1 kings 20:39 - As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over, and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
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What does "1 kings 20:39" mean?
This verse from 1 Kings 20:39 describes a situation where a soldier failed to follow orders during a battle, leading to a potential injustice. Let's break it down:
"As the king passed by, he cried to the king": This indicates a moment of direct appeal to the king for justice. The soldier is trying to get the king's attention with urgency.
"Your servant went out into the middle of the battle": The speaker is admitting he was involved in the recent battle.
"and behold, a man came over, and brought a man to me, and said, 'Guard this man!'": Here's the core of the issue. Another soldier (or officer) tasked him with guarding a prisoner (the "man").
"'If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.'": This is the critical part. The order came with a severe penalty for failure: either the guard's life would be forfeited if the prisoner escaped, or he would have to pay a large sum of money (a talent of silver).
In essence, the soldier is setting up a story where he failed in his duty as a guard, but argues that the punishment is disproportionate to his actions. He is appealing to the king's sense of justice. He's likely trying to avoid the death penalty or the hefty fine.
What's likely to follow? The next verse is key. The soldier will explain how the prisoner escaped. The king's response will determine whether the soldier is held accountable and punished as threatened. This narrative sets the stage for a prophetic message or judgment from God through the king, related to a different matter.
Context within 1 Kings 20: The wider chapter tells of a war between Israel (led by King Ahab) and Syria (led by Ben-Hadad). Ahab won a victory due to God's help, but made a treaty with Ben-Hadad that God disapproved of. The story this verse starts is part of how God will address Ahab's wrongdoings.
1 kings 20:39 - As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over, and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
What does "1 kings 20:39" mean?
This verse from 1 Kings 20:39 describes a situation where a soldier failed to follow orders during a battle, leading to a potential injustice. Let's break it down:
"As the king passed by, he cried to the king": This indicates a moment of direct appeal to the king for justice. The soldier is trying to get the king's attention with urgency.
"Your servant went out into the middle of the battle": The speaker is admitting he was involved in the recent battle.
"and behold, a man came over, and brought a man to me, and said, 'Guard this man!'": Here's the core of the issue. Another soldier (or officer) tasked him with guarding a prisoner (the "man").
"'If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.'": This is the critical part. The order came with a severe penalty for failure: either the guard's life would be forfeited if the prisoner escaped, or he would have to pay a large sum of money (a talent of silver).
In essence, the soldier is setting up a story where he failed in his duty as a guard, but argues that the punishment is disproportionate to his actions. He is appealing to the king's sense of justice. He's likely trying to avoid the death penalty or the hefty fine.
What's likely to follow? The next verse is key. The soldier will explain how the prisoner escaped. The king's response will determine whether the soldier is held accountable and punished as threatened. This narrative sets the stage for a prophetic message or judgment from God through the king, related to a different matter.
Context within 1 Kings 20: The wider chapter tells of a war between Israel (led by King Ahab) and Syria (led by Ben-Hadad). Ahab won a victory due to God's help, but made a treaty with Ben-Hadad that God disapproved of. The story this verse starts is part of how God will address Ahab's wrongdoings.