SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:33
Esto tomaron aquellos hombres por buen agí¼ero, y presto tomaron esta palabra de su boca, y dijeron: ¡Tu hermano Ben-adad! Y él dijo: Id, y traedle. Ben-adad entonces se presentó al rey de Israel , y él le hizo subir en un carro.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:33
Verse 33. Did hastily catch it] They were watching to see if any kind word should be spoken by him, from which they might draw a favourable omen; and when they heard him use the word brother, it gave them much encouragement.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 33. Now the men did diligently observe whether anything would come from him , etc.] That would be a good omen to them, and encourage them to hope for success; they observed him as diligently by his words and behaviour as soothsayers do when they look out for a lucky sign; for the word is sometimes used of divining f438 : and did hastily catch it ; as soon as it was out of his mouth, and laid hold on it to improve it to advantage, being wiser than him: and they said, thy brother Benhadad ; him whom thou callest thy brother; he is thy brother, and is alive; this they caught, and expressed it, to observe whether it was a slip of his tongue, and whether he spoke it heartily, and would abide by it, or whether he would retract it: then he said, go ye, bring him ; meaning from the city to the place where he was: then Benhadad came forth to him ; out of his chamber, upon the report of his servants: and he caused him to come up into the chariot ; to sit and converse with him there. Ver. 34 . And [Benhadad] said unto him , etc.] The word Benhadad is not in the original text, and some, as Osiander and others, have thought they are the words of Ahab last spoken of; which seems most likely, who not only took Benhadad into his chariot, but in his great and superabundant kindness, though the conqueror, said to him what follows: the cities which my father took from thy father I will restore ; that is, those cities which Omri, the father of Ahab, had taken from the father of Benhadad; for as Omri was a prince of might and valour, ( 1 Kings 16:16-18,27), it is more probable that he took cities from the king of Syria, than that the king of Syria should take any from him, and which Ahab in his circumstances weakly promises to restore: and thou shall make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria ; which confirms it that it is Ahab, and not Benhadad, that is speaking; for Benhadad’s father never had any power nor residence in Samaria, whereas Omri, the father of Ahab, had, he built it, and made it his royal seat; and, in like manner, Ahab promises Benhadad that he should have his palace at Damascus, the metropolis of Syria, and exercise power there, and over all Syria; whereby Ahab renounced all right he had to the kingdom, and any of the cities of it: for by “streets” are not meant those literally so called, for the making of which there was no reason; nor markets to take a toll from, as some, supposing them to be the words of Benhadad; nor courts of judicature, to oblige them to pay it who refused it, as others; nor fortresses to keep them in awe; but a royal palace, as a learned critic has observed, for Benhadad to reside in; this Ahab gave him power to erect, and added: and I will send thee away with this covenant ; or promise now made: so he made a covenant with him ; confirmed the above promises: and sent him away ; free, to enjoy his crown and kingdom, for which folly and weakness Ahab is reproved by a prophet, ( 1 Kings 20:42).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 31-43 - This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves befor God; Have we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from a apprehension of the mercy of God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most haughty in prosperity often ar most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will thus affect a man in bot these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab, success is il bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophe designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punishe for sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sore punishment should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enem and God's, when God said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy an displeased, not truly penitent, or seeking to undo what he had don amiss; every way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. Alas! man that hear the glad tidings of Christ, are busy and there till the da of salvation is gone __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
והאנשׁים 376 ינחשׁו 5172 וימהרו 4116 ויחלטו 2480 הממנו 4480 ויאמרו 559 אחיך 251 בן הדד 1130 ויאמר 559 באו 935 קחהו 3947 ויצא 3318 אליו 413 בן הדד 1130 ויעלהו 5927 על 5921 המרכבה׃ 4818
