The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 480

20, ae taken bv Ben-hadad's armies from in order to the accomplishment of his Bao.she._ For Bae.she. was not the father, mission-which wu.s to obtain from Ahab's nor even was he the " ancestor " (as Keil, own lips a confession of his deserts-why later edition) of Ahab, but belonged to e. he should have been smitten, i.e., bruised different dynasty. At the same time it is and wounded, is not quite clear. For it ie quite conceivable that a prince in Ben- obvious that he might have sustained his bade.d 's position, in his ignorance or forget- pa.rt, told his story, and obtained 11, judg- fulness of the history of Israel, might use ment from the king, without proceeding to the word "father" improperly, or even in such painful extremities. It ie quite true the sense of "predecessor." We know that that a person thus wounded would perhaps :l~ bad e. very extended signification. Keil sustain the po.rt of one who had been in and Biibr, however, think the.t we have a battle better, but the wounds were in no reference to some war in the reign of Omri we.y necessary to his disguise, and men do (cf. eh. ni. 27), which is not recorded in not court pe.in without impeiioue reasons. Scripture. And the words which follow Besides, it was " in the word of the Lord " make this extremely probable, inasmuch as that these wounds were sought and received. in Baasha's days Sa.maria. had no exist- It is quite clear, therefore, tho.t it cannot ence] ; aud thou &halt make streets [ni'lln have been merely to give him a claim to o.n lit., whatever is witlwut; hence street~: audience with the king (Ewo.ld)-he could spaces, quarters] for thee 1n Damascus, as easily have simulated wounds by means of my father ma.de 1n Sa.ma.r1.a.. [The com- bandages, which would at the so.me time mentators are e.,,nreed that a permission to have helped to disguise him-or that he establish bazaars or quarters, in which the might foreshadow in his own person the Hebrews might live and trade, is here con- wounding which Ahab would receive (oh. cededJ. Then said Ahab [These words are xxii. 11), for of that he says nothing, or rightly supplied by our translators. The for any similar reason. The wounding, we meaning would have been quite clear had may be quite sure, and the tragico.l circum- the Hebrews been familiar with the use of stances connected therewith, are essential quotation marks. For lack of these, all parts of the parable this prophet had to act, the versions ascribe the words to Ben- of the lesson he he.d to teach. Now the ho.dad] , I W1ll send thee away with th19 great lesson he had to convey, not to the covenant. So he ma.de a covenant with king alone, but to the prophetic order and him, and sent him away. to the whole country, the lesson most necessary in that lawless age, was that of Ver. 35.-And a certain man [Heb. one implicit unquestioning obedience to the man; cf. eh. xiii. 11, note] of the sons of Divine law. Ahab had just transgressed the prophets [Here mentioned for the first that law. He had "let go a man whom God time, though the prophetic schools prob- had appointed to utter destruction ; " he had ably owed their existence, certainly their heaped hononrs on the oppressor of his development, to Samuel. The '3i] ').::1 are country, and in gratifying benevolent im- of conrse not the children, but the pupils of pulses bad ignored the will and counsel of the prophets. For this use of " son," cf, God (sec on ver, 42). No doubt it seemed 1 Sam. xx. 31 (" a $On of death"); 2 Se.m. to him, o.s it has seemed to others since, xii. 5; Dent. xxv. 2; Matt. xxiii. 15; that he had acted with rare magnanimity, 1 Kings iv. 30; Ezra ii. 1; John xvii. and that hie generosity in that age, an o.ge 12, and Amoe vii. 14. Geeenins refers which showed no mercy to the fallen, wo.s to the Greek iarpwv via,, priropwv vioi, &c., unexampled. But he must be taught that nnd says that among the Persians "the he ho.a no right to be generous o.t the ex- disciples of the Magi are called, " Sons of pense of others ; that God's will must be Magi." The word, again, does not neces- done even when it goes ago.inst the groin, sarily imply youth. That they were some- when it contradicts impulses of kindness, times married men appeBI·e from 2 Kings and demands painful sacrifices. Ho is vi. 1, though this was probably after their taught this by the prophetic word (ver. 42), collegiate life was ended. As they were but much more effectively by tho actions called " sons," so their instructor, or head, which preceded it. A prophet required to wo.e called "fe.ther" (1 Se.m, x. 12)] said emito e. brother prophet, and that for no unto h1e neighbour [or companion. Another apparent reason, would no doubt find it re- prophet is implied. It was because this pugnant to his feelings to do so; it would "neighbour " was a prophet that his dis- seem to him hard and cruel and shameful regard of the word of the Lord was so sinful, to smite a companion, But the prophet and received such severe punishment], 1D who refused to do this, who followed hie the word of the Lord [see on eh. xiii. l], benevolent impulses in preference to the Smite me, I pray thee. [Why the prophet, word of the Lord, died for his sin-died CB. XX. 1-43.] THE FIRST DOOK OF KINGS. 491