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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

1 Kings 20:11

And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

Let not him that girdeth on his harness ... This is an old and now obsolete term for armour, derived from the French harnois, (see the notes at Exodus 13:18). Kindling into a rage at the cool defiance, Ben-hadad gave orders for the immediate sack the city.

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See also 1 Kings 20:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Kings 20:11. _LET NOT HIM THAT GIRDETH ON_] This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. _Jonathan_ translates, "Tell him, Let not him who girds himself and goes down to the battle, boas...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Ahab’s reply has the air of a proverb, with which Orientals always love to answer a foe....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. KING AHAB: HIS WICKED REIGN AND END CHAPTER 20 Ahab's War with the Syrians and His Victory _ 1. The siege and relief of Samaria (1 Kings 20:1)_ 2. The victory at Aphek (1 Kings 20:22) 3. A prop...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    AHAB'S VICTORY OVER BEN-HADAD. Chs. 20 and 22 come from another source. Elijah does not appear, the religious interest is less prominent, and Ahab is presented in a far less hostile light. He acts as...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LET NOT HIM. Figure of speech _Paroemia_. App-6....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Tell_him, &c. For this the LXX. gives "Let it suffice: let not the crooked boast himself as the straight." The latter portion is an attempt (but not very successful) to supply the place of one prover...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 350 AGAINST SELF-CONFIDENCE 1 Kings 20:11. _Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off._ HOWEVER blinded men are in reference to their own sins, they c...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    II. THE GREAT MILITARY CRISIS 20:1-43 The account of Elijah's ministry during the reign of Ahab is interrupted by chapter 20 probably because the author is attempting to give a chronological treatment...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    20:11 off! (a-23) Or 'Let not him that girdeth himself boast as he who looseth [his girdle].'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA The Syrians besiege Samaria, but a sally being made from the city by the direction of a prophet, they are driven off, and the next year are beaten at Aphek. Ahab, having...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S LESSONS FROM HISTORY 1 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 20 GOD ALLOWS AHAB’S ARMY TO DEFEAT THE ARMY FROM SYRIA V1 Benhadad, king of Syria gathered his whole army. Then 32 other kings with the...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יַּ֤עַן מֶֽלֶךְ ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַ יֹּ֣אמֶר ד

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    AHAB AND BENHADAD 1 Kings 20:1 IN the Septuagint and in Josephus the events narrated in the twentieth chapter of the Book of Kings are placed after the meeting of Elijah with Ahab at the door of Nabo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BOASTING BEFORE THE BATTLE 1 Kings 20:1 Ben-hadad's insolent demand indicated how low Israel had sunk. The worship of Jezebel's gods had wrought moral degeneracy. Let us never forget this lesson. Whe...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A PROSPEROUS NATION 1 Kings 4:1; 1 Kings 20:1; 1 Kings 21:1; 1 Kings 22:1 What a picture is here given of national contentment and

