Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 22:31

"Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty and two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel." — 1 Kings 22:31 (ASV)

Commanded — This means, “had commanded.” Ben-hadad delivers his order in the hyperbolic style common in the East. His meaning was, “Make it your chief object to kill or capture the king of Israel.” Apparently, his own defeat and captivity were still rankling in his mind, and he wished to retaliate on Ahab for the humiliation he considered himself to have suffered. He shows little appreciation for the generosity that had spared his life and restored him to his kingdom.