1 Kings 20:17

1Ki 20:17 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.

Ver. 17. And the young men … went out first.] As a forlorn hope to set first on the enemy: or as that Sacra cohors in the Theban army.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki_20:17

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first.

Young men encouraged to band together for the holy war

I. The mighty enemies to be opposed.

II. The glorious monarch under whom we fight.

III. The instruments employed on this occasion in his service. The young men of the princes of the provinces. Such it was, that God selected on this occasion, that His hand might be more clearly revealed. Thus the faith of His people was called forth and exercised; thus bold zeal in His cause would be encouraged. Nor is it only in the history of Israel, that young men have been employed. There have, in our own country and in our own Church, been in past days associations of young men, that have been eminently blessed of God. The societies for the reformation of manners originated with young men; and from 1668, for nearly a century, their associated efforts greatly blessed our country. Vice was discouraged and put down; and innumerable books of piety, circulated by the young men of that period, produced a great reformation of morals, especially in the city of London, but which spread also through other parts of the country.

IV. The victory obtained. (E. Bickersteth, M. A.)

Step in anywhere

During a great battle, a recruit who had lost his company in the tumult of strife, approached the general in command, and timidly asked where he should step in. Step in? thundered the general. Step in anywhere; theres fighting all along the line. A heavy piece of machinery was being moved into a building by means of a block and tackle. Suddenly one of the ropes parted, and the machine began to slide backward. The two men who had charge of the work sprang to stay its progress. Give us a lift! one of them shouted to a bystander. Where shall I take hold? asked the man thus addressed, unmindful of the fact that there was net a second to lose. Grab hold anywhere! yelled the mover. It may be that we are in a field where we are unaccustomed to work, and are timidly asking where we shall step in. We may find our answer in the words, Step in anywhere; theres fighting all along the line. Are you waiting to be called into some special Church work? Step in anywhere. If you are willing, you can be used. This is not the time to pick and choose as to what work we shall do. The need is so great, the force against us so strong, that only one duty awaits the Christian disciple--to take hold anywhere. (Signal.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20:17 first contingent: Ahab apparently sent this small squad to test the enemy. Surprise attacks in the ancient Near East often divided the attacking forces into assault groups designed to launch a pincer movement against the enemy (Judg 7:16; 1 Sam 11:11), to lure the opposing forces into an ambush (Josh 8:15-22), or to draw the enemy to a spot where the attacking army enjoyed a superior position (Judg 4:14-16; 5:19-21).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

That is, young men trained in the service of princes.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

17. and Ben-hadad sent out] Even in his drunken revelry he is made aware that something unexpected is taking place, and he sends to know exactly what it is. The LXX. says ‘they send and announce to the king of Syria’, but this is hardly what would take place. When the messengers come back they tell the king that the besieged have taken a new course: ‘There are men come out of (R.V. from) Samaria;’ ‘They are not going to wait for our attack, but either come to attack us, or to make proposals for peace’.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first,.... From Samaria, before the 7000 did:

and Benhadad sent out; of his pavilion, a messenger or messengers to his sentinels, to know what news, and how matters stood, whether Ahab had sent any message, signifying his compliance with his terms:

and they told him, saying, there are men come out of Samaria; but upon what account they could not say.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him - The Septuagint has a better reading: “they sent and told the king of Syria.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

17. The young men… went out first — That is, went out in front of the seven thousand, which followed, ready to pursue the flying Syrians. Compare 1Ki_20:19-20.

Ben-hadad sent out — To learn what this sudden sally from Samaria meant.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out Or had sent out. Possibly, the unusual stir in the city, the mustering of the troops, etc., had led to his sending out scouts before the young men issued from the gates. The LXX, however, has "And they send and tell the king of Syria," which Rawlinson thinks represents a purer text. But it looks like an emendation to avoid the difficulty, which is removed by translating jlvYiw as pluperfect, and they told him saying, There are men come out of Samaria. Heb. men went forth, etc.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.