Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Luke 14:31-33

The king going to fight. This is the affair of the few, a parable to be laid to heart by men aspiring to, or capable of, a grand career. συμβαλεῖν εἰς πόλεμον, to encounter in war (R.V [121]). or perhaps better “to fight a battle ” (Field, Ot. Nor.). πόλεμον is so rendered in 1 Corinthians 14:8; Revelation 9:9, in A.V [122] (altered in R.V [123] into “war”). In Homer the idea of battle prevails, but in later writers that of war. ἐν δέκα, in, with, in the position of one who has only 10,000 soldiers at comma d. μετὰ εἴκοσι : to beat 20,000 with 10,000 is possible, but it is an unlikely event: the chances are against the king with the smaller force, and the case manifestly calls for deliberation. The implied truth is that the disciple engages in a very unequal conflict. Cf. St. Paul, “we wrestle against principalities,” etc., Ephesians 6:12. A reference in this parable to the relations between Herod Antipas (the “fox”) and Aretas, his father-in-law, is possible (Holtzmann, H. C.).

[121] Revised Version.

[122] Authorised Version.

[123] Revised Version.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Luke 14:31-33

Old Testament

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