Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 20:24

"And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;" — 1 Kings 20:24 (ASV)

The Syrian chiefs evidently thought that a lack of unity had weakened their army. They therefore proposed the deposition of the kings and their replacement with Syrian governors—not “captains.” The term used always denotes a civil office.