1 Kings 20:17

17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, "There are men coming out of Samaria."

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 numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two; and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings who helped him.

17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, "There are men coming out of Samaria."

18 And he said, "Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive."

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