1 Kings 20:18-20

20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” ¹  20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20:20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; ²  the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen.

Proverbs 28:1-2

28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, ³ 

but the righteous person is as confident ⁴  as a lion.

28:2 When a country is rebellious ⁵  it has many princes, ⁶ 

but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable ⁷  order is maintained. ⁸ 

Amos 2:16

2:16 Bravehearted ⁹  warriors will run away naked in that day.”

The Lord is speaking!

[20:18]  ¹ tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”

[20:20]  ² tn Heb “each struck down his man.”

[28:1]  ³ sn The line portrays the insecurity of a guilty person – he flees because he has a guilty conscience, or because he is suspicious of others around him, or because he fears judgment.

[28:1]  ⁴ tn The verb בָּטַח (batakh) means “to trust; to be secure; to be confident.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “bold.”

[28:2]  ⁵ sn The Hebrew word translated “rebellious” has rebellion as its basic meaning, and that is the idea here. The proverb is describing a time when sinfulness brings about social and political unrest.

[28:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “many are its princes” (so NASB).

[28:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “a man who understands [and] knows”; NRSV “an intelligent ruler”; NLT “wise and knowledgeable leaders.”

[28:2]  ⁸ tc The LXX reads (probably from a different underlying Hebrew text): “It is the fault of a violent man that quarrels start, but they are settled by a man of discernment.” For a survey of suggestions, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 495, and W. McKane, Proverbs (OTL), 630.

[2:16]  ⁹ tn Or “the most stouthearted” (NAB); NRSV “those who are stout of heart.”