Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:17
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.
17. and Ben-hadad sent out ] Even in his drunken revelry he is made aware that something unexpected is taking place, and he sends to know exactly what it is. The LXX. says ‘they send and announce to the king of Syria’, but this is hardly what would take place. When the messengers come back they tell the king that the besieged have taken a new course: ‘There are men come out of (R.V. from) Samaria;’ ‘They are not going to wait for our attack, but either come to attack us, or to make proposals for peace’.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him – The Septuagint has a better reading: they sent and told the king of Syria.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Ki 20:17
And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first.
Young men encouraged to band together for the holy war
I. The mighty enemies to be opposed.
II. The glorious monarch under whom we fight.
III. The instruments employed on this occasion in his service. The young men of the princes of the provinces. Such it was, that God selected on this occasion, that His hand might be more clearly revealed. Thus the faith of His people was called forth and exercised; thus bold zeal in His cause would be encouraged. Nor is it only in the history of Israel, that young men have been employed. There have, in our own country and in our own Church, been in past days associations of young men, that have been eminently blessed of God. The societies for the reformation of manners originated with young men; and from 1668, for nearly a century, their associated efforts greatly blessed our country. Vice was discouraged and put down; and innumerable books of piety, circulated by the young men of that period, produced a great reformation of morals, especially in the city of London, but which spread also through other parts of the country.
IV. The victory obtained. (E. Bickersteth, M. A.)
Step in anywhere
During a great battle, a recruit who had lost his company in the tumult of strife, approached the general in command, and timidly asked where he should step in. Step in? thundered the general. Step in anywhere; theres fighting all along the line. A heavy piece of machinery was being moved into a building by means of a block and tackle. Suddenly one of the ropes parted, and the machine began to slide backward. The two men who had charge of the work sprang to stay its progress. Give us a lift! one of them shouted to a bystander. Where shall I take hold? asked the man thus addressed, unmindful of the fact that there was net a second to lose. Grab hold anywhere! yelled the mover. It may be that we are in a field where we are unaccustomed to work, and are timidly asking where we shall step in. We may find our answer in the words, Step in anywhere; theres fighting all along the line. Are you waiting to be called into some special Church work? Step in anywhere. If you are willing, you can be used. This is not the time to pick and choose as to what work we shall do. The need is so great, the force against us so strong, that only one duty awaits the Christian disciple–to take hold anywhere. (Signal.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first,…. From Samaria, before the 7000 did:
and Benhadad sent out; of his pavilion, a messenger or messengers to his sentinels, to know what news, and how matters stood, whether Ahab had sent any message, signifying his compliance with his terms:
and they told him, saying, there are men come out of Samaria; but upon what account they could not say.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. The young men went out first That is, went out in front of the seven thousand, which followed, ready to pursue the flying Syrians. Compare 1Ki 20:19-20.
Ben-hadad sent out To learn what this sudden sally from Samaria meant.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 20:17 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.
Ver. 17. And the young men went out first.] As a forlorn hope to set first on the enemy: or as that Sacra cohors in the Theban army.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 20:14, 1Ki 20:15, 1Ki 20:19
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:17 And the {h} 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.
(h) That is, young men trained in the service of princes.