1 Kings 20:35

35 One of the members of the prophets' guild said to another one, by the word of ADONAI, "Hit me!" But the man refused to hit him.

1 Kings 20:35 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:35

And a certain man of the sons of the prophets
Which the Jews take to be Micaiah, and so Josephus ^F21, which is probable; the same that had been with Ahab more than once; and, whoever he was, it is not unlikely that he was the same, since Ahab knew him when his disguise was off, ( 1 Kings 20:41 ) ,

said unto his neighbour, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray
thee;
told his neighbour, that by the command of God he was ordered to bid him smite him, so as to wound him:

and the man refused to smite him;
being his neighbour, and perhaps a fellow prophet, and having an affection for him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 14. sect, 5.

1 Kings 20:35 In-Context

33 The men took this as a promising indication and seized on it to say, "Yes, Ben-Hadad is your brother." Then Ach'av said, "Go, and bring him here." Ben-Hadad went out to him, and Ach'av had him climb up into his chariot.

34 Ben-Hadad said to him, "I will return the cities my father took from your father. Also you can set up markets for trade in Dammesek, as my father did in Shomron." "If you put this covenant in writing," said Ach'av, "I will set you free." So he made a covenant with him and set him free.

35 One of the members of the prophets' guild said to another one, by the word of ADONAI, "Hit me!" But the man refused to hit him.

36 Then he said to him, "Because you didn't listen to the voice of ADONAI, the moment you leave me, a lion will kill you." No sooner had he left him than a lion found him and killed him.

37 The prophet went to another man and said, "Hit me!" The man struck him a blow and wounded him.