1 Kings 20:13

A PROPHET OF GOD PROPHESIED VICTORY FOR AHAB

(See the chapter introduction for the reasons why God intervened here upon behalf of Israel.)

"And, behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah. And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou. Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand."

There is no way that Ahab could have avoided the knowledge that the victory that came to him that day came from Jehovah God alone. The total army of 7,000 was only a pitifully-small handful compared to the one 130,000 troops of Benhadad.

"Who shall begin the battle?" (1 Kings 20:14). This question is the equivalent of asking, "Who shall attack?" It must have astounded Ahab that Israel was to launch the attack and that with only 232 young men of the princes of the provinces. As it turned out, that Divine strategy won the day.