And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice that the prophet doesn't say "God told me to strike you." Instead, he asks his friend, "Strike me, please," framing it as a personal request, which is likely why his fellow refused—it felt like an arbitrary, personal demand rather than a divine command. The refusal is critical because it sets up the second, more direct encounter, highlighting how easily we can miss God's message when it's disguised as something else.
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right before this, King Ahab of Israel had just won a huge victory against the Syrians, largely due to a prophecy from a man of God. Now, that same prophet, disguised as a regular guy, is testing another prophet, using a direct command from the Lord. The second prophet's refusal to strike the first, despite his plea, sets up a crucial misunderstanding about obedience and God's instructions.
Sometimes God asks us to do things that make absolutely no sense, even to those who know Him well. This story is a prime example of that divine absurdity.
The passage opens with a prophet acting on God's direct instruction: "Strike me, please." This is an unusual request, to say the least. It highlights a crucial truth: obedience to God doesn't always align with human logic or expectations. The prophet's colleague is so bewildered he refuses, demonstrating how difficult it can be to trust and obey when the 'why' isn't clear.
This isn't just about a weird request; it's about the tension between divine will and human understanding. God's ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), and sometimes that means stepping out in faith even when the path is confusing.
The prophet's request to be struck is more than just a bizarre action; it's a costly act of obedience designed to teach a vital lesson.
The prophet who requests the strike isn't being masochistic. He's acting as a living parable. When his colleague refuses, the first prophet explains that because his fellow didn't obey him (God's messenger), he would be spared from death by the enemy, but the prophet who refused the command would himself be killed by a lion. This consequence underscores the seriousness of disobeying God, even when the command seems absurd.
This scenario teaches us about the spiritual warfare happening behind the scenes. The prophets were God's mouthpieces, and their actions carried divine weight. The refusal to strike was not just a personal slight; it was a rejection of God's delegated authority and His intended lesson for the king.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping God of Israel. He is the sovereign ruler over all nations, history, and the affairs of humanity.
ben nabiy' · Hebrew Noun phrase
A collective designation for a group or guild of prophets who were disciples of a prophetic master (such as Elijah or Elisha). They served as messengers of God's word and often performed symbolic acts to convey divine instructions.
This encounter happens in the immediate aftermath of a significant military victory and a prophetic condemnation. The prophet's actions highlight the gravity of Ahab's disobedience and the dangerous role of prophets in challenging kings, even when it means risking personal harm.
c. 874-853 BC
Reign of Ahab in Israel
King Ahab's reign was marked by significant religious and political turmoil, heavily influenced by his Phoenician wife Jezebel and her promotion of Baal worship.
c. 870 BC
Elijah confronts Ahab
The prophet Elijah famously confronted Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, leading to a dramatic showdown where the Lord proved Himself.
c. 860 BC
Syrian Invasion of Israel
King Ben-Hadad II of Syria led a massive army against Samaria, besieging the city and demanding Ahab's surrender. Despite overwhelming odds, Israel achieved a miraculous victory.
c. 860 BC— this verse
Ahab spares Ben-Hadad
After defeating the Syrians, Ahab foolishly spared King Ben-Hadad's life, going against the Lord's implicit command. This act would have serious consequences.
c. 855 BC
Prophet's parable to Ahab
A prophet, likely one of Elisha's disciples, delivered a parable to Ahab about a captured enemy soldier who escaped. Ahab condemned the man for letting his prisoner go.
c. 855 BC
Ahab condemned by prophet
The prophet then revealed Ahab himself was the man in the parable, condemning him for sparing Ben-Hadad and declaring that Ahab's life would pay for it.
This story of another prophet being deceived by a lying prophet after disobeying God's direct command mirrors the danger of not following the LORD's specific instructions precisely.
2 Kings 2:23-24This passage shows the severe consequences that followed when people disrespected God's prophets, highlighting the gravity of the situation when a prophet's request, even a strange one, was refused.
Amos 3:7-8It emphasizes that God reveals His plans to His prophets, and when He does, they are commissioned to speak, underscoring the divine authority behind the prophet's command in 1 Kings 20.
Jeremiah 20:7-12Jeremiah expresses his frustration with God calling him, but also his inability to refrain from speaking God's word, showing the powerful, sometimes burdensome, nature of prophetic calling and obedience.
Notice that the prophet doesn't say "God told me to strike you." Instead, he asks his friend, "Strike me, please," framing it as a personal request, which is likely why his fellow refused—it felt like an arbitrary, personal demand rather than a divine command. The refusal is critical because it sets up the second, more direct encounter, highlighting how easily we can miss God's message when it's disguised as something else.
Right before this, King Ahab of Israel had just won a huge victory against the Syrians, largely due to a prophecy from a man of God. Now, that same prophet, disguised as a regular guy, is testing another prophet, using a direct command from the Lord. The second prophet's refusal to strike the first, despite his plea, sets up a crucial misunderstanding about obedience and God's instructions.
Right before this, King Ahab of Israel had just won a huge victory against the Syrians, largely due to a prophecy from a man of God. Now, that same prophet, disguised as a regular guy, is testing another prophet, using a direct command from the Lord. The second prophet's refusal to strike the first, despite his plea, sets up a crucial misunderstanding about obedience and God's instructions.
"And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him." — Notice that the prophet doesn't say "God told me to strike you." Instead, he asks his friend, "Strike me, please," framing it as a personal request, which is likely why his fellow refused—it felt l…
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Last reviewed October 2026