1 Kings 20:17

KJV

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 come out of Samaria.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the young men {H5288} of the princes {H8269} of the provinces {H4082} went out {H3318} first {H7223}; and Benhadad {H1130} sent out {H7971}, and they told {H5046} him, saying {H559}, There are men {H582} come out {H3318} of Samaria {H8111}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The district governors' men went out first. Ben-Hadad sent for information, and they reported, "Men have come out from Shomron."

Berean Standard Bible

And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

American Standard Version

And 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 Samaria.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 20:17 serves as the surprising prelude to Israel's divinely orchestrated counter-attack against the formidable Aramean army besieging Samaria. This verse meticulously details the unexpected emergence of a seemingly insignificant vanguard—"the young men of the princes of the provinces"—from the beleaguered capital. Their initial sortie immediately captures the attention of Ben-Hadad's forces, who promptly report this development to their overconfident king, thereby setting the stage for a miraculous victory that defies conventional military expectations and powerfully underscores God's sovereign power to deliver His people through unconventional and often humbling means.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a critical turning point within the broader narrative of King Ahab's tumultuous reign, specifically initiating the first of two significant military engagements between Israel and Aram detailed in [1 Kings 20](/1-kings/20 "1 Kings 20 - Ahab's Victory Over Aram") and [1 Kings 22](/1-kings/22 "1 Kings 22 - Ahab's Death"). Chapter 20 commences with the audacious demands and subsequent siege of Samaria by Ben-Hadad, followed by Ahab's initial, humiliating capitulation. However, a prophetic intervention dramatically alters the course of events. A prophet of the Lord assures Ahab of a resounding victory against the numerically superior Aramean forces, despite Israel's inherent weakness and Ahab's profound moral failings. The divine strategy, meticulously outlined in [1 Kings 20:13-19](/1-kings/20-13-19 "1 Kings 20:13-19 - The Prophet's Instructions"), mandates a small, unconventional force to lead the charge. Verse 17 directly precedes the miraculous and decisive defeat of Ben-Hadad's forces, who are depicted as indulging in boastful feasting and revelry in their presumed victory, as strikingly portrayed in [1 Kings 20:12](/1-kings/20-12 "1 Kings 20:12 - Ben-Hadad's Arrogance and Feasting"). This juxtaposition powerfully highlights the stark contrast between Aramean hubris and Israel's humble, divinely-empowered advance.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The protracted conflict between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Aram (Syria), particularly under the powerful Aramean king Ben-Hadad II, was a defining feature of the geopolitical landscape during the Omride dynasty. Samaria, established as the capital by Omri, was a strategically vital and heavily fortified city, making a prolonged siege a common and effective tactic of ancient Near Eastern warfare. Ben-Hadad II commanded a formidable army, comprising chariots, cavalry, and a large infantry contingent, characteristic of a dominant regional power. The specific mention of "princes of the provinces" (שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת, _sarei hamedinot_) alludes to a feudal or administrative system where regional rulers contributed their own contingents to the national army. Their "young men" (נְעָרִים, _ne'arim_) would likely have been their personal attendants, squires, or even sons, rather than seasoned, front-line warriors. This detail profoundly underscores the unconventional and seemingly insignificant nature of this initial sortie, which would have appeared utterly negligible to a professional, mighty army like Ben-Hadad's, accustomed to grand military maneuvers and overwhelming force.

