Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 20:27

"And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country." — 1 Kings 20:27 (ASV)

Were all present. —The marginal reading “were victualled,” or, perhaps, more generally, “were supplied” with all things necessary for war, seems correct. The comparatively small number of the Israelite forces, even after the great victory of the year before, appears to show that, before the siege of Samaria, Ahab had suffered some great defeats, which had broken the strength of Israel.