1 Kings 22:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

Complete Jewish Bible:

ADONAI asked, 'Who will entice Ach'av to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil'ad?' One of them said, 'Do it this way,' and another, 'Do it that way.'

Berean Standard Bible:

And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559}, Who shall persuade^{H6601} Ahab^{H256}, that he may go up^{H5927} and fall^{H5307} at Ramothgilead^{{H7433}{H1568}}? And one said^{H559} on this manner^{H3541}, and another said^{H559} on that manner^{H3541}.

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Commentary for 1 Kings 22:20

1 Kings 22:20 is set within the broader narrative of the reign of King Ahab of Israel, who is known for his idolatry and for leading the Israelites into sin. The verse is part of a larger account where Ahab, along with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, is considering whether to go to war against the Arameans at Ramoth-gilead.

In this particular verse, the Lord is depicted as asking a rhetorical question to the heavenly court, inquiring who might be able to entice Ahab to go into battle at Ramoth-gilead, where he will meet his downfall. The verse reflects the theme of divine sovereignty and the outworking of God's will, even through the counsel and actions of human beings. It also highlights the concept of divine judgment, as Ahab's fate is sealed, and the Lord is orchestrating the circumstances that will lead to his death as a consequence of his disobedience.

The historical context is significant because it shows the tension between the prophets of God, such as Micaiah, who speaks truth to power, and the false prophets who tell Ahab what he wants to hear. This reflects the ongoing spiritual struggle within Israel between true worship of Yahweh and the syncretistic practices promoted by Ahab and his Phoenician wife, Jezebel. The verse sets the stage for the fulfillment of God's judgment against Ahab, as pronounced by the prophet Elijah, and underscores the ultimate authority of the Lord over the affairs of kings and nations.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6601
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּתָה
   Transliteration: pâthâh
   Pronunciation: paw-thaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to open, i.e. be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way) delude; allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, flatter, persuade, silly (one).
   
4. Strong's Number: H256
   There are 397 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחְאָב
   Transliteration: ʼAchʼâb
   Pronunciation: akh-awb'
   Description: once (by contraction) אֶחָב (Jeremiah 29:22); from אָח and אָב; brother (i.e. friend) of (his) father; Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon; Ahab.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5927
   There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלָה
   Transliteration: ʻâlâh
   Pronunciation: aw-law'
   Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5307
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָפַל
   Transliteration: nâphal
   Pronunciation: naw-fal'
   Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7433
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָמֹת גִּלעָד
   Transliteration: Râmôth Gilʻâd
   Pronunciation: raw-moth' gil-awd'
   Description: or רָמוֹת גִּלעָד; (2 Chronicles 22:5), from the plural of רָמָה and גִּלְעָד; heights of Gilad; Ramoth-Gilad, a place East of the Jordan; Ramoth-gilead, Ramoth in Gilead. See also רָאמוֹת.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1568
   There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גִּלְעָד
   Transliteration: Gilʻâd
   Pronunciation: ghil-awd'
   Description: probably from גַּלְעֵד; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites; Gilead, Gileadite.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3541
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֹּה
   Transliteration: kôh
   Pronunciation: ko
   Description: from the prefix k and הוּא; properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now; also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder.