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The NET Bible®

1 Kings 20:14

Ahab asked, "By whom will this be accomplished?" He answered, "This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.'" Ahab asked, "Who will launch the attack?" He answered, "You will."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Prophecy;   Thompson Chain Reference - Benhadad;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Samaria, Ancient;   Syria;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Samaria;   Wine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Ben-hadad;   Samaria, samaritans;   Syria;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elijah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Pavilion;   Prince;   Samaria;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Province;   Servant;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Deborah;   District;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Province;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ben-Hadad;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Benhadad ;   Samaria ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Samaria;   Smith Bible Dictionary - A'hab;   Prince, Princess;   Province;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher;   Order;   Prince;   Samaria, City of;   Young Men;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Benhadad;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Ahab asked, “By whom?”
Hebrew Names Version
Ach'av said, By whom? He said, Thus says the LORD, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You.
King James Version
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord , Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
English Standard Version
And Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the Lord , By the servants of the governors of the districts." Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."
New Century Version
Ahab asked, "Who will you use to defeat them?" The prophet answered, "The Lord says, ‘The young officers of the district governors will defeat them.'" Then the king asked, "Who will command the main army?" The prophet answered, "You will."
Amplified Bible
Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'By the young men [the attendants or bodyguards] of the governors of the districts.'" Then Ahab said, "Who shall begin the battle?" And he answered, "You."
New American Standard Bible
But Ahab said, "By whom?" So he said, "The LORD says this: 'By the young men of the leaders of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who will begin the battle?" And he said, "You will."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Ahab sayd, By whome? And he sayde, Thus sayth the Lord, By the seruants of the princes of the prouinces. He sayde againe, Who shall order the battel? And he answered, Thou.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Ahab said, "By whom?" So he said, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" And he said, "You."
Contemporary English Version
"Who will fight the battle?" Ahab asked. The prophet answered, "The young bodyguards who serve the district officials." "But who will lead them into battle?" Ahab asked. "You will!" the prophet replied.
Complete Jewish Bible
Ach'av asked, "Who will defeat them?" He answered, "This is what Adonai says: ‘The young men who serve the district governors.'" He asked, "Who will start the fighting?" and he answered, "You will."
Darby Translation
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah: By the servants of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he said, Thou.
Easy-to-Read Version
Ahab said, "Who will you use to defeat them?" The prophet answered, "The Lord says, ‘The young men who carry the weapons for the government officials.'" Then the king asked, "Who should command the main army?" The prophet answered, "You will."
George Lamsa Translation
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said to him, By the young men and by the princes of the city. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, You.
Good News Translation
"Who will lead the attack?" Ahab asked. The prophet answered, "The Lord says that the young soldiers under the command of the district governors are to do it." "Who will command the main force?" the king asked. "You," the prophet answered.
Lexham English Bible
Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says Yahweh: ‘By the servants of the commanders of the provinces.'" He asked, "Who will begin the battle?" And he said, "You."
Literal Translation
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, So says Jehovah, by the young men of the rulers of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, You.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Achab sayde: By whom? He sayde: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Euen by the yonge men of the rulers of the londe. He sayde: Who shal order the battayl? He sayde: Thou.
American Standard Version
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.
Bible in Basic English
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, The Lord says, By the servants of the chiefs who are over the divisions of the land. Then he said, By whom is the fighting to be started? And he made answer, By you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ahab sayd: By whom? He sayde: Thus sayth the Lorde, euen by the seruauntes of the gouernours of ye shyres. He sayd againe: who shall order the battayle? And he aunswered: Thou.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Ahab said: 'By whom?' And he said: 'Thus saith the LORD: By the young men of the princes of the provinces.' Then he said: 'Who shall begin the battle?' And he answered: 'Thou.'
King James Version (1611)
And Ahab saide, By whom? and he saide, Thus saith the Lord, Euen by the young men of the Princes of the prouinces: Then he said, Who shall order the battell? And hee answered, Thou.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they sent to Jezabel, saying, Nabuthai is stoned, and is dead.
English Revised Version
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.
Berean Standard Bible
"By whom?" Ahab asked. And the prophet replied, "This is what the LORD says: 'By the young officers of the district governors.'" "Who will start the battle?" asked Ahab. "You will," answered the prophet.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Achab seide, Bi whom? And he seide to Achab, The Lord seith these thingis, Bi the squyeris of the princes of prouynces. And Achab seide, Who schal bigynne to fiyte? And the prophete seide, Thou.
Young's Literal Translation
And Ahab saith, `By whom?' and he saith, `Thus said Jehovah, By the young men of the heads of the provinces;' and he saith, `Who doth direct the battle?' and he saith, `Thou.'
Update Bible Version
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus says Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, You.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, [Even] by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
World English Bible
Ahab said, By whom? He said, Thus says Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You.
New King James Version
So Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says the LORD: "By the young leaders of the provinces."' Then he said, "Who will set the battle in order?" And he answered, "You."
New Living Translation
Ahab asked, "How will he do it?" And the prophet replied, "This is what the Lord says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it." "Should we attack first?" Ahab asked. "Yes," the prophet answered.
New Life Bible
Ahab said, "By whom?" So he told him, "The Lord says, ‘By the young servants of the leaders of the lands you rule.'" Then Ahab said, "Who will start the battle?" And he answered, "You."
New Revised Standard
Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the Lord , By the young men who serve the district governors." Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Ahab said - By whom? And he said - Thus, saith Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then said he - Who shall begin the war? And he said - Thou!
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achab said: By whom? And he said to him: Thus saith the Lord: By the servants of the princes of the provinces. And he said: Who shall begin to fight? And he said: Thou.
Revised Standard Version
And Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts." Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."
THE MESSAGE
Ahab said, "Really? And who is going to make this happen?" God said, "The young commandos of the regional chiefs." "And who," said Ahab, "will strike the first blow?" God said, "You."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Ahab said, "By whom?" So he said, "Thus says the LORD, 'By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" And he answered, "You."

Contextual Overview

12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. He ordered his servants, "Get ready to attack!" So they got ready to attack the city. 13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, "This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord .'" 14 Ahab asked, "By whom will this be accomplished?" He answered, "This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.'" Ahab asked, "Who will launch the attack?" He answered, "You will." 15 So Ahab assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily in their quarters. 17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, "Men are marching out of Samaria." 18 He ordered, "Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive." 19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 21 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated Syria.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

young men: or, servants, Genesis 14:14-16, Judges 7:16-20, 1 Samuel 17:50, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

order: Heb. bind, or tie, 1 Kings 18:44

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 20:17 - General 2 Kings 9:21 - Make ready 1 Corinthians 1:25 - the foolishness

Cross-References

Genesis 12:16
and he did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Genesis 20:2
Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.
Genesis 20:7
But now give back the man's wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don't give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you."
Genesis 20:11
Abraham replied, "Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 ease, and were not trained up to military exercise, even by these should the victory be obtained:

then he said, who shall order the battle? begin the attack, we or they? or who shall conduct it, or be the general of the army, go before it, and lead them on? Ahab might think, being an idolater, that the Lord would not make use of him, or otherwise who could be thought of but himself?

and he answered, thou; thou must be the commander, go forth with the army, and make the attack upon the enemy.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The “princes of the provinces” are the governors of districts, many of whom may have fled to the capital, as the hostile army advanced through Galilee and northern Samaria. The “young men” are their attendants, youths unaccustomed to war.

Who shall order the battle? - i. e., “Who shal join battle, begin the attack? We or the enemy?” The reply was, that the Israelites were to attack.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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.


 
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