1 Kings 22:33

33 and the chariot commanders realized they had the wrong man - it wasn't the king of Israel after all. They let him go.

1 Kings 22:33 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:33

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots
perceived that it was not the king of Israel
Against whom only their orders were to fight:

that they turned back from pursuing him;
for upon so great a force coming upon him he could not withstand, he fled.

1 Kings 22:33 In-Context

31 Meanwhile, the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders (there were thirty-two of them): "Don't bother with anyone, whether small or great; go after the king of Israel and him only."

32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat they said, "There he is! The king of Israel!" and took after him. Jehoshaphat yelled out,

33 and the chariot commanders realized they had the wrong man - it wasn't the king of Israel after all. They let him go.

34 Just then someone, without aiming, shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and hit the king of Israel in the chink of his armor. The king told his charioteer, "Turn back! Get me out of here - I'm wounded."

35 All day the fighting continued, hot and heavy. Propped up in his chariot, the king watched from the sidelines. He died that evening. Blood from his wound pooled in the chariot.