1 Kings 20:21

KJV

And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} went out {H3318}, and smote {H5221} the horses {H5483} and chariots {H7393}, and slew {H5221} the Syrians {H758} with a great {H1419} slaughter {H4347}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The king of Isra'el went out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a massive defeat on Aram.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a great slaughter on the Arameans.

American Standard Version

And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 20:21 vividly portrays the climactic and divinely orchestrated defeat of the formidable Syrian army by Israel under King Ahab. This verse marks the decisive moment of a miraculous military triumph, where God, despite the profound unworthiness of Israel's king, powerfully demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over nations and His capacity to humble the arrogant, delivering a crushing and comprehensive blow to the seemingly superior forces of Ben-Hadad.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the powerful culmination of the initial major confrontation between the northern kingdom of Israel and Aram (Syria), meticulously detailed in [1 Kings 20](/1_kings/20 "1 Kings 20 - Ahab's Victory Over Ben-Hadad"). The narrative unfolds with Ben-Hadad's audacious siege of Samaria and his escalating, arrogant demands upon King Ahab ([1 Kings 20:1-6](/1_kings/20-1-6 "1 Kings 20:1-6 - Ben-Hadad's Arrogant Demands")). Despite Ahab's initial, humiliating capitulation, a prophet of the Lord miraculously appears, promising victory. This promised triumph is explicitly stated not to be a result of Israel's strength or Ahab's righteousness, but solely to demonstrate God's unparalleled sovereignty over all nations and to humble the proud Ben-Hadad ([1 Kings 20:13](/1_kings/20-13 "1 Kings 20:13 - Prophecy of Victory Over Ben-Hadad")). The prophet even specifies the unexpected agents of this victory: "the young men of the princes of the provinces" ([1 Kings 20:14](/1_kings/20-14 "1 Kings 20:14 - The Young Men as Instruments of Victory")). Verses [1 Kings 20:15-20](/1_kings/20-15-20 "1 Kings 20:15-20 - The Engagement of Armies") describe the small Israelite force engaging the massive Syrian army, leading directly into the devastating rout and "great slaughter" described in [1 Kings 20:21](/1_kings/20-21 "1 Kings 20:21 - Israel's Decisive Victory"). The swiftness and totality of this defeat unequivocally underscore the divine hand at work, setting the stage for subsequent events where Ben-Hadad escapes and God's identity is further affirmed ([1 Kings 20:22-28](/1_kings/20-22-28 "1 Kings 20:22-28 - God's Identity Affirmed")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The protracted conflict between Israel and Aram (Syria) was a defining and recurring feature of the geopolitical landscape during the Omride dynasty in the 9th century BCE. Samaria, as the strategically vital capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, represented a prime target for expansionist powers. Ancient Near Eastern warfare frequently involved extensive sieges, and the demands made by Ben-Hadad were characteristic of victorious kings asserting dominance and exacting tribute and submission. The military might of an army in this era was often measured by its complement of chariots and cavalry, which constituted the elite, shock-and-awe components of military power, capable of breaking enemy lines and pursuing fleeing forces. For the Israelite army to "smote the horses and chariots" meant not merely a tactical victory, but a complete and devastating incapacitation of the enemy's most formidable assets, ensuring a decisive rout and precluding any effective counter-attack or pursuit. The narrative also illuminates the pervasive ancient Near Eastern belief in national gods, where military victory or defeat was routinely attributed to the superior power of a nation's deity. God's dramatic intervention here serves as a direct and profound challenge to this polytheistic worldview, unequivocally asserting His universal sovereignty over all nations and their purported gods, especially in His capacity to humble the proud and arrogant.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates and illustrates several overarching theological and narrative themes within [1 Kings 20](/1_kings/20 "1 Kings 20 - Ahab's Victory Over Ben-Hadad") and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention**, where God actively and decisively intervenes in human affairs and geopolitical conflicts, often employing flawed and unlikely instruments like King Ahab, to accomplish His divine purposes and reveal His unparalleled power. The victory is emphatically not attributed to Israel's military might or Ahab's merit, but to God's explicit declaration that He would deliver the Syrians "into your hand, that you may know that I am the LORD" ([1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God Reveals Himself")). This directly ties into the theme of **God's Self-Revelation**, where He acts powerfully in history to make His unique name and character known to both His people and the surrounding nations. Another prominent theme is the **Humbling of the Proud**, as Ben-Hadad's audacious arrogance and blasphemous boasts are met with swift, overwhelming, and divinely orchestrated judgment, serving as a stark and timeless warning against human hubris ([Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction")). Finally, the narrative powerfully underscores the **Reliability of God's Prophetic Word**, as the precise details of the prophet's prediction regarding the victory and its unexpected agents are meticulously fulfilled, reinforcing the absolute trustworthiness and efficacy of God's communication to His people ([Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Went out (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** This verb (H3318) signifies "to go forth, to come out, to proceed." In this military context, it denotes the decisive action of King Ahab leading his forces out of the besieged city to engage the enemy. It marks the initiation of the battle, a bold and obedient move on Ahab's part in response to the prophetic word, demonstrating an active step of faith, however limited, in God's promised victory.
