In this message we will continue to consider the reign of Ahab over Israel and then consider the reign of Jehoshaphat over Judah.
In chapter twenty we have an account of Ahab's dealing with Ben-hadad king of Syria.
Ben-hadad assembled all his army together and besieged Samaria and fought against it (v. 1). Then he issued an insulting challenge to Ahab (vv. 2-6).
Ahab called for all the elders of the land, and through their encouragement he rejected Ben-hadad (vv. 7-12).
A certain prophet approached Ahab and said, "Thus says Jehovah, Have you seen all this great multitude? I am now delivering it into your hand today, and you will know that I am Jehovah" (v. 13). Encouraged by God's promise through the prophet, Ahab waged a war against Ben-hadad and won it (vv. 14-21).
Ahab was warned by a prophet that Ben-hadad king of Syria would come back to attack him the next year (v. 22).
Ben-hadad reorganized his army and changed his strategy to fight with Israel in the plain instead of on the mountains. Ben-hadad then came to attack Ahab, but he lost the battle and surrendered to Ahab to save his life. Ahab made a treaty with him and released him (vv. 23-34).
Ahab was rebuked by a prophet in disguise because he had released a man whom God had devoted to destruction. God had decided to destroyed Ben-hadad, but Ahab released him without inquiring of God. Because of that, Ahab's life would be for that man's life and Ahab's people for that man's people (vv. 35-42).
After Ahab was rebuked by the prophet, he went to his house sullen and vexed (v. 43).