1 Kings 22:34

34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight; 1for I am severely wounded."

1 Kings 22:34 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:34

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture
Not aiming at the king of Israel, or knowing whereabout he was. In the Targum on ( 2 Chronicles 18:33 ) , this man is said to be Naaman, the general of the army of the king of Syria, and so Jarchi here; but though he did this in his simplicity, as the word signifies, without any intention to smite any particular person; yet God directed the arrow to the man he had marked for destruction, and neither his disguise, nor coat of mail, could secure from that:

and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness:
of which the pieces of armour on him were joined together, the higher and lower parts of it, the breastplate, and what covered the belly; and though these were joined as close as they were capable of joining them in those times, yet the arrow, guided by divine Providence, found its way into his body:

wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, turn thine hand;
or hands, with which he held the reins, and turn the horses on one side:

and carry me out of the host;
where the battle was hottest, to a place more remote and private, that he might have the wound examined, and the blood stopped, and return again, as it seems he did:

for I am wounded;
or rather "I am sick" F19, or ill, as the Targum; somewhat out of order, and therefore chose to retire a little while; not caring it should be known that he was smitten and wounded, lest his soldiers should be disheartened.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 (ytylxh) "aegrotare factus sum", Vatablus; "aegrotus factus sum", Junius & Tremellius.

1 Kings 22:34 In-Context

32 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel," and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out.
33 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded."
35 The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.
36 Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset , saying, "Every man to his city and every man to his country."

Cross References 1

  • 1. 2 Chronicles 35:23

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit "between the scale-armor and the breastplate"
  • [b]. Lit "your hand"
  • [c]. Lit "camp"
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