1 Kings 20:19

So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:12-21 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him - The Septuagint has a better reading: "they sent and told the king of Syria."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1Ki 20:13-20. The Syrians Are Slain.

13-21. 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 prophet's instructions, two hundred thirty-two young men went boldly out towards the camp of the enemy, while seven thousand more, apparently volunteers, followed at some little distance, or posted themselves at the gate, to be ready to reinforce those in front if occasion required it. Ben-hadad and his vassals and princes were already, at that early hour—scarcely midday—deep in their cups; and though informed of this advancing company, yet confiding in his numbers, or it may be, excited with wine, he ordered with indifference the proud intruders to be taken alive, whether they came with peaceful or hostile intentions. It was more easily said than done; the young men smote right and left, making terrible havoc among their intended captors; and their attack, together with the sight of the seven thousand, who soon rushed forward to mingle in the fray, created a panic in the Syrian army, who immediately took up flight. Ben-hadad himself escaped the pursuit of the victors on a fleet horse, surrounded by a squadron of horse guards. This glorious victory, won so easily, and with such a paltry force opposed to overwhelming numbers, was granted that Ahab and his people might know (1Ki 20:13) that God is the Lord. But we do not read of this acknowledgment being made, or of any sacrifices being offered in token of their national gratitude.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city,.... First, as before observed, and marched forwards towards the Syrian camp:

and the army which followed them; consisting of 7000 men.

Geneva Study Bible

So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. So these young men, &c.] The R.V. keeps the order of the original and renders So these went out of the city, the young men, &c. The LXX. has made this clause part of Ben-hadad’s order: ‘And let not the young men &c. go forth’.

and the army which followed them] That is, the 7000 mentioned above in 1 Kings 20:15. Apparently the battle was to be commenced by the young men, and the other troops were to come on and increase the alarm caused by the unexpected attack.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. [i.e., the 7000. They "came out" after the young men.] 1 Kings 20:19

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

But they - the servants of the governors at the head, and the rest of the army behind - smote every one his man, so that the Aramaeans fled, and Benhadad, pursued by the Israelites, escaped on a horse with some of the cavalry. וּפּרשׁים is in apposition to בּן־הדד, "he escaped, and horsemen," sc. escaped with him, i.e., some of the horsemen of his retinue, whilst the king of Israel, going out of the city, smote horses and chariots of the enemy, who were not prepared for this sally of the besieged, and completely defeated them.