1 Kings 22:31

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

But the king {H4428} of Syria {H758} commanded {H6680} his thirty {H7970} and two {H8147} captains {H8269} that had rule over his chariots {H7393}, saying {H559}, Fight {H3898} neither with small {H6996} nor great {H1419}, save only with the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478}.

Now the king of Aram had ordered the thirty-two chariot commanders, "Don't attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra'el."

Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty and two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 22:31

This verse is set during the climactic battle of Ramoth-Gilead, a significant conflict between the northern kingdom of Israel, led by King Ahab, and the Arameans (Syrians), led by King Ben-Hadad. Despite a prior peace treaty, Ahab sought to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead, a city strategically important for controlling trade routes. King Ahab, despite warnings from the prophet Micaiah, who had foretold his death in this battle, proceeded to war. To evade the prophecy, Ahab disguised himself, while his ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, wore his royal robes (1 Kings 22:30).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Targeted Warfare: King Ben-Hadad's command to his "thirty and two captains" was highly specific: ignore all other soldiers and focus solely on the "king of Israel." This demonstrates a clear strategic objective, likely a personal vendetta or an attempt to quickly end the battle by eliminating the opposing leader. It underscores the ruthlessness of ancient warfare.
  • Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Schemes: Despite Ahab's elaborate attempt to avoid his prophesied death by disguising himself, this verse shows that divine will cannot be thwarted by human cunning. The Syrian king's command, though seemingly independent, becomes an unwitting instrument in the fulfillment of God's word concerning Ahab's judgment.
  • Futility of Evasion: The detailed instruction to target only the king highlights the ultimate futility of Ahab's disguise. No human strategy, however clever, can escape the consequences of divine judgment or the fulfillment of prophecy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel" emphasizes the singular, laser-like focus of Ben-Hadad's military strategy. The term "small nor great" encompasses everyone from the lowest foot soldier to high-ranking officers, underscoring that no one else mattered in their primary objective. This concentrated effort made Ahab's disguise ultimately irrelevant, as the entire Syrian force was implicitly directed to find and engage him.

Practical Application

1 Kings 22:31 serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans and decrees will ultimately come to pass, regardless of human attempts to circumvent them. For believers, this offers comfort in God's ultimate control, even amidst chaos or opposition. For those who might seek to evade accountability, it's a sobering lesson that one cannot outrun divine justice or the natural consequences of one's actions. It encourages us to live in alignment with God's will, understanding that His purposes are sovereign and will be accomplished, as seen in the eventual demise of King Ahab as prophesied.

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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

  • 1 Kings 20:24 (8 votes)

    And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

  • 2 Chronicles 18:30 (6 votes)

    Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that [were] with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.

  • Jeremiah 16:6 (4 votes)

    Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall [men] lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:

  • 1 Kings 20:16 (2 votes)

    And they went out at noon. But Benhadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

  • Genesis 19:11 (2 votes)

    And they smote the men that [were] at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

  • 1 Samuel 30:2 (2 votes)

    And had taken the women captives, that [were] therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried [them] away, and went on their way.

  • 1 Kings 20:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and [there were] thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.