1 Kings 19 – Study
For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.
Passage: 1 Kings 19:1,2 / 20:1-12
19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’
20:1 Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, ‘This is what Ben-Hadad says: 3 “Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.”’
4 The king of Israel answered, ‘Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.’
5 The messengers came again and said, ‘This is what Ben-Hadad says: “I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. 6 But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.”’
7 The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, ‘See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.’
8 The elders and the people all answered, ‘Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.’
9 So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, ‘Tell my lord the king, “Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.”’ They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.
10 Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.’
11 The king of Israel answered, ‘Tell him: “One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.”’
12 Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he ordered his men: ‘Prepare to attack.’ So they prepared to attack the city.
A. Find Out:
- What did Ahab then do with what outcome? 19:1,2
- Who came doing what? 20:1-3
- What was Ahab’s response? v.4,7
- Yet what more was demanded? v.5,6
- Who did Ahab turn to and with what result? v.7-9
- What was the outcome of all this? v.10-12
B. Think:
- What are we shown about Ahab and Jezebel in chapter 19?
- What are we shown about him in chapter 20?
- Sinful he may be, but how would you summarise this king?
C. Comment:
Ahab comes back after losing all of Jezebel’s prophets and tells her what has happened. She is furious and sends a threatening message to Elijah. You can see who is the power force in the palace!
Then comes an invasion from the north, the king of Aram with a confederation of minor rulers. They clearly overwhelm Israel ‘s resources and Samaria is surrounded and besieged, and a message comes requiring all the plunder of Samaria be given over to the invaders. It is at this point that Ahab shows what he truly is made of – he gives in! They have demanded even his wives and his children, as well as all his riches. This is a weak and spineless king who has no power in his own family and no power in his land. But it gets worse.
The invader sends a further message that tomorrow he is going to come and work his way through the palace and clear out ANY valuables. Again Ahab shows how puny and weak he is – he appeals to the elders of the land. Who is the ruler here???? They at least have some courage and suggest resistance. Agree to the first demand but not the second. Ahab responds accordingly, receives a really strong threat back but seems to have built up a little courage as he responds in a rebuke. We might have said, “Don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched!” The invader is not happy and prepares to attack. Watch this space!
D. Application:
- Leaders are supposed to stand against unrighteousness & be strong.
- Leaders are called to lead. That is their role.