1 Kings 20:17
New International Version
The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first. Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”

New Living Translation
the troops of the provincial commanders marched out of the city as the first contingent. As they approached, Ben-hadad’s scouts reported to him, “Some troops are coming from Samaria.”

English Standard Version
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.”

Berean Standard Bible
And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

King James Bible
And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

New King James Version
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!”

New American Standard Bible
The young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

NASB 1995
The young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

NASB 1977
And the young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

Amplified Bible
The young men of the governors of the districts went out first; and Ben-hadad sent men out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out of Samaria.”

Christian Standard Bible
The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

American Standard Version
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 from Samaria.

English Revised Version
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 from Samaria.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The young officers of the district governors went out first. Benhadad had sent men [to watch the city]. They informed him that some men had come out of Samaria.

Good News Translation
The young soldiers advanced first. Scouts sent out by Benhadad reported to him that a group of soldiers was coming out of Samaria.

International Standard Version
The young men who served as officials within the provinces led the charge, and somebody informed Ben-hadad, "Some men have come out from Samaria."

Majority Standard Bible
And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

NET Bible
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."

New Heart English Bible
the young men of the governors of the districts went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, "Men are coming out from Samaria."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the young men of the heads of the provinces go out at the first, and Ben-Hadad sends, and they declare to him, saying, “Men have come out of Samaria.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the young men of the heads of the provinces go out at the first, and Ben-Hadad sendeth, and they declare to him, saying, 'Men have come out of Samaria.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the boys of the chiefs of the provinces will go forth at the first; and Ben-hadad will send and they will announce to him, saying, Men came forth from Shomeron.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first. And Benadad sent. And they told him, saying: There are men come out of Samaria.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the servants of the leaders of the provinces went out to the first place, at the front. And so, Benhadad sent, and they reported to him, saying: “Men have gone out from Samaria.”

New American Bible
When the aides of the provincial governors marched out first, Ben-hadad received word, “Some men have marched out of Samaria.”

New Revised Standard Version
The young men who served the district governors went out first. Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men have come out from Samaria.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the young men and the princes of the city went out first; and Bar-hadad sent out men, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the young men and the Princes of the city went out first, and BarHadad sent and they told him and they said to him: “Behold, men have gone out from Samaria!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 from Samaria.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the young men the heads of the districts went forth first; and they send and report to the king of Syria, saying, There are men come forth out of Samaria.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad
16They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk. 17And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 18“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 6:8-12
Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” / Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” / So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. ...

2 Chronicles 18:30-32
Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” / When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “This is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him. / And when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

2 Samuel 10:9-14
When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. / And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites. / “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue. ...

Judges 7:16-22
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch. / “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. / When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” ...

1 Samuel 14:1-14
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father. / Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men, / including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left. ...

2 Kings 7:5-7
So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. / For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.

2 Kings 3:9-27
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals. / “Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” / But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” ...

2 Chronicles 13:13-18
Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them. / When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets, / and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. And when they raised the cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. ...

2 Samuel 8:5-6
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men. / Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Luke 14:31-32
Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? / And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. / The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

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Advancing Ben Benhadad Ben-Hadad Ben-Ha'dad Chiefs Commanders Declare Dispatched Districts Divisions First Forward Governors Hadad Heads News Officers Princes Provinces Provincial Reported Rulers Samaria Sama'ria Scouts Servants Young
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Advancing Ben Benhadad Ben-Hadad Ben-Ha'dad Chiefs Commanders Declare Dispatched Districts Divisions First Forward Governors Hadad Heads News Officers Princes Provinces Provincial Reported Rulers Samaria Sama'ria Scouts Servants Young
1 Kings 20
1. Ben-Hadad, not content with Ahab's homage, besieges Samaria
13. By the direction of a prophet, the Syrians are slain
22. As the prophet forewarned Ahab, the Syrians come against him in Aphek
28. By the word of the prophet, and God's judgment, the Syrians are smitten again
31. The Syrians submit; Ahab sends Ben-Hadad away with a covenant
35. The prophet, under the parable of a prisoner,
39. making Ahab judge himself, denounces God's judgment against him














The young officers
This phrase refers to the junior military leaders or aides who were under the command of the district governors. In the Hebrew text, the term used is "na'ar," which often denotes a young man or servant. These young officers symbolize the vigor and potential of the next generation, entrusted with significant responsibilities. Their involvement in the battle highlights the importance of training and preparing the youth for leadership roles, a principle that resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing the need for mentorship and discipleship.

of the district governors
The district governors were regional leaders appointed to manage specific areas within the kingdom. The Hebrew term "sar" is used here, indicating a prince or chief. These governors were responsible for local administration and defense, reflecting a decentralized system of governance. This structure allowed for more effective management and rapid mobilization of troops, demonstrating the wisdom of distributing authority and responsibility, a concept that can be applied to church leadership and community organization.

marched out first
The phrase "marched out" indicates a deliberate and organized movement, suggesting readiness and confidence. The Hebrew verb "yatsa" means to go out or come forth, often used in military contexts. The fact that they marched out first signifies their role as the vanguard, leading the charge and setting the tone for the battle. This act of courage and initiative is a powerful reminder of the call to step out in faith and lead by example, trusting in God's provision and protection.

Verse 17. - And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out [Or had sent out. Possibly, the unusual stir in the city, the mustering of the troops, etc., had led to his sending out scouts before the young men issued from the gates. The LXX., however, has "And they send and tell the king of Syria," which Rawlinson thinks represents a purer text. But it looks like an emendation to avoid the difficulty, which is removed by translating וַיִּשְׁלַח as pluperfect], and they told him saying, There are men come out of Samaria. [Heb. men went forth, etc.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the young officers
נַעֲרֵ֛י (na·‘ă·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

of the district
הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת (ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region

governors
שָׂרֵ֥י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

marched out first.
וַיֵּצְא֗וּ (way·yê·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

Now Ben-hadad
הֲדַ֗ד (hă·ḏaḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1130: Ben-hadad -- 'son of Hadad', the name of several Aramean (Syrian) kings

had sent out scouts,
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

who reported
וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ (way·yag·gî·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

to him,
לוֹ֙ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

“Men
אֲנָשִׁ֕ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

are marching out
יָצְא֖וּ (yā·ṣə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

of Samaria.”
מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (miš·šō·mə·rō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8111: Samaria -- capital of northern kingdom of Israel


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OT History: 1 Kings 20:17 The young men of the princes (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 20:16
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