The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 490

it has no place I The Syrian king was more outspoken than many modern war- makers. (2) Mercy is quite out of the question. Yet in modern times wars against savages have been trumpeted as benignities, because of the civilization which, it is presumed, will follow in their wake I (8) Ben-he.dad did not live in these favoured times, so the one principle to which he appeals is might. "He has the men," and he will hQ;Vi, "the money too I" In this he has had too many successors in the kingdoms of civilization. (4) Not only must the covetousness of the king be gratified; so also must the host "at his feet;'' and since the "dust of Samaria'' will not satisfy them, Samaria must be sacked and pillaged.. One injustice begets another. III. THE SPIRIT OF CRUELTY. This appears-I. In the provocations. (1) Observe the "putting'' of Ben-hadad's requisitions. No attempt is made to spare the feelings of Ahab, but, on the contrary, the language is studiously framed to lacerate. " Whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes ''-note, not what is pleasant in the e:ves of the spoilers-" they shall put it in their hand and take it away." (2) Witness also the peremptoriness. " To-morrow about this time." 2. In the struggles. (1) Men are in conflict. This is not a strife of elements without feeling, which is terrible enough, but of flesh and blood and nerves with exquisite sensibilities, with susceptibilities of acute pain and suffering. (2) The combatants are armed. That they may put each other to torture they are provided with swords, spears, aiTows ; and in these days of civilization, with fire-arms of various kinds. Elephants, camels, horses, and other animals are pressed into the dreadful service. (3) Survey the battle-field after the strife. Men and animals dead and dying, mingled; gaping wounds ; mangled limbs, sickening horrors I What pictures of cruelty are here I (4) Reflect upon the homes plunged into grief and poverty entailed through the loss of bread-winners ; and add the sequel of pestilences and famines. Su.rely we should pray' for the advent of that peace, ful reign of righteousness which is promised in the Scriptures of prophecy.- J. A. M. Vers. 12---21.-The hand of God. The notable answer of the king of Israel to the insolent king of Syria, " Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast himself as he that putteth it off,'' came to Ben-hadad when he was drinking wine with the thirty and two kings that followed him. He at once gave orders to hie servants to set themselves in battle array. While the enormous host which "filled the country" (see vers. 25, 27) disposed itself to attack the city, the men of Israel, who were but a handful, naturally trembled for the issue. At this juncture God interposed in the ma.nner related here, and thereby asserted the general truths, viz.- I. THAT Goo RULES IN THE DESTINIES OF MEN, 1. Here He showed His hand. (1) He sent a prophet. Jarchi says it was Micaiah, the son of Jmlah, while others think it was Elijah in disguise; but it is useless to speculate on this point. We are more concerned with the purport of His message, whioh was to promise victory to Israel, and to indicate how that victory should be organized, so that in the issue Jehovah might be acknowledged. (2) The hand of God was seen not only in the prophet's foreknowledge of events, but also in the wisdom of the adjustments by which they were to be brought about. For the victory was organized according to instructions of the prophet, purporting also to be from the Lord. Who but the Lord could have foreseen that at noon Ben-ha.dad and his kings would be so drunken as to be unfit and indisposed to take their posts of command l' Who else could have foreseen that Ben-haclad would have been so foolish as to order the sortie to Le taken alive ! For thereby the Syrians were put to a disadvantage, which enabled the "young men of the princes of the provmces " and those who followed them to slay "every one his man," and throw the invading host into confusion. (3) The power of God also was evident when the disparity of numbers is considered. An army of seven thousand Israelites could never, without supernatural aid, have demoralized and routed the formidable hosts of Syria. (4) And that God was in this victory could not be reasona,bly doubted, since this was not ll.n extra.o:rdinary en. xx. 1-43.J THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 601