Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
The setting of this verse is the defeat of Ben-hadad, which was another effort by God to win the weak Ahab. It belongs to the same chapter as the prophets who spoke to Ahab, and involves another prophet mentioned there. At that prophet's own request, a man struck him, and in striking wounded him.
In the larger story of verses 35-43, the servant let the prisoner escape while he was distracted with other business. His own confession was that as he was busy here and there, the prisoner was gone. This shows that neglect of assigned duty through competing cares is the chief cause of failing to do the work entrusted to each person.
The setting of this verse is the defeat of Ben-hadad, which was another effort by God to win the weak Ahab. It belongs to the same chapter as the prophets who spoke to Ahab, and involves another prophet mentioned there. At that prophet's own request, a man struck him, and in striking wounded him.
In the larger story of verses 35-43, the servant let the prisoner escape while he was distracted with other business. His own confession was that as he was busy here and there, the prisoner was gone. This shows that neglect of assigned duty through competing cares is the chief cause of failing to do the work entrusted to each person.