* **Key Themes:** The deployment of this small, seemingly insignificant group of "young men" profoundly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout [1 Kings 20](/1-kings/20 "1 Kings 20 - God's Deliverance of Israel") and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it serves as a powerful illustration of **Divine Strategy and Humility**. God deliberately chooses weak, unconventional, and often overlooked means to achieve His victories, ensuring that the glory and credit belong solely to Him and not to human strength, wisdom, or military might. This stands in stark contrast to Ben-Hadad's profound [pride and overconfidence](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction"), which ultimately precipitates his spectacular downfall. Secondly, the verse highlights the critical **Element of Surprise**. This unexpected sortie catches the feasting and complacent Arameans entirely off guard, initiating a chain of events that dramatically overturns the seemingly hopeless situation for besieged Israel. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, this episode underscores the enduring theme of **God's Faithfulness Amidst Unfaithfulness**. Despite the notorious wickedness and idolatry of King Ahab, God remains unwavering in His commitment to His covenant people. He intervenes decisively to protect Israel and to powerfully demonstrate His absolute sovereignty over nations and battles, irrespective of the moral failings of their human leadership.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **young men (Hebrew, _naʻar'_):** (H5288) From נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man). In this context, the term emphasizes that the initial force was not a formidable military contingent of seasoned warriors, but rather a specific, perhaps hand-picked, group of attendants or sons associated with regional rulers. This deliberate choice of personnel profoundly underscores the miraculous nature of the impending victory, reinforcing that it was achieved by God's hand and strategic design, not by human strength or conventional military might.
* **went out (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** (H3318) A primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and prim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. This verb signifies a decisive and deliberate action of emerging from the besieged city. In this narrative, it marks the initiation of the counter-offensive, a movement that defies the logic of a beleaguered city and signals the surprising, divinely-empowered shift in momentum.
* **Benhadad (Hebrew, _Ben-Hădad'_):** (H1130) From בֵּן and הֲדַד; son of Hadad; Ben-Hadad, the name of several Syrian kings; Benhadad. This proper noun identifies the formidable Aramean king, the primary adversary of Israel in this account. His presence signifies the overwhelming military power and arrogant confidence that Israel, by human standards, had no hope of overcoming. His name, "son of Hadad" (a Syrian storm god), also subtly highlights the pagan power Israel is up against, further emphasizing the divine nature of the impending victory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first":** This clause vividly describes the unexpected and unconventional vanguard of Israel's forces. Instead of a seasoned, formidable military unit, a small, specific group of "young men" associated with regional leaders are sent forth. This action signals a divinely inspired strategy designed to humble the enemy and emphatically highlight God's power over human might. Their going "first" signifies their role as the initial, surprising wave of Israel's counter-attack, setting the stage for the dramatic events to follow.
* **"and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying":** This segment details Ben-Hadad's immediate, though likely dismissive, reaction to the unexpected movement. His forces, strategically positioned around the besieged city, observed the sortie and promptly reported it to their king. This suggests an initial underestimation of the threat, as Ben-Hadad was likely preoccupied with feasting, revelry, and the presumed ease of his impending victory, as indicated in the preceding verses.
* **"There are men come out of Samaria":** This is the simple, factual, and seemingly understated report delivered to Ben-Hadad. The language is neutral, merely stating the observation without conveying the full significance or the divine strategy underpinning this seemingly minor sortie. This concise report sets the critical stage for Ben-Hadad's fatal misjudgment and the subsequent, utterly surprising turn of events that would lead to his army's swift and ignominious defeat.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several potent literary devices to heighten the dramatic tension and underscore its theological message. **Irony** is profoundly prominent, as the mighty Aramean army, led by the arrogant and overconfident Ben-Hadad, is first confronted not by Israel's main fighting force, but by a seemingly insignificant and unconventional group of "young men." This contrasts sharply with Ben-Hadad's hubris and the perceived weakness of besieged Samaria. The deployment of this small, unexpected group also functions as powerful **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the unexpected and miraculous victory that is about to unfold, where God will decisively use the weak and the foolish to confound the strong and the wise. Furthermore, the narrative masterfully utilizes **Contrast** between the feasting, complacency, and perceived invincibility of Ben-Hadad's camp and the determined, divinely-empowered action initiated by Israel, setting the stage for the dramatic and divinely orchestrated reversal of fortunes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 20:17 profoundly illustrates God's sovereign control over the outcomes of battles and His consistent preference for demonstrating His power through unexpected, humble, and often counter-intuitive means. This verse emphatically underscores that divine victory is never dependent on human strength, numerical superiority, or conventional military strategy, but rests solely on God's omnipotent will and intervention. It serves as a timeless and powerful reminder that God delights in using the weak, the foolish, and the overlooked things of the world to shame the wise and the strong, thereby ensuring that all glory and credit redound exclusively to Him. Even amidst the profound moral failings and idolatry of King Ahab, God remains utterly faithful to His covenant people, intervening decisively to protect them and to display His overwhelming might against their arrogant adversaries, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan.

* [Judges 7:7](/judges/7-7 "Judges 7:7 - Gideon's Small Army")
* [1 Samuel 17:40-50](/1-samuel/17-40-50 "1 Samuel 17:40-50 - David and Goliath")
* [2 Chronicles 14:11](/2-chronicles/14-11 "2 Chronicles 14:11 - Asa's Prayer and Victory")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This seemingly small detail in 1 Kings 20:17 carries profound and enduring implications for our contemporary walk of faith. It challenges us to critically re-evaluate our inherent tendency to rely on conventional wisdom, human strength, or overwhelming resources when confronted with daunting challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Just as God strategically used a small, unconventional band of "young men" to initiate the downfall of a mighty, overconfident army, so too does He frequently work in ways that defy our logical expectations, choosing the humble, the overlooked, and the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His grand and glorious purposes. This narrative powerfully encourages us to cultivate a posture of profound and unwavering trust in God's often unconventional methods, even when our circumstances appear dire, our resources seem meager, or the odds are stacked against us. It serves as a potent reminder that true strength, ultimate victory, and enduring success come not from our own might, cleverness, or strategic acumen, but from humbly acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty and faithfully stepping out in obedient response to His often surprising call. Furthermore, it functions as a timeless and sobering warning against the spiritual dangers of pride, arrogance, and overconfidence, exemplified so vividly by Ben-Hadad, reminding us that genuine humility before God is the indispensable pathway to true security, lasting peace, and ultimate triumph.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life are you currently tempted to rely on your own strength, conventional wisdom, or perceived resources rather than trusting implicitly in God's unconventional and often surprising ways?**
* **How does the story of these "young men" from Samaria challenge your preconceived notions of what God can accomplish through seemingly insignificant or overlooked means?**
* **What "Ben-Hadad moments" (situations characterized by pride, arrogance, or overconfidence) do you need to actively guard against and repent of in your own spiritual journey?**
* **How can you intentionally cultivate greater faith, unwavering perseverance, and humble dependence when circumstances appear hopeless, drawing strength and encouragement from God's miraculous providence displayed in Samaria?**

