1 Kings 20:15

15 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Yisra'el, being seven thousand.

1 Kings 20:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:15

Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the
provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two
A very small number to go forth against so great an army as the host of the Syrians, and these raw unexperienced young men:

and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of
Israel, being seven thousand;
which could never be the number of all the people in the land, nor even in the city of Samaria, who were able to bear arms; but it must mean such who were willing to go out to war on this occasion: and the number being just the same as of those that bowed not the knee to Baal, has led the Jewish commentators to conclude that these were the men that were numbered for war; but it is not likely that they were all in Samaria, or that none but those would go to war, though it must be owned the number is remarkable.

1 Kings 20:15 In-Context

13 Behold, a prophet came near to Ach'av king of Yisra'el, and said, Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am the LORD.

14 Ach'av said, By whom? He said, Thus says the LORD, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You.

15 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Yisra'el, being seven thousand.

16 They went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.

17 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 from Shomron.