Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 20

Verse 1

Ben-hadad. Perhaps the son of the Ben-hadad of 1 Kings 15:18 .

host = force.

thirty and two. Probably vassal princes. Compare 1 Kings 20:24 .

Verse 2

said. A special various reading ( Sevir, App-34 ) reads "they said".

Verse 3

children = sons.

Verse 6

search: as from the top: i.e. ransack.

Verse 11

Let not him. Figure of speech Paroemia . App-6 .

Verse 12

message = word. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the message contained.

pavilions = tents.

Verse 13

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

Hast. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 14

young men = the servants, or esquires.

Verse 22

return of the year: the spring. Compare 2 Samuel 11:1 .

Verse 24

captains = governors, or pashas.

Verse 26

Aphek. Probably east of the Sea of Galilee.

Verse 27

were numbered = enrolled themselves. flocks = newborn kids. Hebrew. hasaph. Occurs only here.

Verse 28

man of God = a prophet. See App-49 .

ye shall know. Septuagint reads "so shalt thou know". Compare 1 Kings 20:13 above.

Verse 32

me = my soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

brother: i.e. a brother-king.

Verse 33

did diligently observe. Hebrew divined and hasted. Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ) = quickly divined.

any thing would come. These italics are wrongly supplied, not knowing the two readings of E. and W. recensions, caused by a different division of words. The E. recension reads "and they pressed [to find out] whether it was from him and said". The W. recension reads" and they pressed it out from him, and they said": i.e. they wanted to know whether he confirmed the word of his own accord.

Verse 34

streets = broad ways, or bazaars.

as = according as.

said. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) to be supplied by repetition from previous clause.

Verse 35

man. Hebrew. ish . Josephus identifies him with Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8 ).

Verse 38

ashes, &c. = bandage. inheritance).

Jezreel. In the plain of Esdraelon.