1 Kings 20:17

17 The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Shomron.

1 Kings 20:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:17

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out
first
From Samaria, before the 7000 did:

and Benhadad sent out;
of his pavilion, a messenger or messengers to his sentinels, to know what news, and how matters stood, whether Ahab had sent any message, signifying his compliance with his terms:

and they told him, saying, there are men come out of Samaria;
but upon what account they could not say.

1 Kings 20:17 In-Context

15 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Yisra'el, being seven thousand.

16 They went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.

17 The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Shomron.

18 He said, Whether they are come out for shalom, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.

19 So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.