Bible Strands
1 Kings 20:16
They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ahab’s assembled Israelite forces march out against the allied forces of Ben-hadad during midday, directly following the king’s troop mobilization and preceding the enemy scouts’ report.
The words — The Hebrew וַיֵּצְאוּ (va.ye.tze'u) records the troops "going out" for battle, while שֹׁתֶה שִׁכּוֹר (sho.teh shi.khor) literally states Ben-hadad was "drinking drunken" inside his סֻכּוֹת (su.kot), or "booths."
The thread — The motif of enemy leaders incapacitated by drink appears in 1 Kings 16:9 with Elah, and the contrast between military readiness and enemy complacency parallels the armor proverb in 1 Kings 20:11.
Why it lands — The text records a tactical advantage gained through enemy negligence, demanding recognition that historical outcomes often hinge on practical circumstances rather than guaranteed divine intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they went out at noon. But Ben–hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 16:7 Moreover, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands and becoming like the house of Jeroboam, and also because Baasha had struck down the house of Jeroboam.
- 1 Kings 16:9 However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him.
- 1 Kings 20:11 And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”
- Proverbs 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
- Ecclesiastes 10:16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
- Isaiah 54:15 If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- Hosea 4:11 to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.