Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’” “And who will start the battle?” he asked. The prophet answered, “You will.” 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. 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.” 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. King James Bible 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. 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 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.” NASB 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.” NASB 1977 And 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.” 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.” 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.” Christian Standard Bible Ahab asked, “By whom? ” And the prophet said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’ ” Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle? ” He said, “You.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Ahab asked, “By whom?” And the prophet said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’” Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle?” He said, “You.” 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. 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. 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Ahab asked, "How [will this be done]?" The prophet answered, "This is what the LORD says: by using the young officers of the district governors." "Who will start the battle?" Ahab asked. "You will," the prophet answered. 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. International Standard Version "By whom?" Ahab asked. "This is what the LORD says," the prophet replied. "'By the young men who serve as officials within the provinces.'" "Who is to begin the battle?" Ahab asked. "You," the prophet answered. NET Bible 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." New Heart English Bible Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the LORD, 'By the young men of the governors of the districts.'" Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" 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. Majority Text Translations Majority 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. World English Bible Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Ahab says, “By whom?” And he says, “Thus said YHWH: By the young men of the heads of the provinces”; and he says, “Who directs the battle?” And he says, “You.” 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.' Smith's Literal Translation And Ahab will say, By whom? And he will say, Thus said Jehovah, By the boys of the chiefs of the provinces. And he will say, Who shall bind the war? And he will say, Thou. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd 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. Catholic Public Domain Version And Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said to him: “Thus says the Lord: By the footmen of the leaders of the provinces.” And he said, “Who should begin to do battle?” And he said, “You should.” New American Bible But Ahab asked, “Through whom will it be given over?” He answered, “The LORD says, Through the aides of the provincial governors.” Then Ahab asked, “Who is to attack?” He replied, “You are.” New Revised Standard Version 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.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd 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. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Akhab said: “By whom?” And he said to him: “By the young men and by the Princes of the city.” And he said to him: who will first set the battle in array? He said to him: “You.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Achaab said, Whereby? And he said, Thus saith the Lord, by the young men of the heads of the districts. And Achaab said, Who shall begin the battle? and he said, Thou. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad13Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’ ” 14“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. 15So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.… Cross References Judges 7:7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.” 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” 2 Chronicles 14:11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. Isaiah 7:4-7 and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. / For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying: / ‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’ ... Isaiah 41:14-16 Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. / Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. / You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. Exodus 14:13-14 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Deuteronomy 20:1-4 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. / When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army, / saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. ... Joshua 10:8 The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.” 2 Kings 6:16-17 “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 33:16-17 No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength. / A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save. Psalm 44:6-7 For I do not trust in my bow, nor does my sword save me. / For You save us from our enemies; You put those who hate us to shame. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Treasury of Scripture And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus said the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You. Ben-hadad 1 Kings 20:11,12 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off… 1 Kings 16:7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him. Proverbs 23:29-32 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? … the thirty Isaiah 54:15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Jump to Previous Ahab Battle Begin Chiefs Commanders Direct Districts Divisions Fighting Governors Heads Officers Order Princes Prophet Provinces Provincial Rulers Servants Started YoungJump to Next Ahab Battle Begin Chiefs Commanders Direct Districts Divisions Fighting Governors Heads Officers Order Princes Prophet Provinces Provincial Rulers Servants Started Young1 Kings 20 1. Ben-Hadad, not content with Ahab's homage, besieges Samaria13. 