1-kings 20:38
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes on his face.
American King James Version (AKJV)
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes on his face.
American Standard Version (ASV)
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
So the prophet went away, and pulling his head-band over his eyes to keep his face covered, took his place by the road waiting for the king.
Webster's Revision
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
World English Bible
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
English Revised Version (ERV)
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
Clarke's 1-kings 20:38 Bible Commentary
Disguised himself with ashes upon his face - It does not immediately appear how putting ashes upon his face could disguise him. Instead of אפר apher, dust, Houbigant conjectures that it should be אפד aphad, a fillet or bandage. It is only the corner of the last letter which makes the difference; for the ד daleth and ר resh are nearly the same, only the shoulder of the former is square, the latter round. That bandage, not dust, was the original reading, seems pretty evident from its remains in two of the oldest versions, the Septuagint and the Chaldee; the former has Και κατεδησατο εν τελαμωνι τους οφθαλμους αυτου, "And he bound his eyes with a fillet." The latter has וכריך במעפריאעינוהי ukerich bemaaphira einohi; "And he covered his eyes with a cloth." The MSS. of Kennicott and De Rossi contain no various reading here; but bandage is undoubtedly the true one. However, in the way of mortification, both the Jews and Hindoos put ashes upon their heads and faces, and make themselves sufficiently disgusting.
Barnes's 1-kings 20:38 Bible Commentary
Ashes - Rather, "a bandage" (and in 1 Kings 20:41). The object of the wound and bandage was double. Partly, it was to prevent Ahab from recognizing the prophet's face; partly, to induce him to believe that the man had really been engaged in the recent war.
Wesley's 1-kings 20:38 Bible Commentary
20:38 With ashes - Or, with a cloath, or band; (as the Hebrew doctors understand the word) whereby he bound up his wound,which probably was in his face; for it was to be made in a conspicuousplace, that it might be visible to Ahab and others.