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1 Kings 20 · a question people ask

Who were "the sons of the prophets"?

In the text

The chapter doesn't explain the phrase. It calls the man "A certain man of the sons of the prophets" (20:35), then "the prophet" (20:38), and the king "recognized that he was one of the prophets" (20:41). This is the first time the WEB uses the words "sons of the prophets". 2 Kings uses them for groups of prophets at Bethel (2 Kings 2:3) and at Jericho (2 Kings 2:5). The chapter's other messengers aren't named either: "a prophet" (20:13), "The prophet" (20:22) and "A man of God" (20:28), and it doesn't say whether the man of God is the same man as the prophet. These notes don't say who any of them were.

The verses

“A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the LORD’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him.”
1 Kings 20:35 · World English Bible
“So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.”
1 Kings 20:38 · World English Bible
“He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.”
1 Kings 20:41 · World English Bible
“The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.””
2 Kings 2:3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Kings 20

1 Kings 20: You yourself have decided it

The prophet's story made Ahab give his own sentence: "You yourself have decided it" (20:40). And the verdict turned on a word the LORD had used twice, "into your hand" (20:13, 20:28): Ahab let go "out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction" (20:42).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions