1 Raja-raja 20:18-20

20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” ¹  20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20:20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; ²  the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen.

Amsal 28:1-2

28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, ³ 

but the righteous person is as confident ⁴  as a lion.

28:2 When a country is rebellious ⁵  it has many princes, ⁶ 

but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable ⁷  order is maintained. ⁸ 

Amos 2:16

2:16 Bravehearted ⁹  warriors will run away naked in that day.”

The Lord is speaking!

[20:18]  ¹ tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”

[20:20]  ² tn Heb “each struck down his man.”

[28:1]  ³ sn The line portrays the insecurity of a guilty person – he flees because he has a guilty conscience, or because he is suspicious of others around him, or because he fears judgment.

[28:1]  ⁴ tn The verb בָּטַח (batakh) means “to trust; to be secure; to be confident.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “bold.”

[28:1]  sn The righteous, who seek to find favor with God and man, have a clear conscience and do not need to look over their shoulders for avengers or law enforcers. Their position is one of confidence, so that they do not flee.

[28:2]  ⁵ sn The Hebrew word translated “rebellious” has rebellion as its basic meaning, and that is the idea here. The proverb is describing a time when sinfulness brings about social and political unrest.

[28:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “many are its princes” (so NASB).

[28:2]  sn In such a chaotic time there will be many rulers, either simultaneously or in a rapid sequence. The times of the judges or the days of the northern kings of Israel provide examples.

[28:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “a man who understands [and] knows”; NRSV “an intelligent ruler”; NLT “wise and knowledgeable leaders.”

[28:2]  ⁸ tc The LXX reads (probably from a different underlying Hebrew text): “It is the fault of a violent man that quarrels start, but they are settled by a man of discernment.” For a survey of suggestions, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 495, and W. McKane, Proverbs (OTL), 630.

[28:2]  tn This last line is difficult. The MT has כֵּן יַאֲרִיךְ (ken ya’arikh). The verb means “to prolong,” but כֵּן (ken) is open to several possibilities for meaning. J. H. Greenstone’s interpretation of it as a noun from the Hollow root כּוּן (kun) with a meaning of “established order” is what is expected here (Proverbs, 293).

[28:2]  sn For a study of the verses in chapters 28 and 29 concerning kings and governments, see B. V. Malchow, “A Manual for Future Monarchs,” CBQ 47 (1985): 238-45.

[2:16]  ⁹ tn Or “the most stouthearted” (NAB); NRSV “those who are stout of heart.”