1 Kings 20:20

And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

And they slew {H5221} every one {H376} his man {H376}: and the Syrians {H758} fled {H5127}; and Israel {H3478} pursued {H7291} them: and Benhadad {H1130} the king {H4428} of Syria {H758} escaped {H4422} on an horse {H5483} with the horsemen {H6571}.

and each one killed his man. Aram fled, and Isra'el pursued them. Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of the cavalry.

and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

And they slew every one his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

Commentary

Context

This verse details the swift and decisive victory God granted Israel over the Syrian army led by King Ben-Hadad. The Syrians had laid siege to Samaria, and their king, Ben-Hadad, had made arrogant demands of King Ahab, boasting of his overwhelming force. However, a prophet of the Lord had assured Ahab that God would deliver the Syrians into his hand, demonstrating His power (see 1 Kings 20:13). This verse marks the immediate outcome of that divinely orchestrated battle, a surprising rout of a much larger, confident Syrian force by a small Israelite contingent.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment and Victory: The phrase "they slew every one his man" highlights the extraordinary effectiveness of the Israelite soldiers, suggesting a supernatural enablement or even a divine panic among the Syrians that led to their rapid collapse. This victory was clearly not by human strength alone but by God's hand.
  • Humiliation of Arrogance: King Ben-Hadad, who had previously displayed immense pride and defied the Lord, is depicted fleeing in ignominy. His hasty escape on horseback with his cavalry underscores the completeness of his defeat and serves as a powerful reminder that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
  • Decisive Rout and Pursuit: Israel's active pursuit of the fleeing Syrians signifies not just a defensive victory but a comprehensive and overwhelming defeat of the enemy. This pursuit aimed to maximize the impact of the victory and prevent the Syrians from regrouping easily.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "slew every one his man" is וַיַּכּוּ אִישׁ אִישׁוֹ (vayyakkū 'îš 'îšô), literally meaning "and they struck, a man his man." This emphasizes the individual effectiveness of the Israelite soldiers in personal combat, or it could imply that the Syrians were so disoriented that they turned on each other, a common effect of panic in ancient battles. This precise phrasing highlights the intensity and effectiveness of the Israelite counter-attack, which was divinely assisted.

Practical Application

This account reinforces the biblical principle that victory belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). When facing seemingly overwhelming odds or arrogant adversaries, believers are called to trust in God's power and promises rather than relying on their own strength or numbers. God often chooses to work through the weak to confound the strong, ensuring that the glory belongs to Him. It reminds us that humility before God is key, as He is the one who lifts up the humble and brings down the proud.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 7:20

    And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow [withal]: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

  • Judges 7:22

    And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

  • 1 Samuel 30:16

    And when he had brought him down, behold, [they were] spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

  • 1 Samuel 30:17

    And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

  • Psalms 46:6

    ¶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:11

    ¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

  • Leviticus 26:8

    And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
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