1 Kings 20:24
◄  1 Kings 20:24  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Only this time replace the kings with field commanders!

English Standard Version (©2001)
And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Do this thing: remove the kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place.

International Standard Version (©2012)
So do this: remove the kings from command and replace them with captains.

NET Bible (©2006)
So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
This is what we must do: Remove all of the kings from their positions, and substitute governors for them.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their places:

American King James Version
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

American Standard Version
And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do thou therefore this thing: Remove all the kings from thy army, and put captains in their stead:

Darby Bible Translation
And do this: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put governors in their stead;

English Revised Version
And do this thing; take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room:

Webster's Bible Translation
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

World English Bible
Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place.

Young's Literal Translation
'And this thing do thou: turn aside the kings each out of his place, and set captains in their stead;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:22-30 Those about Benhadad advised him to change his ground. They take it for granted that it was not Israel, but Israel's gods, that beat them; but they speak very ignorantly of Jehovah. They supposed that Israel had many gods, to whom they ascribed limited power within a certain district; thus vain were the Gentiles in their imaginations concerning God. The greatest wisdom in worldly concerns is often united with the most contemptible folly in the things of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. ? And do this thing. Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains [Same word as in 1 Kings 10:15, where see note] in their rooms. [Not so much because (Bahr) the kings only fought through compulsion, for they appear to have been in complete accord with Ben-hadad (vers. 1, 12, 16), as because of their incapacity and divided interests and plans. The captains would presumably be selected because of their valour, military skill, etc.; the kings would owe their command to the accident of birth, etc. Moreover an army with thirty-three leaders could not have the necessary solidarity. Bahr assumes that the removal of the kings would involve the withdrawal of the auxiliaries which they contributed. But this does not appear to have occurred to Ben-ha(lad's advisers when they said, "put captains in their rooms." If the auxiliaries were withdrawn, what were the thirty-two captains to command ?]

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And do this thing,.... Also take this further piece of advice:

take the kings away, every man out of his place: for being brought up delicately, they were not inured to war, nor expert in the art of it; and being addicted to pleasure, gave themselves to that, and drew the king into it, which they observed was the case before, though they did not care to mention it; and if they were tributaries or allies, they would not fight as men do for their own country:

and put captains in their rooms; of his own people, men of skill and courage, and who would fight both for their own honour, and for the good of their country.

1 Kings 20:24 Parallel Commentaries

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Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad
…23And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 24And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 25And number you an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he listened to their voice, and did so.

1 Kings 20:23 Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.
1 Kings 20:25 You must also raise an army like the one you lost--horse for horse and chariot for chariot--so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they." He agreed with them and acted accordingly.