1 Kings 20:37

37 And he findeth another man, and saith, `Smite me, I pray thee;' and the man smiteth him, smiting and wounding,

1 Kings 20:37 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:37

Then he found another man, and said, smite me, I pray thee,
&c.] This is not said to be his neighbour, nor one of the sons of the prophets, but a rustic man, and so stuck not to take him at his word:

and the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him;
in his face; made some incision in his flesh, broke the skin, and fetched blood of him; perhaps somewhere about his eyes, by what follows: this he got done to him, that he might look like a wounded soldier, and thereby get the more easily to the speech of Ahab.

1 Kings 20:37 In-Context

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour by the word of Jehovah, `Smite me, I pray thee;' and the man refuseth to smite him,

36 and he saith to him, `Because that thou hast not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, lo, thou art going from me, and the lion hath smitten thee;' and he goeth from him, and the lion findeth him, and smiteth him.

37 And he findeth another man, and saith, `Smite me, I pray thee;' and the man smiteth him, smiting and wounding,

38 and the prophet goeth and standeth for the king on the way, and disguiseth himself with ashes on his eyes.

39 And it cometh to pass -- the king is passing by -- that he hath cried unto the king, and saith, `Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and lo, a man hath turned aside and bringeth in unto me a man, and saith, Keep this man; if he be at all missing, then hath thy life been for his life, or a talent of silver thou dost weigh out;