1 Kings 20:35

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbor in the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man refused to smite him.

1 Kings 20:35 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:35

And a certain man of the sons of the prophets
Which the Jews take to be Micaiah, and so Josephus ^F21, which is probable; the same that had been with Ahab more than once; and, whoever he was, it is not unlikely that he was the same, since Ahab knew him when his disguise was off, ( 1 Kings 20:41 ) ,

said unto his neighbour, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray
thee;
told his neighbour, that by the command of God he was ordered to bid him smite him, so as to wound him:

and the man refused to smite him;
being his neighbour, and perhaps a fellow prophet, and having an affection for him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 14. sect, 5.

1 Kings 20:35 In-Context

33 Now the men diligently observed whether any thing would come from him, and hastily caught it; and they said, "Thy brother Benhadad." Then he said, "Go ye, bring him." Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

34 And Benhadad said unto him, "The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thyself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Then said Ahab, "I will send thee away with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbor in the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man refused to smite him.

36 Then said he unto him, "Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and slew him.

37 Then he found another man and said, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.