1 Kings 20 14

1 Kings 20:14 kjv

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 20:14 nkjv

So Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'By the young leaders of the provinces.' " Then he said, "Who will set the battle in order?" And he answered, "You."

1 Kings 20:14 niv

"But who will do this?" asked Ahab. The prophet replied, "This is what the LORD says: 'The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.'?" "And who will start the battle?" he asked. The prophet answered, "You will."

1 Kings 20:14 esv

And Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts." Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."

1 Kings 20:14 nlt

Ahab asked, "How will he do it?" And the prophet replied, "This is what the LORD says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it." "Should we attack first?" Ahab asked. "Yes," the prophet answered.

1 Kings 20 verses

1 Kings 20 14 Meaning

In 1 Kings 20:14, King Ahab, facing a powerful Aramaean siege led by Ben-Hadad, questions the prophet about who will deliver this unlikely victory. The prophet, speaking for the Lord, reveals that the triumph will be achieved not by Ahab's seasoned warriors but by the "young men of the princes of the provinces." This specific instruction from God emphasizes divine intervention and a method contrary to conventional military strategy, highlighting God's power to save through unexpected and seemingly weak means. It's a testament to God's sovereignty and His desire to display His glory, rather than for the credit to go to human strength or numbers.

1 Kings 20 14 Context

First Kings chapter 20 describes an invasion of Israel by Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria), who, with thirty-two allied kings, besieges Samaria. Ben-Hadad's demands on King Ahab escalate from silver and gold to Ahab's wives and children, and finally, his servants plundering Samaria. Ahab, deeply distraught and contemplating surrender, is unexpectedly approached by a prophet of the Lord. This divine intervention, unrequested by Ahab (who often disregarded God), is crucial. The prophet assures Ahab that God will deliver Aram into his hand that very day. Ahab, presumably skeptical given the overwhelming enemy numbers, asks in verse 14 who will be the instruments of this victory. The subsequent divine revelation regarding "the young men of the princes of the provinces" sets the stage for God to demonstrate His power in an unconventional way, highlighting His absolute sovereignty and control over the battle outcomes, independent of human strength or wisdom.

1 Kings 20 14 Word analysis

• And Ahab said: Ahab's immediate question indicates surprise, and perhaps skepticism, at the prophet's declaration of victory, particularly when his kingdom is facing imminent defeat.
• "By whom?": אָשׁ־בְּמִי (ash-bemi). This two-word interrogative emphasizes Ahab's query about the specific agents of victory. He likely expected a mention of his chief commanders, elite troops, or the nation's most formidable warriors, reflecting a human, strategic mindset.
• So he said: The prophet, not Ahab, is the speaker, reaffirming his role as a messenger from God.
• "Thus says the LORD:": כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה (koh-amar Yahweh). This crucial formula establishes divine authority. The message is not the prophet's opinion but a direct, authoritative word from the covenant God of Israel, Yahweh. It grounds the unusual instruction in supreme authority.
• "By the young men": בְּנַעֲרֵי (b'na'arey). The Hebrew term נַעַר (na'ar), plural נְעָרִים (ne'arim), refers to a youth, boy, or young man. In military contexts, it could refer to pages, armor-bearers, or attendants, implying relative inexperience or lack of formal military training, not front-line battle veterans. This choice directly counters conventional military wisdom and underscores God's method of using the seemingly weak or insignificant.
• "of the princes": שָׂרֵי (sarei). This refers to chiefs, rulers, or officials. These are individuals of high social standing and leadership roles.
• "of the provinces.": הַמְּדִינוֹת (hammedinot). This term denotes administrative districts or regions within Israel. The "princes of the provinces" would be local governors or leaders. Their young men, therefore, likely refer to their personal retinue or sons, not a standard, organized military division. The use of regional forces further highlights the decentralized and potentially less cohesive nature of this fighting force from a military standpoint.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "By whom? Thus says the Lord: 'By the young men...'": This direct question and divinely ordained answer present a powerful contrast. Ahab's human logic demands a renowned commander or formidable army, while God's answer challenges this reliance on human might. It immediately signals that the coming victory will not be by typical means, but solely by Yahweh's doing.
• "the young men of the princes of the provinces.": This specific designation reveals God's unusual battle plan. Rather than utilizing Ahab's main army or skilled warriors, God chooses inexperienced youth from regional leadership, an apparently insignificant force against Ben-Hadad's massive coalition. This choice highlights several theological principles: God often works contrary to human expectation, demonstrates His power through weakness, ensures that the glory belongs to Him alone, and uses seemingly unfit instruments to accomplish His will, confounding the wise and mighty. It is a polemic against the regional gods of Aram and against reliance on human strength, affirming Yahweh as the sole decisive force in battle.

1 Kings 20 14 Bonus section

The seemingly paradoxical nature of God's instruction in 1 Kings 20:14 parallels other biblical instances where God deliberately chooses inferior forces or unlikely means to achieve victory. This "divine incongruity" is a repeated pattern:

• Gideon's 300 men against the Midianite hordes (Judges 7).
• David's sling against Goliath (1 Sam 17).
• A ram's horn blast against the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6).

This pattern serves as a constant theological assertion: true strength and salvation originate solely from God. It's a foundational truth meant to foster humility in humanity and to exalt God's omnipotence and wisdom. The identity of these "young men" from the provinces implies local militias, less centrally organized than the main army, further highlighting their unlikeliness as instruments of victory according to military logic of the time. This further establishes a theological truth that God often operates outside of human structures and expectations to ensure that His glory alone is revealed.

1 Kings 20 14 Commentary

1 Kings 20:14 serves as a crucial point of tension and divine revelation within the narrative of Aram's invasion. Ahab, who often acted out of self-interest and compromised with paganism, unexpectedly receives a prophetic word from Yahweh. His immediate question, "By whom?", reflects a deeply human, practical concern for military strategy and capability in the face of overwhelming odds. It indicates his implicit belief that victory depends on identifiable human agency and strength.

However, the Lord's answer delivered by the prophet is deliberately counter-intuitive. The "young men of the princes of the provinces" would have been perceived as an insignificant, even unsuitable, fighting force against Ben-Hadad's massive and professional army. These were likely not trained soldiers but personal attendants or sons of regional officials. God's choice is a profound statement against human pride and reliance on military might. It illustrates a recurring biblical theme: God chooses the weak, the few, the unexpected, or the foolish things of the world to accomplish His purposes and put to shame the strong and the wise (1 Cor 1:27).

This divine strategy ensured that when victory was achieved, no human king, general, or army could take credit. The glory would unmistakably belong to Yahweh alone, proving His supremacy over false gods and the limits of human power. The episode becomes a stark theological lesson, demonstrating that battles belong to the Lord, and His methods often defy conventional wisdom to magnify His name. It underscored His unfailing commitment to Israel, even when their king was far from righteous, demonstrating His grace and covenant faithfulness.