THE KING’S BUSINESS
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that girdeth on his harness (armour) boast himself as he that putteth it off.” Ben-hadad lost his temper, and like all men that lose their temper, he made a fool of himself. He indulged in ridiculous exaggeration, and the king of Israel driven into a corner, put on a bold front and told Ben-hadad “Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off.” Though Ahab was not an inspired man, he gave voice to a wise thought. What kings and peoples expect and boast that they are going to do at the beginning of a war is usually far different from what is actually accomplished when the war is over. If-the Kaiser could have forseen at the beginning of the present war what its course and outcome were to be, he would not have undertaken a war so boastingly or undertaken it at "all. And even with America it is doubtful whether our achieve ments will be as great at the end of the war as are our boastings and expectations at the beginning of it. It is time enough to tell what we are going to do when we have done it. We are just putting on our àrmour now. What will be the out come when we put it off? God alone knows. v. 12. “And it came to pass, whèn Ben- hadad heard this message, as he was drink ing, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against thç city.” Ben-hadad seems to have been a habit ual drunkard (cf. v. 16). Every drunkard is doomed to defeat sooner or later (cf. ch. 16:9; 1 Sam. 25:36 ; 2 Sam. 13:28 ; Dan. 5 :2, 30). You can always trust a drunkard to make a fool of himself at the critical moment (cf. Prov. 31:4, 5; Luke 21:34; Eph. 5:18). A good many of the soldiers and officers in various armies today are drinking when they would far better be keeping sober as a preparation to clear thinking and efficient fighting. Incidentally Ben-hadad’s defeat came through drunk enness ’ and undoubtedly England would have been far further forward in her pres ent campaign if there had not been so
for his forces were apparently overwhelm* ing (vs. 1, 10), while the forces at Ahab’s disposal were apparently, as far as the eye could see, the most insignificant (v. IS) ; but there Was one on Ahab’s side who far more than outweighed all the forces of Ben-hadad. That one was Jehovah (v. 13, cf. ,Romi 8:31). One with God is always in the majority. Ahab himself was at first disposed to play the coward’s part and yield to the demands of Ben-hadad. Though Ben-hadad demanded not only his silver and his gold, but his wives and his chil dren, or at least the most attractive of them, Ahab answered, “It is according to thy saying, my lord, O king; I am thine and all that I have.” It is likely that Ahab did not expect that Ben-hadad would take all that he demanded and was pursuing the policy of conciliation; but, instead of being appeased by Ahab’s concessions, Ben- hadad was encouraged to make even greater and more insulting demands. He proposed to send his servants and search the entire palace of Ahab and the.houses of his Ser vants, and everything that was pleasant to look upon, Ben-hadad’s servants were to take away. Ben-hadad’s presumption proved his own ruin. He had gone too far and it led to the conflict that resulted in his own utter overthrow and destruction. There is a lesson here for modern kings and coun tries in regard to Peace Negotiations today. It is a foolish policy to demand too much. The result usually will be that we get nothing, and simply bring about our own. downfall. Ahab saw that so much was demanded that matters could not be worse if he went to war and was Completely defeated. The elders. and all the people saw that nothing was to be gained for them by concessions to the extravagant demands of Ben-hadad. So Ahab sent to Ben-hadad, Still offering to concede what was first demanded, but no more. vs. 10, 11. “And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him
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