1 Kings 20:14-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 20:12-21

The treaty between the besiegers and the besieged being broken off abruptly, we have here an account of the battle that ensued immediately. I. The Syrians, the besiegers, had their directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, as he was drinking (1 Kgs. 20:12), drinking himself drunk (1 Kgs. 20:16) with the kings in the pavilions, and this at noon. Drunkenness is a sin which armies and their officers have of old been addicted to. Say not thou then that the former days were, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:14

And Ahab said, by whom ?.... Knowing he had no army with him sufficient to go out with against the Syrian army: and he said, thus saith the Lord, even by the young men of the princes of the provinces ; either such, as Kimchi thinks, who were brought up with him; or, as others, the sons of governors of provinces, who were kept as hostages, that their fathers might not rebel; neither of which is likely: but rather the servants of such princes who waited on them, and lived delicately and at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:15

Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two ,.... A very small number to go forth against so great an army as the host of the Syrians, and these raw unexperienced young men: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand ; which could never be the number of all the people in the land, nor even in the city of Samaria, who were able to bear arms; but it must mean such who were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:14

By the young men of the princes of the provinces - These were probably some chosen persons out of the militia of different districts, raised by the princes of the provinces; the same as we would call lord-lieutenants of counties. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 20:15

Two hundred and thirty-two - These were probably the king's life or body guards; not all the militia, but two hundred and thirty of them who constituted the royal guard in Samaria. They were therefore the king's own regiment, and he is commanded by the prophet to put himself at their head. Seven thousand - How low must the state of Israel have been at this time! These Jarchi thinks were the seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-21

Veiled Mercies . I. AHAB 'S EXTREMITY ( 1 Kings 20:1-11 ). God's goodness to the froward is shown by His bringing them into circumstances where they may prove and know Him. The clouds they "so much dread are big with mercy." 1 . The land is overrun and the capital besieged . The fruit of sin is difficulty and disaster. The land and the life which will not acknowledge God will know at last what it is to be bereft of His protecting care and the ministrations of His goodness.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:1-43

The Purgatory of Nations and Kings. The two invasions of Israel by the armies of Syria, and their defeat by the finger of God, may suggest some lessons as to God's dealings with nations, and with oppressive and tyrannical kings. Two considerations must, however, be borne in mind here. First, that the present age, unlike the Mosaic, is not a dispensation of temporal rewards and punishments. It is true that even now men do receive a rough sort of retribution, according to their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:12-21

The hand of God. The notable answer of the king of Israel to the insolent king of Syria, "Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast himself as he that putteth it off," came to Ben-hadad when he was drinking wine with the thirty and two kings that followed him. He at once gave orders to his servants to set themselves in battle array. While the enormous host which "filled the country" (see 1 Kings 20:25 , 1 Kings 20:27 ) disposed itself to attack the city, the men of Israel, who were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:14

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord [Observe the repetition. He is careful to give special prominence to the sacred name, as the only help in trouble ( Psalms 20:1 , Psalms 20:5 , Psalms 20:7 , etc.)], Even by the young men [or servants— נַעַר , has both meanings, corresponding with παῖς (cf. Genesis 37:2 ; 2 Kings 5:20 ; 2 Kings 8:4 ] of the princes of the provinces . [The local governors (cf. 1 Kings 4:7 ; 1 Kings 10:15 ), on the approach... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 20:15

Then he numbered [or reviewed (cf. Numbers 1:44 sqq.; Numbers 3:39-43 )] the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two [cf. 2 Chronicles 14:11 ; Psalms 33:16 ; Deuteronomy 32:30 , etc. LXX . διακόσια τριάκοντα . Theodoret remarks that by this band—230, as he understood it—Almighty God would destroy the hosts of thirty and two kings. The numbers may have been recorded because of the correspondency]: and after them he numbered... read more

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