1 Kings 20:33

the men did diligently observe whetherany thing would come from him, and did hastily catchit] R.V. the men observed diligently and hasted to catch whether it were his mind. There are several difficulties in this verse. The italics of A.V. being omitted, we have an expression meaning -whether from him". This the R.V. takes as -whether it were his mind", his true intention, to regard Ben-hadad in this friendly way. The first verb is used several times of divination by augury (cf. 2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:6). Hence the sense of -diligent observation" (see Genesis 44:5, marg. A.V.). Some have taken the word as implying a favourable omen, and so rendered -they took it as a good sign". But this further meaning is no necessary part of the sense. The other verb rendered -to catch" is only found here, and has nothing in Hebrew, or even in the cognate languages, to explain it. The traditional Jewish explanation is -they hasted to get him to say clearly". The LXX. and the Vulg. give the sense of -to catch"; the former translating by ἀνελέξαντο, the latter by -rapuerunt". Josephus represents the messengers as taking a pledge (ὅρκους λαβόντες) from Ahab that there should be no harm done to their master. The R.V. seems to have improved a little upon the A. V., and the following words -Thy brother Ben-hadad" shew on what point the Syrians were anxious for confirmation.

into the chariot The war chariot in which Ahab had come forth to the battle. For the whole proceeding appears to have taken place immediately after the Syrian overthrow.