מלכים א, פרק כ׳, פסוק מ״ג

The end of a major military campaign often brings celebration, but for the King of Israel, the triumph quickly gives way to a sharp emotional downturn. Following a harsh prophetic rebuke, he leaves the battlefield at Aphek and retreats to his private quarters to manage his household affairs, eventually making his way back to the capital city of Samaria [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג].

The king is deeply troubled, marked by a profound loss of spirit. He is overwhelmed by an intense emotional storm that strips away his willpower and leaves him speechless, entirely removed from his normal disposition [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, שטיינזלץ]. This deep inner turmoil is paired with a fierce, visible anger [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ].

The root of this dark and angry mood is the severe decree delivered by the prophet. The king is deeply stung by the rebuke, particularly because he was cleverly led to condemn himself. His own words proved the justice of the decree, leaving him with no choice but to accept its bitter truth [חומת אנך]. Furthermore, the prophet's message shatters any illusion of personal glory. It reminds the king that the military victory was not a result of his own strength, but solely because God delivered the Aramean king into his power. The confrontation lays bare the gravity of his error: treating a hostile, foreign aggressor as though he were a close friend [ביאור שטיינזלץ].