1 Kings 20:35

“And a certain man of the sons of the prophets, etc.] Which the Jews take to be Micaiah, and so Josephus f440, which is probable; the same that had been with Ahab more than once; and, whoever he was, it is not unlikely that he was the same, since Ahab knew him when his disguise was off, (<112041>1 Kings 20:41), said unto his neighbour, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray thee; told his neighbour, that by the command of God he was ordered to bid him smite him, so as to wound him: and the man refused to smite him; being his neighbour, and perhaps a fellow prophet, and having an affection for him.”

“A PROPHET REPROVES HIM. (Kg1 20:35-42) Smite me--This prophet is supposed (Kg1 20:8) to have been Micaiah. The refusal of his neighbor to smite the prophet was manifestly wrong, as it was a withholding of necessary aid to a prophet in the discharge of a duty to which he had been called by God, and it was severely punished [Kg1 20:36], as a beacon to warn others (see on 1Ki. 13:2-24). The prophet found a willing assistant, and then, waiting for Ahab, leads the king unconsciously, in the parabolic manner of Nathan (Sa2 12:1-4), to pronounce his own doom; and this consequent punishment was forthwith announced by a prophet (see on Kg1 21:17).”

“The sons of the prophets - The expression occurs here for the first time. It signifies (marginal references), the schools or colleges of prophets which existed in several of the Israelite, and probably of the Jewish, towns, where young men were regularly educated for the prophetical office. These “schools” make their first appearance under Samuel 1 Samuel 19:20. There is no distinct evidence that they continued later than the time of Elisha; but it is on the whole most probable that the institution survived the captivity, and that the bulk of the “prophets,” whose works have come down to us belonged to them. Amos Amos 7:14-15 seems to speak as if his were an exceptional case. Said unto his…”

“In the word - ln the name, and by the command of God, whereof doubtless he had informed him. Smite me - So as to wound me, Kg1 20:37. He speaks what God commanded him, though it was to his own hurt; by which obedience to God, he secretly reproacheth Ahab's disobedience in a far easier matter. And this the prophet by God's appointment desires, that looking like a wounded soldier, he might have the more free access to the king. Refused - Not out of contempt of God's command, but probably, in tenderness to his brother. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:36”

“20:35-43 Ahab’s leniency toward Ben-hadad met with God’s disfavor, portrayed in the symbolic actions of an unidentified prophet. God’s prophets often conveyed the Lord’s message through symbolic actions (Isa 20; Jer 27:1-7; Ezek 4:1-3, 9-17; 5:1-4). Ahab had brought judgment upon himself and his people by sparing an untrustworthy enemy rather than trusting further in the Lord.”

“of the sons: Kg1 20:38; Sa1 10:12; Kg2 2:3, Kg2 2:5, Kg2 2:7, Kg2 2:15, Kg2 4:1, Kg2 4:38; Amo 7:14 in the word: Kg1 13:1, Kg1 13:2, Kg1 13:17, Kg1 13:18 Smite me: Kg1 20:37; Isa 8:18, Isa 20:2, Isa 20:3; Jer 27:2, Jer 27:3; Eze 4:3; Mat 16:24 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:36”

“The verdict of God upon Ahab's conduct towards Benhadad. - Kg1 20:35, Kg1 20:36. A disciple of the prophets received instructions from God, to announce to the king that God would punish him for letting Benhadad go, and to do this, as Nathan had formerly done in the case of David ( Sa2 12:1.), by means of a symbolical action, whereby the king was led to pronounce sentence upon himself. The disciples of the prophets said to his companion, "in the word of Jehovah," i.e., by virtue of a revelation from God (see at Kg1 13:2), "Smite me;" and when the friend refused to smite him, he announced to him that because of this disobedience to the voice of the Lord, after his departure from him a lion…”