1 Kings 20:22-25

The Lord Gives Israel Another Victory

20:22 The prophet ¹  visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. ²  Determine ³  what you must do, for in the spring ⁴  the king of Syria will attack ⁵  you.” 20:23 Now the advisers ⁶  of the king of Syria said to him: “Their God is a god of the mountains. That’s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. 20:24 So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders. 20:25 Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots. ⁷  Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.” He approved their plan and did as they advised. ⁸ 

[20:22]  ¹ tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).

[20:22]  ² tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”

[20:22]  ³ tn Heb “know and see.”

[20:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”

[20:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “go up against.”

[20:23]  ⁶ tn Or “servants.”

[20:25]  ¹¹ tn Heb “And you, you muster an army like the one that fell from you, horse like horse and chariot like chariot.”

[20:25]  ¹² tn Heb “he listened to their voice and did so.”