37 The prophet found another man and said, "Strike me, please." So the man struck him and wounded him.
37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
37 Then he found another man and said, "Strike me, please." And the man struck him--struck him and wounded him.
37 He then found another man and said, "Hit me; wound me." That man did it - hit him hard in the face, drawing blood.
37 And he found another man, and said, "Strike me, please." So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.
37 Then the prophet turned to another man and said, "Hit me!" So he struck the prophet and wounded him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 20:37
Commentary on 1 Kings 20:31-43
(Read 1 Kings 20:31-43)
This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves before God; Have we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from an apprehension of the mercy of God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most haughty in prosperity often are most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will thus affect a man in both these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab, success is ill bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophet designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punished for sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sorer punishment should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enemy and God's, when God said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy and displeased, not truly penitent, or seeking to undo what he had done amiss; every way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. Alas! many that hear the glad tidings of Christ, are busy and there till the day of salvation is gone.