1 Kings 20:17

1 Kings 20:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben–hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
• New International Version (NIV)The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first. Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, "Men are coming out from Samaria."
• New King James Version (NKJV)The young leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out a patrol, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out of Samaria!”

Context of 1 Kings 20:17

15So Ahab brought together the young soldiers of each region. There were 232 of them. Then he brought together the whole Israelite army. There were 7,000 of them. 16The soldiers marched out of Samaria at noon. Ben-Hadad and the 32 other kings were still drinking in their tents. They were drunk. The young soldiers of each region's officers went in front of the Israelite army. Ben-Hadad had sent men out to watch the Israelites. They told him, ‘Men are marching out from Samaria.’ 18Ben-Hadad commanded, ‘If they are coming to make peace with me, catch them alive. If they have come out to fight a battle, do the same thing.’ 19The Israelites marched out of the city as the young soldiers led the whole army.

1 Kings 20:17 word by word

וַיֵּצְא֗וּ נַעֲרֵ֛י שָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח בֶּן־הֲדַ֗ד וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנָשִׁ֕ים יָצְא֖וּ מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the young menנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• of the princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of the provincesמְדִינָהmedîynâh · provinceH4082
• went outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · firstH7223
• and Ben–hadadבֶּן־הֲדַדben-hădad · Ben-hadadH1130
• sent outשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• and they toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• There are menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹןshômerôn · SamariaH8111

Commentaries on 1 Kings 20:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him - The Septuagint has a better reading: “they sent and told the king of Syria.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 The proud Syrians were beaten, and the despised Israelites were conquerors. The orders of the proud, drunken king disordered his troops, and prevented them from attacking the Israelites. Those that are most secure, are commonly least courageous. Ahab slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17marched out first: Ahab seems to have sent this small squad to test the enemy. In the ancient Near East, surprise attacks often divided soldiers into groups with special purposes: To attack from two sides at once (a pincer movement) (Judges 7:16; 1 Samuel 11:11). To trick the enemy into chasing them into an ambush (Joshua 8:15–22) To draw the enemy to a place where the attacking army had the advantage (Judges 4:14–16; 5:19–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2113-21. behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab--Though the king and people of Israel had highly offended Him, God had not utterly cast them off. He still cherished designs of mercy towards them, and here, though unasked, gave them a signal proof of His interest in them, by a prophet's animating announcement that the Lord would that day deliver the mighty hosts of the enemy into his hand by means of a small, feeble, inadequate band. Conformably to the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 20:17

• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Prophecy

In the dictionaries

• Samaria
• Ahab
• Mark
• Benhadad
• Israel, Kingdom of
• Samaria, City of

Commentaries on 1 Kings 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary