Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 20:18
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
18. take them alive ] Whatever their mission might be Ben-hadad had no doubt that his followers could surround them and capture them without fighting. They could have no difficulty in overpowering so insignificant a force. Why he wished for the capture rather than the slaughter of the Israelites is not so evident. It might be only with a view of making it clear that there was no need to cut off any troops sent against them; by mere force of numbers they could overpower them and make them prisoners.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 18. Take them alive.] He was confident of victory. Do not slay them; bring them to me, they may give us some useful information.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He bids them not fight; for he thought they needed not to strike one stroke, and that the Israelites could not stand the first brunt.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he said, whether they be come out for peace,…. To propose terms of peace:
take them alive; make them prisoners, which was contrary to the laws of nations:
or whether they be come out for war, take them alive; he made no doubt of their being easily taken; but he would not have them be put to death, that he might examine them, and know the state of things in Samaria, and what Ahab intended to do, that he might take his measures accordingly.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
18. Take them alive In the folly of his drunken insolence he was confident of victory, not dreaming of any power greater than his own.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 20:18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
Ver. 18. Take them alive. ] He bore himself so bold upon his great strength, that he thought there was no more to do but to take them alive. He considered not that they were Deo armati; and that himself was held fast “in the snare of the devil, being taken alive by him at his will,” 2Ti 2:26 as a beast is taken in a toil. a
a .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 2:3, 1Sa 2:4, 1Sa 14:11, 1Sa 14:12, 1Sa 17:44, 2Ki 14:8-12, Pro 18:12
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:40 – he fled before 1Sa 17:42 – disdained 1Ki 12:18 – flee to Jerusalem 2Ki 10:14 – Take them alive 2Ki 18:23 – I will deliver Neh 4:3 – Tobiah Pro 14:16 – the fool Isa 36:8 – and I Jer 46:17 – Pharaoh