1 Kings 20:16

16 They went out at noon, while ¹Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two * kings who helped him.

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1 Kings 20:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:16

And they went out at noon
From Samaria, the two hundred and thirty two young men, and the 7000 Israelites, openly, with great spirit and courage, fearless and undaunted; but it is not said that Ahab went out at the head of them; it seems as if he did not by what is said, ( 1 Kings 20:21 ) ,

but Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions (or booths, or
tents), he, and the kings, the thirty two kings that helped him;
who either were his subjects, or his tributaries, or confederates; being secure, and having nothing to fear from Ahab, he and they gave themselves up to carousing and drinking, even at noon, and so destruction came upon them unawares, as on Belshazzar.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 Kings 20:16 In-Context

14 Ahab said, "By whom?" So he said, "Thus says the LORD , 'By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.' " Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" And he answered, "You."

15 Then he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and there were 232 ; and after them he mustered all the people, even all the sons of Israel, 7,000 .

16 They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two kings who helped him.

17 The young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, "Men have come out from Samaria."

18 Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."

Cross References 1

1. 1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 20:12; Proverbs 20:1

Footnotes 2

[a]. Or "booths"
[b]. Lit "he and the 32 kings"

1 Kings 20:16

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1 Kings 20:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:16 In-Context

Cross References 1

Footnotes 2