1 Kings 20:29

And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And [so] it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

And they pitched {H2583} one {H428} over against {H5227} the other {H428} seven {H7651} days {H3117}. And so it was, that in the seventh {H7637} day {H3117} the battle {H4421} was joined {H7126}: and the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} slew {H5221} of the Syrians {H758} an hundred {H3967} thousand {H505} footmen {H7273} in one {H259} day {H3117}.

They remained in camp opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day, the battle began; and the people of Isra'el killed 100,000 soldiers of Aram in a single day.

For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day.

And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

Commentary

1 Kings 20:29 describes a pivotal moment in the second major conflict between Israel, led by King Ahab, and Syria, under King Ben-Hadad. After a seven-day standoff, the battle commenced, resulting in an overwhelming and divinely orchestrated victory for Israel.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse follows a period of intense tension and theological challenge. The Syrian forces, having been defeated previously by Israel (1 Kings 20:1-21), erroneously concluded that Israel's God was merely a "god of the hills" and would be ineffective in the plains. In response to this arrogant claim and to assert His universal sovereignty, the Lord explicitly promised King Ahab another victory, stating, "ye shall know that I am the LORD." The setting of the battle in Aphek, a plain, directly challenged the Syrian's theological misunderstanding, demonstrating God's power in all terrains and circumstances.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Omnipresence and Sovereignty: The most prominent theme is God's absolute power and presence, refuting the Syrian belief that His influence was limited to specific geographical areas. This battle served as a dramatic demonstration that the Lord is God of both the hills and the valleys.
  • Divine Intervention and Fulfillment of Prophecy: The swift and devastating defeat of such a large Syrian army in a single day clearly points to God's direct intervention. It was a miraculous fulfillment of the prophet's word, designed to bring glory to God's name and to reveal His identity to both Israel and their enemies.
  • Overwhelming Victory: The sheer scale of the Syrian losses—"an hundred thousand footmen in one day"—underscores the decisiveness of Israel's victory, highlighting God's ability to deliver His people against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "pitched one over against the other seven days" indicates a strategic encampment and a period of waiting, perhaps for optimal conditions or divine timing. The number seven often carries symbolic weight in the Bible, signifying completion or divine purpose, and here it marks the appointed time for God's judgment to fall. The term "footmen" (Hebrew: ragli) simply refers to infantry soldiers, emphasizing the ground troops involved in the massive slaughter.

Practical Application

This verse powerfully reminds us that God's power is not confined by human limitations, geographical boundaries, or perceived circumstances. Just as God demonstrated His sovereignty over the plains, He remains sovereign over every aspect of our lives and challenges. We can trust that He is fully capable of delivering us and fulfilling His promises, even when the odds seem stacked against us. It encourages faith in God's universal dominion and His commitment to defending His name and His people, regardless of the enemy's strength or strategies. This divine intervention serves as a timeless testament to God's unwavering control and ultimate victory.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 10:16 (2 votes)

    The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

  • Isaiah 37:36 (2 votes)

    Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

  • Joshua 6:15 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

  • 1 Samuel 17:16 (2 votes)

    And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

  • 2 Chronicles 13:17 (2 votes)

    And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

  • 2 Samuel 10:18 (2 votes)

    And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:6 (2 votes)

    ¶ For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, [which were] all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.