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the actual movement in the downfall of Ahab. Ben-hadad, drunken, profligate, despotic, came in the pride of arms against Samaria. By the voices of prophets Jehovah spoke to Ahab, who, acti...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that (f) putteth it off. (f) Do not boast before the victory is won....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Let not the girded, &c. Let him not boast before the victory: it will then be time to glory when he putteth off his armour, having overcome his adversary. (Challoner) --- "Let not him who goes to batt...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (7) Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silv...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The days were very dark in Israel. Not only rebellion. And rebellion, always serious, was peculiarly so in Israel, for there it was insubordination in a direct manner against not only God's providence...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    According to the outward history of Israel, that which follows the revelations made to Elijah in Horeb looks like a time of restoration and blessing; and outwardly it was so. Benhadad is overcome and...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    Ver. 11 AND THE KING OF ISRAEL ANSWERED AND SAID,.... Very mildly and very wisely: TELL HIM, LET NOT HIM THAT GIRDETH ON HIS HARNESS BOAST HIMSELF AS HE THAT PUTTETH IT OFF; that is, he that prepares...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off. Ver. 11. _Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast, &c._]...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _This thing I may not do_ If I would do it, I cannot; because my people will not suffer it. _If the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls_, &c. If I do not assault thy city with so potent and num...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Benhadad not content with Ahabs hommage, besiegeth Samaria. 13 By the direction of a Prophet, the Syrians are slaine. 22 As the Prophet forewarned Ahab, the Syrians trusting in the valleys, come a...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And the king of Israel, whose courage grew at the same rate as the insolence of the enemy, ANSWERED AND SAID, TELL HIM, LET NOT HIM THAT GIRDETH ON HIS HARNESS BOAST HIMSELF AS HE THAT PUTTETH IT OFF,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Benhadad's first Defeat...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    AHAB DEFEATS SYRIA (vs.1-22) God's care for His people Israel is still remarkably displayed in this chapter in spite of the unholy character of Ahab. Ben Hadad, king of Syria, marshaled a tremendous...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 Benhadad sent Ahab a very insolent demand. Ahab sent a very disgraceful submission; sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of the Divine protection. If God do not rule us, our ene...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Do not triumph before the fight and victory, for the events of war are uncertain....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Kings 20:11 king H4428 Israel H3478 answered H6030 (H8799) said H559 (H8799) Tell H1696 (H8761) on...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    WAR WITH BENHADAD KING OF ARAM (1 KINGS 20:1). There is no indication at what point in Ahab's reign these events occurred, but a situation is indicated where the power of the Aramaeans had now grown s...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INITIAL WAR WITH BENHADAD (1 KINGS 20:1). This war would appear to have been occasioned by a refusal by Ahab to pay the tribute due under a vassalage treaty. Because of this Benhadad came with his...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Kings 20:11 These are the words of Ahab, and, so far as we know, the only wise thing he ever spoke. The saying was probably not his own, but a proverb common in his time. As a warning to Benhadad t...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Ahab's Syrian campaigns and victories. His sin in sparing Ben-hadad. CHARACTERS: God, Ahab, Ben-hadad, two prophets. CONCLUSION: Enemies are more than a match for us, but no match for Jeho...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Kings 20:3. _Thy gold thy wives are mine._ The African princes still send similar messages to one another. Mungo Park mentions one who sent an order to a neighbouring prince to have the houses all m...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off._ GIRDING ON THE HARNESS I. As to the justice and rectitude of our plans. It may give us with effect this plain teachi...

  • The children's great texts of the Bible by James Hastings

    BOASTING Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off. 1 Kings 20:11. Benhadad, king of Syria, was a big bully. He had invaded Israel with an army of one hundred and...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 20:1 After Elijah’s recruitment of Elisha, one expects to read of his anointing of Hazael as king over Syria and of Jehu as king over Israel (compare 1 Kings 19:15). Instead

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 20:11 LET NOT HIM WHO STRAPS ON HIS ARMOR BOAST HIMSELF AS HE WHO TAKES IT OFF. It is unwise to boast about one’s exploits before the battle has even begun; there is time enoug...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE DEFEAT OF THE SYRIANS CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 1 Kings 20:1. BENHADAD—Son of the king of the same name mentioned (chap. 1 Kings 15:20). THIRTY AND TWO KINGS WITH HIM—Vassals or viceroys w...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE INVASIONS OF ISRAEL BY THE SYRIANS AND THEIR RESULTS.—The insertion of this chapter, which contains an account of two invasions of Israel by the hosts of Syria, and of the utter defeat...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Benhadad who was presently the king of Syria gathered all of his host together: and there were thirty-two kings that went with him, with their horses, and chariots: and they came up and besieged S...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 14:12; 1 Samuel 14:13; 1 Samuel 14:6; 1 Samuel 17:44;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Let not him, &c. — Do not triumph before the victory, for the events of war are uncertain....

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