1 Kings 22:33

33 and the princes of [the] chariots understood, that it was not the king of Israel, and they ceased from (pursuing) him.

1 Kings 22:33 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:33

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel
Against whom only their orders were to fight:

that they turned back from pursuing him;
for upon so great a force coming upon him he could not withstand, he fled.

1 Kings 22:33 In-Context

31 Soothly the king of Syria had commanded to [the] two and thirty princes of chariots, and said, Ye shall not fight against any man [the] less, either [the] more, but against the king of Israel only. (And the king of Syria had commanded to the thirty-two leaders of his chariots, and said, Ye shall not fight against any lesser man, or against any greater man, but only against the king of Israel.)

32 Therefore when the princes of (the) chariots had seen Jehoshaphat, they supposed that he was (the) king of Israel, and by fierceness made, they fought against him. And Jehoshaphat cried [out], calling (for) God's help, and declaring his banner;

33 and the princes of [the] chariots understood, that it was not the king of Israel, and they ceased from (pursuing) him.

34 Soothly some man bent a bow, and directed an arrow into uncertain, and by hap he smote the king of Israel betwixt the lung and the stomach. And the king said to his charioteer, Turn thine hand, and cast me out of the host, for I am wounded grievously (And the king said to his charioteer, Turn thy hand, and take me out of the battle, for I am grievously wounded).

35 Therefore [the] battle was joined in that day, and the king of Israel stood in his chariot against (the) men of Syria, and he was dead at eventide. Forsooth the blood of the wound floated down into the bottom of the chariot. (And so the battle was joined on that day, and the king of Israel stood in his chariot facing the Syrians, and then he died that evening. And the blood from his wound flowed down into the bottom of his chariot.)