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 “By whom?” Ahab asked. Ahab, the king of Israel, is seeking guidance in a time of crisis. This question reflects his uncertainty and reliance on prophetic insight, a common practice in ancient Israel where kings often consulted prophets for divine direction. Ahab's inquiry shows his dependence on God's word, despite his previous idolatrous actions. 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. Persons / Places / Events 1. AhabThe king of Israel, known for his idolatry and marriage to Jezebel. He is a central figure in this passage, seeking guidance for battle. 2. The Prophet An unnamed prophet who delivers God's message to Ahab, indicating divine intervention and guidance in the battle against the Arameans. 3. Young Officers of the District Governors These are the individuals chosen by God to lead the battle, highlighting God's unconventional choice of leaders. 4. The LORD The God of Israel, who provides direction and assurance of victory, demonstrating His sovereignty and involvement in Israel's affairs. 5. The Battle The impending conflict between Israel and the Arameans, where God promises victory through unexpected means. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in LeadershipGod often chooses unexpected leaders to fulfill His purposes, reminding us that His ways are higher than ours. Faith in Divine Guidance Like Ahab, we must seek and trust God's guidance in our battles, knowing that He has a plan for victory. Obedience to God's Commands Ahab's willingness to follow the prophet's instructions demonstrates the importance of obedience in achieving God's plans. God's Power in Weakness The choice of young officers highlights that God can use anyone, regardless of status or experience, to accomplish His will. Initiating Action with Faith Ahab's question, "Who will start the battle?" and the prophet's response, "You will," teaches us to take initiative in faith when God directs us. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 20Is there external evidence outside the Bible confirming Israel's victories over Aram recorded in 1 Kings 20? Revelation 2:20 - Was 'Jezebel' in Thyatira an actual prophetess, or is she purely symbolic, and how does this align or clash with other scriptural views on women's roles? Is there any historical or archaeological support for the miraculous provision of flour and oil (1 Kings 17:14), or does this story conflict with known evidence? Will you come, Lord Jesus?(14) Who shall order the battle?--The marginal reading seems right, "Who shall give battle?" "Who shall begin the fray?"Verse 14. - And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord [Observe the repetition. He is careful to give special prominence to the sacred name, as the only help in trouble (Psalm 20:1, 5, 7, etc.)], Even by the young men [or servants - נַעַר has both meanings, corresponding with παῖς (cf. Genesis 37:2; 2 Kings 5:20; 2 Kings 8:4] of the princes of the provinces. [The local governors (cf. 1 Kings 4:7; 1 Kings 10:15), on the approach of Ben hadad, had apparently fled to the capital. Whether these "young men" were their "pages" (Thenius), or even were "young lads" (Ewald) at all, or, on the contrary, a "select body of strong young men" (Bahr), the bodyguard of the various governors (2 Samuel 18:15) (Von Gerlach), may be doubtful; but when Bahr says that Ahab would not have consented to appoint weak boys to lead the van, at least without remonstrance, he must have forgotten that all the ordinary means at Ahab's disposal were equally insufficient, and that in themselves 200 or 2000 tried veterans would have been just as inadequate a force as 200 pages. The agency by which the victory was won was purposely weak and feeble (per turbam imbellem), in order that the work might be seen to be of God (cf. Judges 7:2; 1 Corinthians 1:27, 29). And this consideration makes against the supposition that the attacking body was composed of tried and skilful warriors.] Then he said, Who shall order [Heb. bind; we speak of "joining battle"] the battle? [The meaning is - not, "who shall command this force," but, "which side shall begin the fray?"] And he answered, Thou [i.e., thy band of young men shall make the attack.] Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “By whom?”בְּמִ֔י (bə·mî) Preposition-b | Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix Ahab אַחְאָב֙ (’aḥ·’āḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet asked. וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say And the prophet replied, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “This is what כֹּֽה־ (kōh-) Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel says: אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘By the young officers בְּנַעֲרֵ֖י (bə·na·‘ă·rê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer of the district הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת (ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region governors.’” שָׂרֵ֣י (śā·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince “Who מִֽי־ (mî-) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix will start יֶאְסֹ֥ר (ye’·sōr) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle the battle?” הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (ham·mil·ḥā·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4421: A battle, war asked [Ahab]. וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “You [will],” אָֽתָּה׃ (’āt·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you answered the prophet. וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say Links 1 Kings 20:14 NIV1 Kings 20:14 NLT 1 Kings 20:14 ESV 1 Kings 20:14 NASB 1 Kings 20:14 KJV 1 Kings 20:14 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 20:14 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 20:14 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 20:14 French Bible 1 Kings 20:14 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 20:14 Ahab said By whom? He said Thus (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
    |