The Daily Press

August 8 Read 1 Kings 20 After defeating the Syrians, Ahab ignores God’s decree to kill Ben-Hadad and instead makes a treaty with him. We do not know the exact motive of Ahab here. Perhaps he thought that a friendship with Ben-Hadad would secure an alliance with Syria against common enemies, such as Assyria. But in verse 42 an unnamed prophet speaks this message of judgment to Ahab, “Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction,...