A Prophet Enacts Judgment on the King
1 Kings 20:35-43
1 K.20.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- מבני: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הנביאים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- בדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הכיני: VERB,hif,imp,2,m,sg,suff:1,sg
- נא: PART
- וימאן: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- להכתו: PREP+VERB,qal,infc,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 13:24-26 (thematic): A prophet who disobeys or is deceived is found dead on the road, mauled by a lion; parallels the motif of a prophet’s fate on the road after failing to follow a divine command (both narratives emphasize prophetic obedience and violent divine judgment).
- Isaiah 20:2-4 (structural): Isaiah is commanded to perform a public, symbolic action (walking naked and barefoot) as a prophetic sign to Israel and Egypt; parallels the use of enacted signs or commands given to prophets to communicate God’s word.
- Ezekiel 4:1-8 (structural): Ezekiel is instructed to carry out detailed symbolic actions (lying on his side, building a siege model) as a prophetic dramatization of judgment; parallels the genre of prophets acting out God’s message rather than only speaking it.
- Jeremiah 13:1-11 (structural): Jeremiah is told to wear and then hide a linen belt as a symbolic object lesson portraying Judah’s corruption and ruin; like 1 Kgs 20:35, it illustrates prophetic enactment and commissioned symbolic behavior as part of a prophetic oracle.
Alternative generated candidates
- And behold, one of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow, by the word of the LORD, 'Strike me now.' But the man refused to strike him.
- And one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, by the word of the LORD, 'Strike me now.' But the man refused to strike him.
1 K.20.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- יען: CONJ
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- שמעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- בקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנך: PRON,2,m,sg
- הולך: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- מאתי: PREP,1,sg
- והכך: CONJ+ADV
- האריה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מאצלו: PREP
- וימצאהו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- האריה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויכהו: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kgs. 13:24-26 (verbal): A nearly identical narrative motif: a prophet/man who disobeys is met by a lion that kills him; the language and outcome closely parallel the lion imagery in 1 Kgs 20:36.
- 1 Kgs. 20:35 (structural): Immediate context: the preceding verse contains the parable and rebuke ('because you did not obey'), providing the structural lead‑in to the lion‑judgment announced in 20:36.
- 2 Sam. 12:1-7 (structural): Nathan confronts King David with a parable that exposes royal wrongdoing and then pronounces divine judgment—parallel in the prophetic use of a story to rebuke a king and declare consequences.
- 1 Kgs. 22:29-40 (thematic): Ahab suffers a fatal outcome after ignoring prophetic counsel (the battle at Ramoth‑Gilead); thematically parallels the idea that royal failure to heed prophetic warning leads to death as divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to him, 'Because you would not heed the voice of the LORD, you shall go from me. And as the lion went from him, so shall a lion find him and strike him.'
- And he said to him, 'Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, you shall go away from me.' And as he went away, a lion met him, found him, and struck him.
1 K.20.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחר: PREP
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הכיני: VERB,hiph,imp,2,m,sg
- נא: PART
- ויכהו: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ופצע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 20:35-40 (structural): Immediate context of the same episode: the prophet instructs a man to strike another and the subsequent consequences (arrest, the prophet's letter, and Ahab's mercy) — verse 20:37 is part of this sequence.
- 1 Samuel 26:7-10 (thematic): Abishai urges David to strike Saul when he has the king within reach; the scene shares the motif of an individual striking (or being urged to strike) a sovereign and the ethical/judicial ramifications of such an act.
- Isaiah 20:2-4 (thematic): Isaiah is commanded to perform a shocking physical action (walking naked and barefoot) as a prophetic sign; parallels the use of a concrete, physical deed (striking/wounding) to convey a prophetic message.
- Ezekiel 4:4-8 (thematic): Ezekiel is ordered to enact a symbolic, bodily sign (lying on his side for a set period) to symbolize coming judgment — parallels the broader prophetic practice of commissioning physical actions to communicate divine judgment or warning.
Alternative generated candidates
- And another man came by and said, 'Strike me now.' And the man struck him and wounded him.
