1 Kings 22:31

31 Meanwhile, Aram's king had commanded his thirty-two chariot officers, "Don't bother with anyone big or small. Fight only with Israel's king."

1 Kings 22:31 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:31

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains
that had the rule over his chariots
This was the number of his kings in the first battle with Israel, and of his captains in the second, ( 1 Kings 20:1 1 Kings 20:24 1 Kings 20:25 ) , and the same number he had now, being very probably not only the number of his chariots, but the division of his army was into so many battalions, under the command of these captains of chariots:

saying, fight neither with small nor great;
of those that belonged to Jehoshaphat:

save only with the king of Israel;
and his men; for it can hardly be thought that his orders were to fight with none, nor kill any in the battle but Ahab personally; though it is very probable he might give them directions to aim at him chiefly, knowing that, if he was killed or taken, his army would flee or surrender; and he might be desirous of getting him into his hands, as he had been in his; and the rather his spite was against him, as he was the mover of the war.

1 Kings 22:31 In-Context

29 So Israel's king and Judah's King Jehoshaphat attacked Ramoth-gilead.

30 Israel's king said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself when we go into battle, but you should wear your royal attire." When Israel's king had disguised himself, they entered the battle.

31 Meanwhile, Aram's king had commanded his thirty-two chariot officers, "Don't bother with anyone big or small. Fight only with Israel's king."

32 As soon as the chariot officers saw Jehoshaphat, they assumed that he must be Israel's king, so they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out for help.

33 When the chariot officers realized that he wasn't Israel's king, they stopped chasing him.