Deep Dive

I Kings 22:31

A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →

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.”

Deep dive References (9)

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 31

This chapter finishes the history of Ahab's reign. It was promised in the close of the foregoing chapter that the ruin of his house should not come in his days, but his days were soon at an end. His war with the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead is that which we have an account of in this chapter. I. His preparations for that war. He consulted, 1. His privy-council (Kg1 22:1-3). 2. Jehoshaphat (Kg1 22:4). 3. His prophets. (1.) His own, who encouraged him to go on this expedition (Kg1 22:5, Kg1 22:6), Zedekiah particularly (Kg1 22:11, Kg1 22:12). (2.) A prophet of the Lord, Micaiah, who was desired to come by Jehoshaphat (Kg1 22:7, Kg1 22:8), sent for (Kg1 22:9, Kg1 22:10-13, Kg1 22:14), upbraided Ahab with his confidence in the false prophets (Kg1 22:15), but foretold his fall in this expedition (Kg1 22:16-18), and gave him an account how he came to be thus imposed upon by his prophets (Kg1 22:19-23). He is abused by Zedekiah (Kg1 22:24, Kg1 22:25), and imprisoned by Ahab (Kg1 22:26-28). II. The battle itself, in which, 1. Jehoshaphat is exposed. But, 2. Ahab is slain (Kg1 22:29-40). In the close of the chapter we have a short account, (1.) Of the good reign of Jehoshaphat king of Judah (Kg1 22:41-50). (2.) Of the wicked reign of Ahaziah king of Israel (Kg1 22:51-53).

Open source ↗

Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 31

מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אֲרָם (ʼĂrâm, H758) — Aram or Syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of Shem, a grandson of… צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin שְׁלוֹשִׁים (shᵉlôwshîym, H7970) — thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) רֶכֶב (rekeb, H7393) — a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לָחַם (lâcham, H3898) — to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) קָטָן (qâṭân, H6996) — abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Open source ↗

Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Kings 20:24rank 9

So do this: Dismiss all the kings from their positions and replace them with other officers.

II Chronicles 18:30rank 6

Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

Jeremiah 16:6rank 4

“Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them.

I Kings 20:1rank 2

Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.

Genesis 19:11rank 2

And they struck the men at the entrance, young and old, with blindness, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.

I Kings 20:16rank 2

They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.

I Samuel 30:2rank 2

They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.

Commentaries

Original language

Cross-references

Your reflection