Chapter 20

Ben-Hadad of Syria, with 32 other Kings, makes war on Samaria.  I believe this refers to the city where Ahab lived, rather than the whole country in general.  Ben-Hadad sends messengers to Ahab telling him he wants all the gold and silver, the best wives, and the best children.  Ahab agrees, and they take what they want.  Ben-Hadad sends his servants a second time and wants anything and everything else that Ahab likes.  Ahab meets with his advisors, and they tell him not to comply with this second demand.  There is a third exchange where Ben-Hadad says he will level the city to dust then.  Ahab says don't count your chickens...With that, Ben-Hadad positions his men.

A prophet comes to Ahab and tells him that God will deliver Ben-Hadad.  Ahab is incredulous and asks how?  He is told that some servants of the governors will do it, and that he (Ahab) is to attack.  Ahab musters 232 of these servants and about 7,000 men.  Ahab sends out the servants.  Ben-Hadad and his 32 kings are all drunk, and B-H says to capture the 232 alive.  Somehow, this tactic works, and Ben-Hadad flees.  Then the prophet tells Ahab to get ready, because B-H will be back in the spring.

B-H is advised that he lost because the gods of Ahab are gods of the hills.  They will attack them next time in the plain, so that Ahab's gods can't help.  B-H embraces this plan, and will rebuild his army to its former size, and replace the 32 Kings with military commanders.

In the spring the two armies face each other at Aphek.  Ahab's army is like two flocks of goats, while B-H's army fills the valley.  The prophet shows up again.  After 7 days of camping, the battle is joined, and Ahab wins.  100,000 men of Syria are killed, and the rest flee to Aphek.  The wall in Aphek falls on them, killing another 27,000 men.  There is a verse, spoken by the man of God who predicts Ahab's victory:

28 And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys," therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'" [1Ki 20:28 ESV]

This surely leaves Ahab without excuse, and without reason for pride.

2021 - And leaves me wondering why God would help such a man.  Perhaps it was not yet time for Israel to fall.  More had to come to pass before they truly proved there were none worthy to save.  We know from the last chapter that there were still 7000 at this time loyal to God and not to Baal.  Perhaps that is way too many for God to destroy in order to destroy the evil. 

Ben-Hadad and Ahab get along well, and Ahab spares Ben-Hadad's life.  Cities are restored that B-H's father took from Ahab, and B-H allows Samaria to trade openly and freely with Damascus.

Yet a third man of the sons of the prophets comes, and with much symbolism, pronounces that because Ahab let B-H go after God had appointed him for destruction, Ahab's life will now be forfeit.  Ahab goes home, "vexed and sullen".