1 Kings 20:12

12 And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking , he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

1 Kings 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:12

And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message (as he
was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions)
Though it was at noon, or before, ( 1 Kings 20:16 ) , which shows that he and they were addicted to intemperance:

that he said unto his servants;
some of the principal officers of his army:

set yourselves in array;
prepare for battle, betake yourselves to your arms, invest the city at once, and place the engines against it to batter it down:

and they set themselves in array against the city;
besieged it in form, at least prepared for it; for it seems after all that it was not properly done.

1 Kings 20:12 In-Context

10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said , The gods do so unto me, and more also , if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

11 And the king of Israel answered and said , Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off .

12 And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking , he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying , Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. message: Heb. word