And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
Samaria is under siege, its king has already offered to surrender, and the Syrian army outside is so large that its commander expects no fight. Then a small force walks out of the gate at noon, each man cuts down his opponent, and the Syrians run — their king riding for his life.
The Force That Won the Day
A prophet named the men who would break the siege. On paper, the numbers made the result impossible.
H. L. RossierThe "servants of the princes of the provinces" who would deliver the enemy army into Ahab's hands are only a handful against such a huge army. Ahab is not to wait for the enemy's attack; he is to start the battle himself, and his army numbers only seven thousand men! Ahab follows the prophet's word, and that day the Syrians suffer a great defeat.
Commentators point out which force God passed over:
C. KnappGod would humble Ben-hadad — not by any show of strength, not by the seven thousand soldiers Ahab still had, but by the servants of the princes of the provinces, who numbered two hundred and thirty-two.
Take Them Alive
Ben-hadad's own order shows what he expected from the encounter. He gave it without putting down his drink.
Leslie M. GrantThis looked like a hopelessly weak force against Syria's powerful army. But Ben Hadad was completely sure of himself, and he was getting drunk with the other 32 kings (v.16). Would a leader like that inspire his men to fight with discipline? Not at all! But when the young men of Israel went out of the city, Ben Hadad gave orders to take them alive, whether they had come out for peace or for war. He had no doubt that Syria was far stronger.
The phrase "each struck down his man" turns that order upside down.
Leslie M. GrantBut God's intervention decided everything. Those who wanted to capture the young men of Israel found that they were the ones who died instead (vs.19-20). This spread confusion into Syria's ranks and they fled from Israel.
The King on Horseback
Ben-hadad had come with horses and chariots and thirty-two allied kings. He leaves with a horse and an escort. His horse saves him, but it saves nothing else. Israel went straight after the horses and chariots he came with.
Leslie M. GrantBen Hadad escaped on horseback, but the Syrian army became easy prey for Israel. Israel attacked their horses and chariots and killed a great number of the enemy (v.21).
That escape is not a loose end. Because Ben-hadad lived, he came back — and the next war settled a claim about which god had given the victory.
H. L. RossierThis time the point is to prove to the Syrians that Israel had not won the victory by their "gods of the mountains." Ben-Hadad changes the organization of his army and the place of battle, but it does no good. The Israelites, as few in number as two little flocks of goats, strike down one hundred thousand of the enemy's men in one day. So the Syrians had to learn who the Lord was, and Israel could know Him too.
Where Ahab Was Standing
The prophet had told Ahab to lead the attack. The order of events in the chapter suggests he did not.
C. KnappThe words "The king of Israel went out" come after the account of how the young men and the small army went out and won. That order of events seems to imply something. Though the prophet's word said he should order (or command) the battle, he held back where it was safe until the besiegers had begun to flee. Then, when the danger is past, he comes out from his safe place inside the city walls and helps to kill an enemy that is already beaten.
Why God Gave the Victory
The victory was not a reward. Ahab had shown no sign of turning, and the promise came with a purpose: "you shall know that I am the LORD."
H. L. RossierIf he had not learned this before under the weight of God's judgments, perhaps this miraculous deliverance would touch his heart and restore him. What touching patience God shows, even toward the most profane, the most indifferent, the most hardened! The God whom man rejects does not grow tired; He comes back to him as the God of grace and of deliverance!
Summary
- Confidence — Ben-hadad's last order before the rout was to take the Israelites alive. He expected prisoners, not a fight.
- Handful — God chose the 232 servants of the provincial officials over the 7,000 soldiers, so no one could credit the win to Israel's strength.
- Reversal — the men sent to capture were the men who died, and panic did the rest of the work.
- Horse — the king got away on a horse, while Israel destroyed the horses and chariots he had brought.
- Purpose — the whole deliverance aimed at a hard heart: God came to Ahab as his deliverer, so that he would know who the LORD is.