1 Kings Chapter 20 · Verse 43
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ
H1980
וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 9
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
3 of 9
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בֵּית֖וֹ
to his house
H1004
בֵּית֖וֹ
to his house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
5 of 9
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
1 Kings 21:4And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.Job 5:2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.Proverbs 19:3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.Esther 5:13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Historical Context
First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. Elijah's ministry (c. 860-850 BCE) occurred during Ahab's reign, a time of intense spiritual crisis in Israel.
Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this passage illustrate the importance of complete obedience to God's word without compromise?
- What does Elijah's ministry reveal about God's character and His commitment to His covenant people?
- How does this verse point toward or prepare for the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom?
Analysis & Commentary
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
This verse contributes to the broader narrative of ahab's wars with syria, within the book's focus on prophetic ministry of Elijah confronting Baalism. The temple represents God's dwelling among His people and foreshadows Christ as Immanuel ('God with us').
The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.