- Then another man came by and said, 'Strike me now.' And the man struck him and wounded him.
1 K.20.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- למלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- הדרך: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויתחפש: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,sg
- באפר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- עיניו: NOUN,f,pl,suff
Parallels
- 1 Kings 20:35-40 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the same episode where the prophet tells a parable, then disguises himself (ashes on his eyes) to enact a deception that leads to the king's action and the prophet's rebuke.
- Ezekiel 4:1-3 (structural): Prophetic sign-act: Ezekiel performs a staged, physical action (lying on his side, building a model) to communicate God's message—parallel to the man of God using a dramatic disguise/act to convey a prophetic point.
- Isaiah 20:2-4 (structural): Prophetic performance: Isaiah walks naked and barefoot as a symbolic, embodied sign—another example of a prophet using visible, dramatic action/disguise to symbolize judgment and message.
- Jonah 3:6 (verbal): Use of ashes as external sign: the king of Nineveh lays aside his robe, covers himself with sackcloth and sits in ashes—parallels the motif of applying ashes to alter appearance and signal mourning/penitence.
- Esther 4:1 (verbal): Ashes and sackcloth as public sign: Mordecai puts on sackcloth and ashes in mourning and protest—another instance of ashes used to change appearance and communicate a solemn message.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the prophet went and stood before the king by the way, and he put ashes upon his eyes.
- And the prophet went and stood in the road to meet the king, and he put ashes on his eyes as a disguise.
1 K.20.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- צעק: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בקרב: PREP
- המלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והנה: ADV
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- הפקד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יפקד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- והיתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
- תחת: PREP
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- או: CONJ
- ככר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תשקול: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 19:16-19 (thematic): Law concerning false witnesses: a malicious witness receives the punishment he proposed for his victim—parallels the motif of false accusation and the idea of equivalent retribution implicit in 1 Kgs 20:39.
- Deuteronomy 19:21 (verbal): The lex talionis formula (“life for life…”) echoes the language and legal logic of נַפְשְׁךָ תַּחַת נַפְשׁוֹ (‘your life for his life’) and the option of monetary compensation.
- 1 Kings 21:10-13 (thematic): Jezebel’s use of false witnesses to implicate and remove Naboth mirrors the royal abuse of testimony in ch.20—false report/testimony deployed to produce death or loss.
- Matthew 26:59-61 (allusion): At Jesus’ trial false witnesses are produced to bring about condemnation; a New Testament echo of the destructive use of false testimony found in 1 Kgs 20:39.
- 1 Kings 20:35-43 (structural): The immediate narrative context: the prophet’s commissioned action, the man who wounds the king, and the report about ‘keeping’ a man explain and complete the episode in which the king’s life is placed under question—verse 39 is part of this sequence.
Alternative generated candidates
- And as the king passed by, the prophet cried to the king and said, 'Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and came to me, and said, “Keep this man—if he be missed, then your life shall be for his life, or you shall weigh a talent of silver.”'
- When the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, 'Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and came to me and said, “Guard this man; if an officer inquires, your life for his life, or you shall weigh out a talent of silver.”'
1 K.20.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- והנה: ADV
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- איננו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl,neg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
- משפטך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- חרצת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 20:39 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel — the preceding verse reports the servant's action and absence that provokes the king's curt remark; helps explain the context of the king's judgmental retort.
- 1 Kings 20:41 (structural): Immediate follow‑on in the same episode — describes the outcome after the king's pronouncement and completes the action-thread begun in v.40.
- 1 Samuel 14:44 (thematic): Both passages show a king issuing or reacting to rulings affecting his servants/commanders; theme of royal pronouncement and its consequences for subordinates is prominent.
- 2 Samuel 12:1–7 (thematic): Nathan's parable leads David to pronounce judgment on another and thus to self‑condemnation — parallels the motif of a pronouncement that reveals or carries moral/judicial weight for the speaker or recipient.
Alternative generated candidates
- And your servant did so; and behold, he was not there. And the king of Israel said to him, 'Thus shall be your judgment; you yourself have declared it.'
