1 Kings 20:13

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, ¹I will give it into your hand this day, ²and you shall know that I am the LORD."

1 Kings 20:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:13

And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel,
&c.] Supposed by the Jewish writers to be Micaiah the son of Imlah, ( 1 Kings 22:9 ) one of those perhaps that Obadiah hid in the cave, and now is sent out publicly on an errand to Ahab:

saying, thus saith the Lord, hast thou seen all this great multitude?
considered what a vast number Benhadad's army consisted of:

behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day;
as great as it is:

and thou shalt know that I am the Lord;
and not Baal, who can save by few as well as by many, and from a great multitude.

1 Kings 20:13 In-Context

11 And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.'"

12 When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, "Take your positions." And they took their positions against the city.

13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

14 And Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts." Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."

15 Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.

Cross References

• 1. ver. 28
• 2. [1 Kings 18:36]