Daily Tanach Tuesday Sefer Melachim 1 Chapter 22 Part 3: Achav dies in battle

1. The Kings of Judah and Israel go to war against Aram:

• Achav, the king of Israel and Yehoshafat, the king of Yehuda, went up to Ramot Gilad [to wage war against Aram].
• The Kings disguise themselves: Achav, the king of Israel, said to Yehoshafat, “I will disguise myself when I go into the battle [and wear a regular soldiers clothing so they do not recognize that I’m the king of Israel and chase me, their prime enemy^[1]]. However, you should wear your kingly garments [as you are not considered their prime enemy and they will not chase after you^[2]].” And so it was that Achav, the king of Israel, disguised himself and went into battle.
• The strategy of Aram: The king of Aram commanded the thirty-two officers of his chariots that they should not waste their time waging battle against anyone, whether he is high or low ranked, and focus only on attacking Achav the king of Israel.

1. Achav is injured in battle and dies of his injuries:

• Yehoshafat is mistaken for Achav and nearly attacked: When the officers of Aram saw Yehoshafat they mistakenly thought that he must be the king of Israel. However when they turned to attack him, Yehoshafat let out a loud cry [to Hashem^[3], from which they recognized that it was not him^[4]]. When the officers saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped going after him [and continued their search for Achav].
• Achav is hit by a bow and dies of his injuries: Now, there was a certain man [i.e. Naaman^[5]] who innocently shot his arrow [without intent of hitting anyone^[6]] and it incidentally struck Achav the king of Israel between the scales and the armor of his protective gear. After getting struck, Achav instructed his chariot rider to carry him back to the camp as he has become sick.
• The battle intensified on that day and the king remained standing in the chariot against the Arameans [in order to encourage his men to continue the battle^[7]]. Achav died from his injuries that evening and the blood of his wounds flowed in the chariot.

2. The men of Israel retreat:

• A proclamation [of retreat] passed through the camp as the sun went down [and the news of the king’s death was spread^[8]] and everyone was told to return back to his city and country.

3. Achav is buried:

• His location of burial: Achav, the king [of Israel] died and was brought to Shomron, where he was buried.
• The dogs eat his blood: The chariot [in which Achav rode and bled in] was washed by the pool of Shomron [in the same area that Navos was murdered^[9]], and the dogs licked Achav’s blood, and the harlots washed their bodies in his blood by the river as Hashem had spoken.
• His legacy: The remaining occurrences with Achav, and all that he accomplished and the ivory palace which he built, and all the cities that he built, are all written of in the book of Chronicles of the kings of Israel.
• His successor, Achazyahu: Achav laid to rest with his forefathers, and Achazyahu his son reigned after him.

[1] Rashi 22:30

[2] Rashi 22:30

[3] Rashi 22:32

[4] Radak 22:32

[5] Rashi third 22:34

[6] See Ralbag and Rashi and Metzudos Dovid 22:34

[7] Rashi 22:35

[8] Metzudos Dovid 22:36

[9] Rashi 22:38