1 Kings 20:25 kjv
And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
1 Kings 20:25 nkjv
and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they." And he listened to their voice and did so.
1 Kings 20:25 niv
You must also raise an army like the one you lost?horse for horse and chariot for chariot?so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they." He agreed with them and acted accordingly.
1 Kings 20:25 esv
and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they." And he listened to their voice and did so.
1 Kings 20:25 nlt
Recruit another army like the one you lost. Give us the same number of horses, chariots, and men, and we will fight against them on the plains. There's no doubt that we will beat them." So King Ben-hadad did as they suggested.
1 Kings 20 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:1 | "When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots... do not be afraid of them..." | Do not fear superior military might. |
| 2 Sam 8:4 | David hamstringed all but a hundred of their chariot horses. | Reducing enemy chariot strength. |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." | Trusting in military strength vs. God. |
| Ps 33:16 | "A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength." | God's sovereignty over military victory. |
| Ps 33:17 | "A war horse is a false hope for deliverance; with all its great strength it cannot save." | Military might offers false security. |
| Prov 21:30 | "There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against the Lord." | Human schemes cannot prevail against God. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord." | Preparation is human, outcome is divine. |
| Isa 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong..." | Condemnation of relying on human strength/allies. |
| Isa 31:3 | "The Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, the one helped will fall..." | Trusting in the created over the Creator. |
| Jer 9:23 | "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the mighty man boast in his might, nor the rich man boast in his riches," | Humility, not self-reliance. |
| Zech 4:6 | "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." | God's work is through His Spirit, not human strength. |
| 1 Chr 19:10 | "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to help me..." (Joab preparing for battle) | Human military coordination and strategy. |
| Neh 4:6 | "So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." | Collective effort in rebuilding. |
| 1 Sam 4:10 | The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and everyone fled to his tent. And there was a very great slaughter. | A past military defeat by a foreign army. |
| Deut 28:25 | "The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven..." | Consequence of disobedience leading to defeat. |
| Hos 1:7 | "But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen." | Divine deliverance independent of military means. |
| Jer 17:5 | "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord." | Folly of trusting in human ability alone. |
| Exod 14:17 | "I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen." | God demonstrates power over large armies. |
| Josh 11:4-6 | Joshua hamstringed their horses and burned their chariots. | Disabling enemy chariots and cavalry as commanded by God. |
| Rev 19:14 | "The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean." | Heavenly armies for divine victory. |
| 1 Kings 20:23 | Ben-Hadad's officers say, "Their gods are gods of the mountains. That is why they were stronger than we." | Flawed understanding of God's omnipresence; direct context. |
| 1 Kings 20:26 | So in the spring, Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. | Fulfillment of the advised rebuilding and re-engagement. |
1 Kings 20 verses
1 Kings 20 25 Meaning
1 Kings 20:25 describes Ben-Hadad's advisors recommending a complete rebuilding of the Aramaean army. This reconstruction was to be undertaken with the same strength and resources as their previously defeated force. The emphasis was on replenishing their cavalry and chariots, critical components of ancient warfare, to prepare for another conflict with Israel. This council followed their erroneous conclusion that Israel's God was limited to the mountains, suggesting a strategy of fighting on the plains.
1 Kings 20 25 Context
First Kings chapter 20 describes two distinct military campaigns between Aram, led by King Ben-Hadad, and Israel, led by King Ahab. The first conflict (verses 1-21) resulted in a surprising and decisive victory for Israel, despite Aram's overwhelming numbers. The Aramean officers, seeking to explain their defeat, rationalized it by asserting that the God of Israel was a "god of the mountains" (1 Kgs 20:23). Based on this theological misconception, they proposed a new strategy: fight Israel on the flat plains, where their superior numbers of chariots and horses would be more effective against an enemy whose deity, they believed, had limited influence. Verse 25 is part of this strategic counsel to King Ben-Hadad, outlining the immediate, practical steps needed to implement their flawed plan: rebuild the military to its former strength.
1 Kings 20 25 Word analysis
- You shall also make so: (‘asah) - This Hebrew word means "to make, to do, to prepare, to get ready." It emphasizes the act of creating or reconstituting. It indicates an active, deliberate, and comprehensive process of military preparation. The phrase denotes a strong resolve and an immediate call to action for the king and his command.
- an army: (hayil) - This term means "force, army, might, wealth." Here, it specifically refers to military strength and manpower. Its usage indicates a focus on restoring not just a segment, but the full scope and capability of their armed forces. The broadness of hayil implies comprehensive military rebuilding.
- like the army that you lost: The comparison emphasizes not just rebuilding an army, but replicating the scale and power of the previously defeated one. This demonstrates their assessment that their prior numerical strength was not the issue, but rather the terrain or, as they perceived, a geographically limited deity. It underlines their overconfidence in sheer numbers.
- horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: (sus - horse, rekeb - chariot) - This specific instruction highlights the paramount importance of cavalry and chariotry in their military doctrine. These were the elite, decisive units of ancient warfare, particularly effective on open ground. The repetition "for horse, for chariot" stresses a complete and like-for-like replacement, ensuring no reduction in the crucial offensive components. This detail reinforces their tactical reliance on superior mechanized force, crucial for their proposed plain battle.
1 Kings 20 25 Bonus section
The Arameans' precise and thorough plan for rearmament, including "horse for horse, and chariot for chariot," reflects a profound overconfidence in their military doctrine and resources. It reveals a cultural emphasis on these specific military assets, typical for powerful ancient Near Eastern empires. This dedication to meticulously restoring their forces at immense cost, rather than seeking any understanding beyond their human perspective, sets them up for a repeated divine rebuke, showcasing God's judgment against human arrogance. This scene is a clear testament to the principle that battles are ultimately determined by the Lord, not by superior armaments or human tactical brilliance.
1 Kings 20 25 Commentary
1 Kings 20:25 reveals the Aramean leaders' persistent reliance on conventional military strength and their misinterpretation of divine power, following their initial, humiliating defeat. Instead of considering their initial failure as a spiritual rebuke or a sign of Israel's God being universally supreme, they attributed it to a geographical limitation of Israel's deity (a "god of the mountains"). Consequently, their proposed solution was purely human and strategic: rebuild the exact same powerful army, particularly its chariots and horses, and then simply choose a different battleground—the plains. This verse succinctly captures their hardened pride and foolish rejection of the Lord's omnipotence, setting the stage for yet another confrontation where human military planning would contend with divine sovereignty. It exemplifies humanity's tendency to trust in visible strength and clever strategies rather than acknowledging the true, limitless power of God.