1-kings 20:14

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus said the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You.

American King James Version (AKJV)

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus said the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, You.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, The Lord says, By the servants of the chiefs who are over the divisions of the land. Then he said, By whom is the fighting to be started? And he made answer, By you.

Webster's Revision

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.

World English Bible

Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'By the young men of the princes of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."

English Revised Version (ERV)

And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.

Clarke's 1-kings 20:14 Bible Commentary

By the young men of the princes of the provinces - These were probably some chosen persons out of the militia of different districts, raised by the princes of the provinces; the same as we would call lord-lieutenants of counties.

Barnes's 1-kings 20:14 Bible Commentary

The "princes of the provinces" are the governors of districts, many of whom may have fled to the capital, as the hostile army advanced through Galilee and northern Samaria. The "young men" are their attendants, youths unaccustomed to war.

Who shall order the battle? - i. e., "Who shal join battle, begin the attack? We or the enemy?" The reply was, that the Israelites were to attack.

Wesley's 1-kings 20:14 Bible Commentary

20:14 He said, &c. - Not by old and experienced soldiers, but by those young men; either the sons of the princes, and great men of the land, whowere fled thither for safety; or their pages, or servants that used toattend them: who are bred up delicately, and seem unfit for the business.Thou - Partly to encourage the young men to fight courageously, as beingthe presence of their prince: and partly, that it might appear, that thevictory was wholly due to God's gracious providence, and not to the valouror worthiness of the instruments.