* **Smote / Slew (Hebrew, _nâkâh'_):** This powerful and versatile verb (H5221) is used twice in the verse, meaning "to strike, to hit, to beat, to kill, to defeat." Its repetition underscores the comprehensive and devastating nature of the Israelite attack. First, it describes the disabling of the enemy's vital military assets ("smote the horses and chariots"), and second, the direct lethal action against the Syrian soldiers ("slew the Syrians"). It implies not just an attack, but a decisive and effective blow leading to incapacitation and death.
* **Slaughter (Hebrew, _makkâh'_):** This noun (H4347), derived from the same root as _nâkâh_, refers to a "blow, wound, defeat, plague, slaughter." When combined with the adjective "great" (H1419, _gâdôwl_), it denotes an overwhelming and catastrophic military defeat. It paints a vivid picture of a one-sided battle, a rout where the enemy is not merely beaten but utterly devastated and decimated, signifying the completeness and severity of Israel's divinely granted victory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the king of Israel went out":** This initial clause establishes King Ahab's direct leadership and participation in the battle. His "going out" from the relative safety of Samaria signifies his obedience to the prophet's instruction to engage the formidable Syrian army, despite the overwhelming odds. It marks the decisive moment of engagement, initiating the divinely promised military action.
* **"and smote the horses and chariots":** This crucial clause describes the strategic and devastating blow delivered to the core strength of the Syrian army. Horses and chariots represented the pinnacle of ancient military technology, embodying speed, power, and the primary offensive capability. By targeting and effectively disabling these elite units, the Israelite forces crippled the Syrian army's mobility, cohesion, and offensive power, rendering them vulnerable and disorganized, which was pivotal for the subsequent rout.
* **"and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter":** This final clause summarizes the catastrophic outcome for the Syrian forces. The phrase "slew the Syrians" indicates direct lethal action, while "with a great slaughter" emphasizes the extraordinary magnitude of the casualties and the overwhelming nature of the Israelite victory. It underscores that this was not a minor skirmish but a decisive, comprehensive, and divinely enabled rout that utterly devastated Ben-Hadad's army, fulfilling God's prophetic word.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey the profound impact and divine nature of the event. **Hyperbole** is powerfully evident in the phrase "great slaughter," which, while certainly reflecting a significant defeat, emphasizes the overwhelming and devastating nature of the victory beyond mere factual reporting, highlighting its divine origin and scope. The narrative itself functions as **Narrative Irony**, as God conspicuously uses the notoriously wicked King Ahab, who was deeply steeped in idolatry and rebellion against the Lord, to achieve a glorious and decisive victory over a proud pagan king. This unexpected alliance of divine power with an unworthy human agent dramatically underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His ability to work through any means, even the most unlikely, to accomplish His immutable purposes. Furthermore, the explicit focus on the destruction of "horses and chariots" carries profound **Symbolism**, representing the pinnacle of human military might, self-reliance, and worldly power. Their decisive and total destruction symbolizes the futility of trusting in human strength or armaments when confronted by the sovereign and irresistible power of God, a recurring and foundational theme throughout biblical narratives.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The triumph depicted in 1 Kings 20:21 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and His unwavering commitment to His covenant purposes, even when His people are profoundly undeserving. The victory was emphatically not a testament to Ahab's righteousness or Israel's military prowess, but a clear and undeniable demonstration that the Lord alone is God, capable of humbling the proud and delivering His people against overwhelming odds. This narrative serves as a powerful and enduring reminder that God's power is not contingent on human strength, merit, or strategic advantage, but is exercised solely according to His divine will and for the ultimate revelation of His glory. It teaches that true security, lasting victory, and ultimate deliverance come from trusting implicitly in the Lord, rather than in human armaments, military might, or cunning strategies.

* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes His Purpose")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account in 1 Kings 20:21 offers profound encouragement and a challenging call to faithful living for believers today. It powerfully reminds us that our God is a God who actively and decisively intervenes in the affairs of humanity, often transforming seemingly impossible situations into glorious and undeniable victories. This narrative calls us to a deep and honest evaluation of where we place our ultimate trust: do we instinctively rely on our own strength, our accumulated resources, or our perceived strategic advantages (our modern-day "horses and chariots"), or do we place our unwavering confidence in the sovereign and limitless power of God? Even when we feel weak, outnumbered, or acutely aware of our unworthiness, this passage assures us that God can powerfully use us as instruments to accomplish His magnificent purposes and reveal His glory to a watching world. The dramatic humbling of Ben-Hadad also serves as a potent and timeless warning against pride, arrogance, and self-sufficiency, urging us to cultivate genuine humility before God and in our interactions with others. Ultimately, this verse invites us to audacious faith, believing that God can bring about a "great slaughter" of our spiritual battles, overwhelming our adversaries, dismantling obstacles, and establishing His righteous kingdom in and through our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life are you currently tempted to rely on your own "horses and chariots" rather than on God's power and provision?**
* **How does God's willingness to use an imperfect and even wicked leader like Ahab encourage you in your own walk of faith, despite your personal weaknesses and failures?**
* **What "impossible" situation are you currently facing where you need to trust God for a decisive intervention, a "great slaughter" of the obstacle or adversary?**
* **How can you intentionally cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence, recognizing God's absolute sovereignty over all circumstances and actively resisting the temptation to pride and self-reliance?**

### FAQ
**Why did God help Ahab, who was known for his wickedness and idolatry?**

Answer: God's intervention in [1 Kings 20:21](/1_kings/20-21 "1 Kings 20:21 - Israel's Decisive Victory") was not a reward for Ahab's personal righteousness or a validation of his idolatrous practices. Instead, it was a profound demonstration of God's own absolute sovereignty, His covenant faithfulness, and His unique identity. The prophet explicitly states that the victory was given "that you may know that I am the LORD" ([1 Kings 20:13](/1_kings/20-13 "1 Kings 20:13 - Prophecy of Victory") and reiterated in [1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God's Identity Revealed")). God used this specific situation to humble the arrogant King Ben-Hadad, who had not only attacked Israel but had also blasphemed the God of Israel by boasting of his superior power and attributing his strength to his own pagan gods. This narrative powerfully underscores that God's purposes transcend human merit or unworthiness; He is sovereign and can use anyone, even the unrighteous or those in rebellion against Him, to accomplish His divine will, reveal His glory, and fulfill His overarching plan for both His people and the nations.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The decisive victory of Israel over the Syrian forces in [1 Kings 20:21](/1_kings/20-21 "1 Kings 20:21 - Israel's Decisive Victory"), orchestrated by God despite the profound weakness and unworthiness of His people and their king, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and eternally decisive victory achieved by Jesus Christ. Just as God "smote the horses and chariots" of Syria, crippling their worldly power and might, so Christ, the true King of Israel, utterly disarmed and triumphed over the spiritual "principalities and powers" that held humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")). He did not achieve this "great slaughter" through physical warfare, earthly armies, or human might, but through His perfect sacrificial death on the cross and His glorious resurrection from the dead. Through His death, Jesus destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil" ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus Destroys the Power of Death")), delivering a fatal and irreversible blow to the spiritual enemies of humanity: sin, death, and the devil. His victory is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to humble the proud and establish His righteous, eternal reign, not just over a single nation, but over all creation, as He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) and the victorious Rider on the white horse, coming to judge and make war in righteousness ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - The Rider on the White Horse")).

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

Judges 7:23

¶ And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

Judges 7:25

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

2 Kings 3:18

And this is [but] a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

1 Samuel 17:52

And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

Judges 3:28

And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.

2 Kings 3:24

And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in [their] country.

1 Samuel 14:20

And Saul and all the people that [were] with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.