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1 Kings 22:31-33

Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.”

When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely that is the king of Israel!” and they came over to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out. When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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1 Kings 22:31-33 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.”

When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely that is the king of Israel!” and they came over to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out. When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn your hand, and carry me out of the battle; for I am severely wounded.” The battle increased that day. The king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. A cry went throughout the army about the going down of the sun, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.”

    When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely that is the king of Israel!” and they came over to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out.

    When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

  • KJV King James Version

    But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty and two captains of his chariots, saying: 'Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.'

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said: 'Surely it is the king of Israel'; and they turned aside to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out.

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

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Cross-references (18)

  • 1 Kings 20:24 (v31) Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:30 (v31) Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of…
  • Proverbs 13:20 (v32) One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
  • Jeremiah 16:6 (v31) Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried. Men won’t lament for them, cut themselves, or make themselves bald for…
  • Jonah 2:1-2 (v32) Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish’s belly. He said, “I called because of my affliction to Yahweh. He answered me. Out…
Show all 18 cross-references
  • Psalms 76:10 (v33) Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
  • Genesis 19:11 (v31) They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the…
  • Exodus 14:10 (v32) When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very…
  • 1 Samuel 30:2 (v31) and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They didn’t kill any, but carried them off, and went their…
  • 1 Kings 20:1 (v31) Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up…
  • 1 Kings 20:16 (v31) They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
  • 1 Kings 20:33-42 (v31) Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.”…
  • 1 Kings 22:31 (v33) Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with…
  • 2 Chronicles 18:31 (v32) When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned around to fight against…
  • Psalms 50:15 (v32) Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
  • Psalms 91:15 (v32) He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
  • Psalms 116:1-2 (v32) I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy. Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as…
  • Psalms 130:1-4 (v32) Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh. Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions. If you, Yah,…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (13 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v32 That is, to the Lord for help.

That is, to the Lord for help.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv31–33 1Ki 22:31 But the king of Syria commanded his…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv31–33 His thirty and two captains that had rule over…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv31–33 And the battle increased that day,.... It went on,…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v31 Save only - This he ordered, truly supposing this…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv31–32 1Ki 22:31. Fight only with the king of Israel…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv31–32 Commanded - “Had commanded.” Ben-hadad delivers his order in…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv31–32 Captains of, or mounted "on chariots." There would hardly…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv31–32 31. His thirty and two captains — Whom he…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv31–33 31. But [R.V. Now] the king of Syria commanded…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv31–32 (31)His thirty and two captains.—See 1Ki_20:16; 1Ki_20:24. The power…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv31–33 But the king of Syria commanded rather, had commanded.…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v31 thirty-two captains
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