- And your servant did as he had said; behold, he is not. Then the king of Israel said to him, 'So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decreed it.'
1 K.20.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימהר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויסר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האפר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מעלי: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- עיניו: NOUN,f,pl,suff
- ויכר: VERB,qal,ipf,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- מהנבאים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 20:36-43 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode: the prophet (with sackcloth) confronts Ahab, Ahab recognizes him, and the prophet pronounces judgment for sparing Ben‑hadad.
- 1 Sam 15:1-35 (thematic): Saul spares the defeated king Agag and the spoil; the prophet Samuel rebukes him and announces divine judgement — a close parallel of a king’s mercy toward a defeated enemy met by prophetic condemnation.
- 2 Sam 12:1-14 (thematic): Nathan confronts King David over his sin and pronounces consequences. Like the prophet to Ahab, Nathan acts as God’s moral accuser and delivers a verdict against a king’s wrongdoing.
- 1 Kgs 21:17-24 (thematic): Elijah pronounces doom on Ahab for the crime regarding Naboth’s vineyard. Another instance where a prophet publicly condemns Ahab and predicts dire consequences for his house.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he hurried and removed the ashes from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him, for he was one of the prophets.
- And he hurried and removed the ashes from off his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him—for he was one of the prophets.
1 K.20.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יען: CONJ
- שלחת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חרמי: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מיד: PREP
- והיתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- נפשך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
- תחת: PREP
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ועמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2ms
- תחת: PREP
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 15:9-23 (thematic): Saul spares King Agag and the best of the spoil despite the command to put them under the ban (cherem); like Ahab, Saul's failure to execute the devoted leads to prophetic condemnation and divine displeasure.
- Joshua 6:17-21 (verbal): The conquest of Jericho is described in terms of things being "devoted to destruction" (herem); shares the same technical language and religious rationale for destroying an enemy or his goods.
- Joshua 7:1-26 (thematic): Achan's taking of devoted spoil brings defeat on Israel and leads to his execution and communal punishment—a close parallel showing consequences when the ban is violated and an individual spared/steals what is devoted.
- Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (structural): Legal prescription for warfare commanding the complete destruction of certain cities and their inhabitants (herem); provides the covenantal/ legal background for prophetic rebukes when leaders fail to carry out such commands.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Because you let go from your hand a man I had marked for death, your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'
- And he said to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Because you sent away from your hand a man devoted to destruction, your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'
1 K.20.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וזעף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שמרונה: NOUN,f,sg,prop
Parallels
- 1 Kings 21:4 (verbal): Ahab likewise 'went home sullen and displeased' after Naboth's refusal—same verbal picture of a king returning to his house in a sulking, angry mood.
- Jonah 4:1-3 (thematic): Jonah is 'exceedingly angry' and sulks when God spares Israel's enemy; thematically parallels the royal displeasure at mercy shown to an adversary in 1 Kings 20.
- 1 Samuel 15:24-30 (thematic): Saul's negative reaction to prophetic rebuke (alienation, anger, and the prophet's withdrawal) parallels the motif of a ruler reacting angrily to a prophetic word or divine decision.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry; and he came to Samaria.
- So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry; and he came to Samaria.
And one of the company of the prophets said to his companion, at the word of the LORD, 'Strike me now.' But the man refused to strike him.
He said to him, 'Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, behold, you shall go away from me.' And the lion went from beside him and found him and struck him. And another man came by and said, 'Strike me now.' So he struck him and wounded him.
Then the prophet went and stood by the road for the king, and put ashes on his face. And it came to pass, as the king passed by, that he cried to the king and said, 'Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and came to me and said, "Keep this man; if he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or you shall weigh for it a talent of silver."' And it came about, your servant did thus; and behold, he is not. And the king of Israel said to him, 'Such is your judgment—you have pronounced it.'
He quickly removed the ashes from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him that he was one of the prophets. And he said to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Because you let go out of your hand a man whom I had appointed for destruction, your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'
The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.