Given the reinstatement of Elijah, it is noteworthy that neither he nor Elisha features in 1 Kings 20. Instead, we get a different kind of prophetic intervention in this chapter, prompted by the aggression of Ben-Hadad and his allies (20:1–12). The considerable demands of Ben-Hadad give the impression that he has some leverage; the backstory would be that Israel is experiencing foreign hostilities under Ahab, and therefore abandoning orthodoxy does not always bring socioeconomic benefits. Some witty repartee between the two kings indicates that Ahab has a sense of humor, but it really looks like he is about to get horsewhipped. Despite Elijah’s protest that he is the “only one left,” an anonymous prophet confronts Ahab (20:13–22) with an announcement of improbable victory. Although the NI…