1 Kings 20:25

25 and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them on the plateau: shall we not be stronger than they? And he hearkened to their voice, and did so.

1 Kings 20:25 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:25

And number thee an army like the army that thou hast lost,
&c.] Raise an army of an equal number, which they supposed he was able to do:

horse for horse and chariot for chariot;
as many horses and chariots as he had before:

and we will fight against them in the plain;
where they could make use of their horses and chariots to greater advantage than on hills and mountains, see ( Judges 1:19 )

and surely we shall be stronger than they;
and beat them:

and he hearkened unto their voice, and did so;
took their counsel, and prepared an army, and placed captains in it instead of kings.

1 Kings 20:25 In-Context

23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods of the mountains; therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them on the plateau, shall we not be stronger than they?

24 And do this: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put governors in their stead;

25 and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them on the plateau: shall we not be stronger than they? And he hearkened to their voice, and did so.

26 And it came to pass, at the return of the year, that Ben-Hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

27 And the children of Israel were numbered and victualled, and they went against them; and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats; but the Syrians filled the land.

Footnotes

• [a]. The elevated plain east of Jordan.