1 Kings 20:26 kjv
And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
1 Kings 20:26 nkjv
So it was, in the spring of the year, that Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
1 Kings 20:26 niv
The next spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
1 Kings 20:26 esv
In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
1 Kings 20:26 nlt
The following spring he called up the Aramean army and marched out against Israel, this time at Aphek.
1 Kings 20 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 20:13-14 | "...a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said... 'I will give it into your hand this day'..." | God's previous promise of victory and intervention despite Ahab's sin. |
| 1 Kgs 20:23-25 | "The servants of the king of Aram said to him, 'Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they overcame us...' " | Syrians' flawed theological understanding; context for fighting in the plain. |
| Deut 20:1, 4 | "When you go out to war against your enemies... for the LORD your God is he who goes with you..." | God's promised presence in Israel's battles. |
| Josh 10:42 | "And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel." | Emphasizes God as the ultimate warrior for Israel. |
| Ps 44:6-7 | "For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us..." | Trust in God for victory, not military might. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The war horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance belongs to the LORD." | Human preparation combined with divine sovereignty in outcomes. |
| 1 Sam 4:1-10 | "And Israel went out to battle against the Philistines... encamped at Aphek..." | Aphek as a historic site of major Israelite military engagements (earlier defeat). |
| 1 Sam 29:1 | "Now the Philistines gathered all their forces to Aphek..." | Another instance of large armies gathering at Aphek. |
| Judg 4:10 | "He [Barak] assembled Zebulun and Naphtali at Kadesh, and went up..." | Example of an Israelite leader assembling tribes for war. |
| 1 Sam 11:7 | "So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces... 'Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done...'" | Saul's assembly of Israel for national defense. |
| 2 Sam 5:17 | "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David..." | Assembling forces in response to threat to the new king. |
| 1 Kgs 22:4 | "And he [Ahab] said to Jehoshaphat, 'Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?' " | Ahab seeking allies and assembling for another war. |
| 2 Chr 13:3-4 | "Abijah went out to battle against Jeroboam... Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim..." | Example of kings marshalling forces and initiating war. |
| 2 Kgs 5:1-2 | "Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man... Now the Arameans on one of their raids had carried off a young girl..." | Demonstrates ongoing Syrian conflict and incursions against Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 6:8-12 | "Once when the king of Aram was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants..." | Ongoing military plots and skirmishes between Aram and Israel. |
| Amos 1:3-5 | "Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment... I will break the gate bar of Damascus...'" | Prophecy against Damascus (capital of Aram), highlighting divine judgment on their hostility. |
| Gen 14:15 | "He divided his forces against them by night... and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus." | Abraham's pursuit of Chedorlaomer to an area near Damascus (Aram). |
| 1 Kgs 15:18-20 | "Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left... sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus..." | Earlier Israel-Aram conflicts, sometimes with alliances. |
| Exod 15:3 | "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name." | Affirmation of God's might and active role in warfare. |
| Joel 3:9-10 | "Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war... beat your plowshares into swords..." | Call for nations to assemble for final battle, symbolizing ultimate judgment. |
1 Kings 20 verses
1 Kings 20 26 Meaning
The King of Israel, Ahab, rallied the entirety of his nation's fighting force and proceeded to Aphek, a strategic location, to engage in combat against the Syrian army. This verse signifies the deliberate and comprehensive military preparation for the anticipated second major confrontation with the Syrians, immediately following their initial defeat.
1 Kings 20 26 Context
Verse 26 is set within the larger narrative of 1 Kings chapter 20, which details two separate military conflicts between Israel, led by King Ahab, and the Syrians, led by King Ben-Hadad. In the first conflict (1 Kgs 20:1-21), Ben-Hadad besieged Samaria and made arrogant demands. God, through a prophet, supernaturally delivered Israel, enabling a small force to route the large Syrian army, demonstrating His power against Ben-Hadad's overconfidence. The Syrians, in response, reasoned that Israel's God was merely "a god of the hills" (1 Kgs 20:23), implying that they could defeat Israel if they fought on a plain. Verse 26 immediately follows this erroneous theological assessment by the Syrians and God's stated intention to disprove it. It depicts Israel's mobilization for this second, divinely orchestrated confrontation designed to prove that the LORD is God everywhere.
Word Analysis
- And assembled (וַיִּקְבֹּץ - wayyiqbots): From the verb קָבַץ (qavats), meaning "to gather," "to collect," or "to muster." It indicates a deliberate act of bringing people or forces together, implying a national mobilization and a king exercising his authority to raise an army for a specific military purpose.
- the king of Israel: This specifically refers to Ahab, the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Despite his egregious idolatry and wickedness, he retains the title and responsibility of leadership, highlighting that God works through, and sometimes despite, imperfect human instruments.
- all Israel: This phrase is likely a hyperbole, meaning the full extent of the nation's available fighting men or the most comprehensive military levy possible. It emphasizes the scale of the mobilization, signifying a national rather than localized effort, and sets the stage for a large-scale confrontation.
- and went up (וַיַּעַל - wayya`al): From the verb עָלָה (`alah), meaning "to go up," "to ascend," "to bring up," or "to set out." In a military context, it signifies advancing towards the enemy or moving from one location to another, often implying an advance into battle territory or higher ground, though here it might just denote a military march.
- to Aphek (אֲפֵקָה - Apheqah): Aphek means "fortress" or "stronghold." This was a significant strategic location in the Sharon plain (modern day Ras al-Ain or an Aphek east of the Sea of Galilee in Bashan), known for being a staging ground for battles. The choice of Aphek for this second battle is critical as it lies in a plain, directly countering the Syrian's false belief that Israel's God was only effective in the hills. Its repeated mention in the biblical narrative (e.g., as a Philistine base against Israel) underscores its strategic military importance.
- to fight (לַמִּלְחָמָה - lammiychamah): Derived from מִלְחָמָה (milchamah), meaning "war" or "battle." It explicitly states the intent: direct, prepared military engagement. There is no ambiguity regarding the purpose of this assembly and movement.
- against the Syrians (אֶל־אֲרָם - 'el-'Aram): Refers to the people of Aram, or Syria, specifically the powerful kingdom of Aram-Damascus, Israel's long-standing geopolitical rival. The constant conflict with Aram was a recurring challenge for the Northern Kingdom, highlighting border disputes and struggles for regional dominance.
1 Kings 20 26 Bonus section
The choice of Aphek as the battleground carries theological weight beyond mere geography. Aphek had been the site of a devastating defeat for Israel at the hands of the Philistines (1 Sam 4:1-11), where the Ark of the Covenant was captured. By leading Israel to Aphek for this pivotal battle, God not only refutes the Syrians' limited view of Him but potentially also transforms a place historically associated with Israelite defeat into a location of divine triumph and renewed national confidence. This demonstrates God's power to redeem and restore even in places of past despair.
1 Kings 20 26 Commentary
This verse marks a crucial point in the escalating conflict between Israel and Syria. Having narrowly escaped defeat and later won an astonishing victory due to divine intervention, Ahab now leads a re-assembled "all Israel" to Aphek. This military readiness is spurred by the Syrians' arrogance and their mistaken belief that Yahweh's power was geographically limited to the "hills." The journey to Aphek, a plain, sets the stage for God to conclusively demonstrate His universal sovereignty, not only over all lands but also over false deities. Despite Ahab's persistent spiritual failures, God orchestrates this engagement to showcase His glory and protect His people, underscoring that His covenant faithfulness often extends beyond the merit of His human leaders.