Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:14
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.
14. the young men of the princes of the provinces ] The LXX. gives , ‘sons of the leaders’, and Josephus nearly the same. ‘The princes of the provinces’ were probably chieftains who had come from various parts of the kingdom of Israel. The ‘young men’ would be their attendants or squires. Evidently they are selected as persons who had no great experience though they might have the courage to go, few in number, against a much superior force.
Who shall order the battle ] The verb, as is seen from the margin of A.V., means ‘to bind’ or ‘tie’. The R.V. taking this to apply to the bringing of the armies together has rendered begin. Instead of remaining within the walls, God encourages Ahab to be the first to strike a blow. Humanly speaking, even, such a step was likely to meet with some success. Josephus says Ahab was to lead because of the inexperience of the young men.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The princes of the provinces are the governors of districts, many of whom may have fled to the capital, as the hostile army advanced through Galilee and northern Samaria. The young men are their attendants, youths unaccustomed to war.
Who shall order the battle? – i. e., Who shal join battle, begin the attack? We or the enemy? The reply was, that the Israelites were to attack.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. By the young men of the princes of the provinces.] These were probably some chosen persons out of the militia of different districts, raised by the princes of the provinces; the same as we would call lord-lieutenants of counties.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By the young men of the princes of the provinces; not by old and experienced soldiers, but by those young men; either the sons of the princes and great men of the land, who were generally fled thither for safety; or their pages or servants that used to attend upon them, who are bred up delicately, and seem unfit for the business.
He answered, Thou, partly to encourage the young men to fight courageously, as being in the presence of their prince; and partly that it might appear that the victory was wholly due to Gods gracious and powerful providence, and not to the valour or worthiness of the instruments.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Ahab said, by whom?…. Knowing he had no army with him sufficient to go out with against the Syrian army:
and he said, thus saith the Lord, even by the young men of the princes of the provinces; either such, as Kimchi thinks, who were brought up with him; or, as others, the sons of governors of provinces, who were kept as hostages, that their fathers might not rebel; neither of which is likely: but rather the servants of such princes who waited on them, and lived delicately and at ease, and were not trained up to military exercise, even by these should the victory be obtained:
then he said, who shall order the battle? begin the attack, we or they? or who shall conduct it, or be the general of the army, go before it, and lead them on? Ahab might think, being an idolater, that the Lord would not make use of him, or otherwise who could be thought of but himself?
and he answered, thou; thou must be the commander, go forth with the army, and make the attack upon the enemy.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) Who shall order the battle?The marginal reading seems right, Who shall give battle? Who shall begin the fray?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Young men of the princes of the provinces These princes of the provinces were the local governors of the several districts in the kingdom, who had been called into Samaria by order of the king to help defend the city against Ben-hadad. Their young men were their servants or attendants. Jehovah will show Ahab, and also Ben-hadad, that “the battle is not to the strong,” and these two hundred and thirty-two youths shall be mightier than the boasted numbers of the king of Syria.
Who shall order the battle Literally, Who shall bind on the battle? That is, Who shall begin the fight?
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 20:14. Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces By the help of the servants, which the princes of the provinces have. Houbigant, The Hebrew word naari has some ambiguity in it, and may signify either the sons or the servants of the princes of the provinces. It was by these young men, says Poole, and not by old experienced officers, that this battle was to be won; that thereby it might appear, that the victory was wholly owing to God’s gracious and powerful Providence, and not to the valour or fitness of the instruments.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 20:14 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.
Ver. 14. Even by the young men of the princes, &c. ] By the noblemen’s sons, the young courtiers, and cavaliers. These were fresh water soldiers, likely, and unexperienced; carpet knights, fitter for a canopy than a camp, for language than a lance; but God had therefore the more glory by the victory gotten by them.
Who shall order the battle?
a Gens una Fabiorum.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
young men = the servants, or esquires.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
young men: or, servants, Gen 14:14-16, Jdg 7:16-20, 1Sa 17:50, 1Co 1:27-29
order: Heb. bind, or tie, 1Ki 18:44
Reciprocal: 1Ki 20:17 – General 2Ki 9:21 – Make ready 1Co 1:25 – the foolishness
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 20:14. By the young men of the princes, &c. The Hebrew word , nagnaree, here rendered young men, is ambiguous, and may mean either the sons or the servants of the princes of the provinces. It was not by old, experienced soldiers, but by those young men, who had lived delicately, and perhaps had never seen a fight, that this battle was to be won; in order that it might appear that the victory was wholly due to Gods gracious providence, and not to the valour or worthiness of the instruments. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? Or, as some understand the words, Who shall begin the fight, they or we? Shall we make a sally, or wait till they assault us? He answered, Thou The prophet bids the king begin and lead them on, partly to encourage the young men to fight courageously, as being in the presence of their prince; and partly to try whether Ahab would thus far trust God, or not.