Bible Strands
1 Kings 20:17
And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the tactical deployment of Israel’s vanguard while Ben-hadad’s scouts observe from the Aramean camp. This occurs at noon during a surprise strike against the besieging kings who are intoxicated in their tents.
The words — נַעֲרֵי שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת (na'aré saré hammedinôt) translates literally as “young men of the officials of the provinces.” The verb וַיֵּצְאוּ (wa-yēṣē’û) specifies their initial advance ahead of the main army.
The thread — The prophet’s earlier prediction that victory would come through “the young officers of the district governors” (1 Kings 20:14) is fulfilled here, and the same group leads the main force in 1 Kings 20:19.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to track how a prophetic statement aligns with military execution. It demands attention to the sequence of events without adding theological commentary.
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 the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben–hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 20:14 “By whom?” Ahab asked. And the prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young officers of the district governors.’” “Who will start the battle?” asked Ahab. “You will,” answered the prophet.
- 1 Kings 20:19 Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them,