### FAQ
**Who were "the young men of the princes of the provinces" and why were they sent out first?**

Answer: The "young men of the princes of the provinces" were likely the personal attendants, squires, or perhaps even the sons of the regional governors or officials within Israel. They were not the main fighting force or seasoned warriors. They were sent out first as part of a divinely revealed strategy, as explicitly instructed by the prophet of the Lord to King Ahab (see [1 Kings 20:13-19](/1-kings/20-13-19 "1 Kings 20:13-19 - The Prophet's Instructions")). This unconventional vanguard was strategically intended to surprise the overconfident Aramean army and to unequivocally demonstrate that the impending victory would be attributed solely to God's power and intervention, not to Israel's military might or human ingenuity. It was a deliberate, counter-intuitive choice to use seemingly weak and underestimated means to humble the enemy and to supremely glorify God.

**Why did God choose to deliver Israel through such a small and unconventional force?**

Answer: God's choice to use a small and unconventional force, such as the "young men of the princes of the provinces," is consistent with a profound and recurring pattern throughout biblical history. This divine methodology serves multiple theological purposes: primarily, it highlights His absolute sovereignty over all human affairs and ensures that the glory for victory belongs entirely to Him, precluding any possibility of human boasting or self-aggrandizement. This principle is powerfully articulated in passages like [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1-corinthians/1-27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak"), where the Apostle Paul explains that God "chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." By using a seemingly insignificant group against a mighty army, God powerfully demonstrated that His power is made perfect in weakness, stripping away any possibility of human pride.

**What was Ben-Hadad's reaction to the news that men were coming out of Samaria?**

Answer: While [1 Kings 20:17](/1-kings/20-17 "1 Kings 20:17 - The Initial Sortie") only states that Ben-Hadad was informed of the sortie, the subsequent verses ([1 Kings 20:18-20](/1-kings/20-18-20 "1 Kings 20:18-20 - Ben-Hadad's Misjudgment and Defeat")) vividly reveal his dismissive, arrogant, and ultimately fatal reaction. He commanded his men to capture them alive, regardless of whether they came out for peace or for war, indicating his severe underestimation of their intent and significance. His profound overconfidence, further fueled by excessive feasting and revelry (as noted in [1 Kings 20:12](/1-kings/20-12 "1 Kings 20:12 - Ben-Hadad's Arrogance and Feasting")), led him to misjudge the situation entirely. This hubris and miscalculation ultimately contributed directly to his swift, unexpected, and utterly humiliating defeat, demonstrating the consequences of pride before a sovereign God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of God using the "young men of the princes of the provinces" to initiate a miraculous victory over a powerful enemy in [1 Kings 20:17](/1-kings/20-17 "1 Kings 20:17 - The Initial Sortie") finds its ultimate, most profound, and eternally significant fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as God chose a seemingly weak, unconventional, and humanly unimpressive means to deliver ancient Israel, so too did He choose the path of profound humility and apparent weakness to achieve the greatest spiritual victory for all humanity. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, willingly emptied Himself of His divine prerogatives, taking the very form of a servant and being born into humble circumstances, as exquisitely described in [Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7-8 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Humility"). His earthly ministry was not characterized by worldly power, military might, or political dominance. Instead, His ultimate triumph over sin, death, and the demonic powers was achieved not through a display of overwhelming force, but through His sacrificial death on the cross—an event that, to human eyes, appeared to be the ultimate weakness, defeat, and foolishness. Yet, it was precisely through this "foolishness of the cross" that God displayed His ultimate wisdom and omnipotent power, as articulated with profound clarity in [1 Corinthians 1:18](/1-corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross") and [1 Corinthians 1:23-24](/1-corinthians/1-23-24 "1 Corinthians 1:23-24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God"). The humble sortie from Samaria, initiating an unexpected victory, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), a victory that decisively disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Thus, 1 Kings 20:17 serves as a powerful Old Testament echo of God's consistent divine strategy: using apparent weakness, humility, and unconventional means to accomplish His glorious redemptive purposes, perfectly and eternally embodied in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 20:14

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, [Even] by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.

1 Kings 20:15

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.

1 Kings 20:19

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