The Syrians above thirty years before had been invited in by Asa, to assist him against Baasha, and then conquering some Cities, 1 Kings 15.17, 18. they had felt the sweetness of the Soil of Israel, and now they would have all. N.B. This is oft the fate of calling in Forein Powers for the suppression of an home-bred Enemy. The Remedy oft proves worse than the Disease. The 2d. Cause (saith P. Martyr) was Ahab's refusing to pay Tribute to Benhadad, which before he had paid him for those Cities that had been taken from Baasha, and some also from Omri Ahab's Father, not mention'd in sacred Story, but implied here, ver. 34. But the 3d. and true Cause of this War, was God's great displeasure against Israel for their Idolatry and Apostasie, and Benhadad's Ambition (in amplifying those Conquests his Father had made, chap. 15.20.) was but the Rod in God's hand to chastize the Impiety of his Children.
Remark the Second; Benhadad gathers a vast Host, consisting of thirty two Kings, &c. wherewith he comes up and besieged Samaria the Metropolis of the Ten Tribes, designing to catch and conquer that Kingdom wholly to himself, ver. 1. Hereupon he sends his Embassadors from the Siege into the City, to demand all Ahab's Treasures, his Wives and Children, &c. ver. 2, 3. or expect no Peace, but a sudden Assault.
Remark the Third; Timorous Ahab, finding himself not only hard pressed with a close Siege without, but also worse oppressed with a guilty Conscience within, makes a most pu∣sillanimous Truckle to Benhadad's insolent Demands, saying, [I am thine, and all that I have] ver. 4. An evil Conscience was the cause of this Cowardice. N.B. Some indeed more charitably call this Prudence in Ahab, that by a soft Answer he might mollifie the mind of a Barbarian King, so saith Menochius; and that he spake not this seriously, but on∣ly officiously to pacifie Benhadad; nor would such a proud Imperious Dame (as was Jezebel) suffer him to do otherwise, as loth enough to be delivered up into the hands of Barba∣rous Benhadad. And Dr. Hall saith, that Ahab did wisely, (like a Reed in the Tempest) stoop to this violent Charge of so potent an Enemy, he being but half a King, while the Kingdom of Judah was divided from him, and Benhadad had two and thirty Kings in conjunction with him. It is not for the over-powered to expostulate in Capitula∣tions; weakness must not argue, but yield. Might many times runs down Right.
Remark the Fourth; Benhadad insolently incroacheth upon this first submission of Ahab, ver. 5, 6. Ahab offers to be a Tributary King to him, and to hold his All in Ho∣mage and Fealty under him; so the propriety and present possession might be but his. No, saith Benhadad, in his second Message, I will not only have Dominion over thy All, but I will have present possession of thy All, without any subordinate Interest reserved to thy self, and not of thy All only, but the All of all thy Subjects shall be mine in hold also: Thus Insolency is both unsatiable and unreasonable too; The unjust knows no shame, Zeph. 3.5. he will have his Jezebel too, together with the Treasure of the City, as well as the Royal City, and all the Cash, Jewels, Plate and portable goods of the Citizens; All shall be actually mine (saith he); nor will I stay till thou deliver them, but I will send to fetch them.
Remark the Fifth, Upon the Antecedents; Ahab now consults with the Elders (whose wealth was now equally involved and incroached upon with his own, ver. 7. P. Martyr marks well here, that Ahab neither consulted God at this pinch, nor acknowledged the true cause of it. He tells those Elders, I have not denied to become his Vassal, but no∣thing will satisfie him, save the plundering of our Houses, the ravishing of our Wives, and the spoiling us of our All that is comfortable. This over-strained subjection turns de∣sperate, and hereupon the Elders advise him to a Denial, and rather stand it out to the Issue of a bloody War, ver. 8. Then Ahab gave in his Denial but faintly, in saying, [I may not do it] ver. 9. whereas a right generous Spirit would have said [I will not do it] thy incroaching Terms (required) are worse than death, &c. N.B. Ahab was of such an Abject Temper, that he would have submitted to the second Message (saith P. Martyr) but that he feared a Sedition among his Subjects, sending his Answer in such a sordid