1 Kings 20:35

35 A disciple of the prophets spoke to a friend as the word of the LORD had told him. [The disciple said,] "Punch me," but the man refused to punch 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 The men, watching for a good sign, were quick to take him at his word. "Benhadad is your brother," they said. Ahab said, "Bring him here." When Benhadad arrived, Ahab had him come up on the chariot with him.

34 Benhadad told him, "I will give back the towns my father took from your father. You may set up trading centers in Damascus as my father did in Samaria." Ahab said, "If you will put this into a treaty, I will let you go." So Ahab made a treaty with Benhadad and let him go.

35 A disciple of the prophets spoke to a friend as the word of the LORD had told him. [The disciple said,] "Punch me," but the man refused to punch him.

36 The disciple said, "Since you didn't obey the LORD, a lion will kill you when you leave me." When the friend left, a lion found him and killed him.

37 Then the disciple found another man. He said, "Punch me." The man punched him hard and wounded him.