1 Kings 22:34

However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The unnamed archer strikes the Israelite king during a chaotic battle, and the wounded monarch immediately orders his charioteer to withdraw him from the fighting. This occurs in the final hours of a day-long engagement where royal deception initially saved the king from targeted pursuit.

The words — The Hebrew phrase לְתֻמּוֹ (le.tummo) literally means "in innocence" or "without special aim," describing how the archer released his arrow. The verb וַיִּכֶּה (va.yikke) denotes a decisive strike that pierced the king's armor joints.

The thread — The king’s command to his charioteer echoes his words in 2 Chronicles 35:23 when King Josiah receives a fatal arrow wound. The theme of divine striking aligns with Micah 6:13, which frames such wounds as consequences for covenant failure.

Why it lands — The text records a random arrow ending a king’s life, demanding recognition that human strategy and military power cannot override sovereign judgment. It requires the reader to observe how divine purposes operate through ordinary, uncalculated events.

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 a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 35:23 There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”
Micah 6:13 Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.
1 Samuel 17:49 Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
Revelation 9:9 They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.
2 Samuel 15:11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.
2 Kings 9:24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.
2 Chronicles 18:30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”