1 Kings 22:31 kjv
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.
1 Kings 22:31 nkjv
Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, "Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel."
1 Kings 22:31 niv
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."
1 Kings 22:31 esv
Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel."
1 Kings 22:31 nlt
Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his thirty-two chariot commanders: "Attack only the king of Israel. Don't bother with anyone else!"
1 Kings 22 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 20:31-34 | ..."Let us put sackcloth on our waists...and go out to the king of Israel...Then he captured him." | Aram's past encounters with Ahab and his mercy. |
| 1 Kgs 22:17 | "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd." | Micaiah's prophecy of Israel leaderless. |
| 1 Kgs 22:30 | "Ahab disguised himself and went into battle." | Ahab's attempt to evade prophetic judgment. |
| 1 Kgs 22:34 | "A certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel." | Fulfillment of prophecy, despite disguise. |
| 1 Kgs 22:37-38 | "So the king died, and was brought to Samaria..." | Ahab's death fulfilling Micaiah's word. |
| 2 Kgs 13:25 | "Jehoash took again from Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael the cities..." | Ongoing conflict with Aram and its kings. |
| 2 Sam 18:3 | "For you are worth ten thousand of us." | Protecting the king, importance of leader. |
| 2 Sam 21:17 | "You shall no more go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel." | Protection of Israel's king (David). |
| 2 Chr 18:31 | "When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, 'It is the king of Israel!' And they surrounded him." | Jehoshaphat mistakenly targeted, confirming Ben-Hadad's order. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD." | God's sovereignty over rulers' decisions. |
| Isa 10:5 | "Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hand is my fury!" | God using pagan kings/nations for judgment. |
| Isa 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped." | God appoints pagan rulers for His purposes. |
| Jer 25:9 | "I am sending for all the tribes of the north...and for Nebuchadnezzar...my servant." | God using enemies (even unknowingly) as instruments. |
| Ez 28:1-19 | Prophecy against the king of Tyre. | Divine judgment on arrogant rulers. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings." | God's ultimate authority over kingdoms. |
| Dan 4:17 | "The Most High rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom he will." | God's absolute sovereignty over earthly power. |
| Mt 26:31 | "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered." | Prophecy of striking the leader (Jesus). |
| Zech 13:7 | "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." | Prophetic imagery of targeting the shepherd. |
| Rom 13:1-7 | "For there is no authority except from God..." | God's role in establishing earthly authority. |
| Job 12:16-25 | God allows kings to lead astray and become confused. | God's ultimate control even in human chaos. |
| Num 24:17 | "A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." | The promise of a true King/leader from Israel. |
| Pss 2:1-5 | Why do the nations rage...? The LORD mocks them. | God's ultimate scorn for rebellious rulers. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | Shepherd the flock of God...not domineering over those in your charge. | Contrast with ungodly leadership (Ahab). |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 31 Meaning
This verse reveals a critical tactical order given by the king of Aram (Ben-Hadad) to his chariot commanders during the battle at Ramoth-Gilead. Instead of engaging the general Israelite and Judahite forces, his explicit command was to concentrate all efforts and direct combat solely against the king of Israel, Ahab. This highlights a clear strategic objective: to defeat the enemy by neutralizing their supreme leader, thereby intending to demoralize and disperse the opposing army swiftly.
1 Kings 22 31 Context
1 Kings 22:31 is positioned at a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Ahab of Israel, just as he and Jehoshaphat of Judah prepare for battle against Aram to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead. The preceding verses establish Ahab's resolve to go to war despite prophetic warnings from Micaiah, who foretold his death. Ahab's decision to disguise himself reflects his desperate attempt to circumvent Micaiah's ominous prophecy and escape fate. Historically, this conflict fits within the ongoing military engagements between the powerful kingdoms of Aram (Syria) and Israel during the 9th century BCE. Ben-Hadad, the Aramean king, had a history of encounters with Ahab, including being previously spared by Ahab (1 Kgs 20), possibly contributing to his precise and unforgiving targeting order here. The focus on eliminating the king was a common ancient military tactic to achieve quick victory by severing the head of the command structure and demoralizing the enemy.
1 Kings 22 31 Word analysis
- Now the king of Aram: "מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֑ם" (melekh 'Aram). This refers to Ben-Hadad III, who succeeded Ben-Hadad II. The Arameans were a formidable adversary to Israel, consistently challenging their northern borders. The "king of Aram" here is acting as a tool in God's greater purpose, even unknowingly, to execute judgment upon Ahab.
- had commanded: "צִוָּ֣ה" (tziwwa). This is a strong, authoritative verb, indicating a direct and explicit order. It is a decisive and binding directive from the supreme military commander.
- his thirty-two chariot commanders: This specific number indicates a well-organized and substantial military force, especially in its elite chariot division. Chariots were the most potent offensive weapon in ancient warfare, capable of devastating enemy infantry and disrupting formations. The "commanders" (sar he-rekhv) were elite officers leading these units. This detail adds authenticity and emphasizes the strategic nature of the command.
- ‘Do not fight’: "לֹא־תִלָּֽחֲמ֡וּ" (lo'-tilhama). A direct negative command, emphasizing a prohibition. It instructs them to bypass the regular ranks of soldiers. This ensures resources are not wasted and focus remains on the primary objective.
- with anyone small or great: This phrase "עִם־קָטֹ֥ן וְעִם־גָּדֹ֖ול" ('im-qaton v'im-gadol) encompasses everyone in the opposing army, from the lowest foot soldier to any high-ranking officer (except the king). It highlights the singular, undivided focus on Ahab, disregarding all other potential targets as irrelevant to their main strategic goal.
- but only with: "אִם־עִם־" ('im 'im-). This highly restrictive conjunction clause stresses absolute exclusion of all other targets and points directly to the single individual they must pursue. It creates a tunnel vision for the commanders.
- the king of Israel’: "מֶֽלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל" (melekh Yisrael). This is Ahab. The command is not against "Israel" generally, but specifically against its king, to decapitate the army's leadership and cripple their morale. From a theological perspective, this human strategy paradoxically facilitates the divine judgment prophesied against Ahab, showing God's ability to orchestrate His will through human decisions, even those of pagan kings.
1 Kings 22 31 Bonus section
The "thirty-two chariot commanders" are not merely symbolic; the specific number indicates a highly detailed military plan. Chariots were the ancient equivalent of modern tanks, formidable and critical in ancient warfare. This detailed instruction highlights Ben-Hadad's clear determination and possibly personal animosity towards Ahab. It's a prime example of God using secular rulers and their strategic plans, even unbeknownst to them, to accomplish His divine purposes. Ahab's inability to escape despite his disguise demonstrates the futility of human efforts to outmaneuver God's decrees, echoing Proverbs 21:30, "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD."
1 Kings 22 31 Commentary
This verse is pivotal in the account of King Ahab's death. The Aramean king's explicit directive to target only the king of Israel reveals a sophisticated ancient military strategy centered on eliminating the supreme commander to achieve rapid victory. Such a focused attack aimed not merely to defeat an army, but to decapitate it, creating confusion and demoralization among the enemy. From a divine perspective, this seemingly tactical human command becomes an unwitting instrument of God's sovereign judgment upon Ahab, who had consistently defied divine warnings and pursued wickedness. Despite Ahab's desperate attempt to evade the prophetic decree by disguising himself, Ben-Hadad's order inadvertently sealed his fate. The focus on the king underscores his critical leadership role and, conversely, his vulnerability to the consequences of his actions. This demonstrates that no human cunning or strategic evasion can thwart God's ultimate will or impending judgment.