1 Kings 20 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. ^[2] He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says, ^[3] ‘Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’ ” ^[4] The king of Israel answered, “It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.” ^[5] The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children; ^[6] but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. Whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.” ’ ” ^[7] Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.” ^[8] All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen, and don’t consent.” ^[9] Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ”The messengers departed and brought him back the message. ^[10] Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” ^[11] The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’ ” ^[12] When Ben Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, “Prepare to attack!” So they prepared to attack the city. ^[13] Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’ ” ^[14] Ahab said, “By whom?”He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’ ”Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?”He answered, “You.” ^[15] Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. ^[16] They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him. ^[17] The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” ^[18] He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” ^[19] So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them. ^[20] They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. ^[21] The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter. ^[22] The prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and plan what you must do, for at the return of the year, the king of Syria will come up against you.” ^[23] The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let’s fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they. ^[24] Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place. ^[25] Muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.”He listened to their voice and did so. ^[26] At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. ^[27] The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats, but the Syrians filled the country. ^[28] A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.’ ” ^[29] They encamped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day. ^[30] But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner room. ^[31] His servants said to him, “See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life.” ^[32] So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ”He said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” ^[33] Now the men observed diligently and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.”Then he said, “Go, bring him.”Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. ^[34] Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.”“I”, said Ahab, “will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go. ^[35] A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by Yahweh’s word, “Please strike me!”The man refused to strike him. ^[36] Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed Yahweh’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him. ^[37] Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.”The man struck him and wounded him. ^[38] So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. ^[39] As the king passed by, he cried to the king, and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent^ⓘ of silver.’ ^[40] As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You yourself have decided it.” ^[41] He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. ^[42] He said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.’ ” ^[43] The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.

Footnotes

A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds

King James Version

^[1] And BenhadadH1130 the kingH4428 of SyriaH758 gatheredH6908 all his hostH2428 together:H6908(QalPerf) and [there were] thirtyH7970 and twoH8147 kingsH4428 with him, and horses,H5483 and chariots:H7393 and he went upH5927(QalImpf) and besiegedH6696(QalImpf) Samaria,H8111 and warredH3898(NiphImpf) against it. ^[2] And he sentH7971(QalImpf) messengersH4397 to AhabH256 kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 into the city,H5892 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Thus saithH559(QalPerf) Benhadad,H1130 ^[3] Thy silverH3701 and thy goldH2091 [is] mine; thy wivesH802 also and thy children,H1121 [even] the goodliest,H2896 [are] mine. ^[4] And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 answeredH6030(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) My lord,H113 O king,H4428 according to thy saying,H1697 I [am] thine, and all that I have. ^[5] And the messengersH4397 came again,H7725(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) Thus speakethH559(QalPerf) Benhadad,H1130 saying,H559(QalInf) Although I have sentH7971(QalPerf) unto thee, saying,H559(QalInf) Thou shalt deliverH5414(QalImpf) me thy silver,H3701 and thy gold,H2091 and thy wives,H802 and thy children;H1121 ^[6] Yet I will sendH7971(QalImpf) my servantsH5650 unto thee to morrowH4279 about this time,H6256 and they shall searchH2664(PielPerf) thine house,H1004 and the housesH1004 of thy servants;H5650 and it shall be,H1961(QalPerf) [that] whatsoever is pleasantH4261 in thine eyes,H5869 they shall putH7760(QalImpf) [it] in their hand,H3027 and take [it] away.H3947(QalPerf) ^[7] Then the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 calledH7121(QalImpf) all the eldersH2205 of the land,H776 and said,H559(QalImpf) Mark,H3045(QalImpv) I pray you, and seeH7200(QalImpv) how this [man] seekethH1245(PielPtc) mischief:H7451 for he sentH7971(QalPerf) unto me for my wives,H802 and for my children,H1121 and for my silver,H3701 and for my gold;H2091 and I deniedH4513(QalPerf) him not. ^[8] And all the eldersH2205 and all the peopleH5971 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, HearkenH8085(QalImpf) not [unto him], nor consent.H14(QalImpf) ^[9] Wherefore he saidH559(QalImpf) unto the messengersH4397 of Benhadad,H1130 TellH559(QalImpv) my lordH113 the king,H4428 All that thou didst sendH7971(QalPerf) for to thy servantH5650 at the firstH7223 I will do:H6213(QalImpf) but this thingH1697 I mayH3201(QalImpf) not do.H6213(QalInf) And the messengersH4397 departed,H3212(QalImpf) and broughtH7725 him wordH1697 again.H7725(HiphImpf) ^[10] And BenhadadH1130 sentH7971(QalImpf) unto him, and said,H559(QalImpf) The godsH430 do soH6213(QalImpf) unto me, and more also,H3254(HiphImpf) if the dustH6083 of SamariaH8111 shall sufficeH5606(QalImpf) for handfulsH8168 for all the peopleH5971 that followH7272 me. ^[11] And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 answeredH6030(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) TellH1696(PielImpv) [him], Let not him that girdethH2296(QalActPtc) on [his harness] boastH1984(HithImpf) himself as he that putteth it off.H6605(PielPtc) ^[12] And it came to pass, when [Benhadad] heardH8085(QalInf) this message,H1697 as he [was] drinking,H8354(QalActPtc) he and the kingsH4428 in the pavilions,H5521 that he saidH559(QalImpf) unto his servants,H5650 SetH7760(QalImpv) [yourselves in array]. And they setH7760(QalImpf) [themselves in array] against the city.H5892 ^[13] And, behold, there cameH5066(NiphPerf) aH259 prophetH5030 unto AhabH256 kingH4428 of Israel,H3478 saying,H559(QalImpf) Thus saithH559(QalPerf) the Lord,H3068 Hast thou seenH7200(QalPerf) all this greatH1419 multitude?H1995 behold, I will deliverH5414(QalActPtc) it into thine handH3027 this day;H3117 and thou shalt knowH3045(QalPerf) that I [am] the Lord.H3068 ^[14] And AhabH256 said,H559(QalImpf) By whom? And he said,H559(QalImpf) Thus saithH559(QalPerf) the Lord,H3068 [Even] by the young menH5288 of the princesH8269 of the provinces.H4082 Then he said,H559(QalImpf) Who shall orderH631(QalImpf) the battle?H4421 And he answered,H559(QalImpf) Thou. ^[15] Then he numberedH6485(QalImpf) the young menH5288 of the princesH8269 of the provinces,H4082 and they were twoH8147 hundredH3967 and thirtyH7970 two:H8147 and afterH310 them he numberedH6485(QalPerf) all the people,H5971 [even] all the childrenH1121 of Israel,H3478 [being] sevenH7651 thousand.H505 ^[16] And they went outH3318(QalImpf) at noon.H6672 But BenhadadH1130 [was] drinkingH8354(QalActPtc) himself drunkH7910 in the pavilions,H5521 he and the kings,H4428 the thirtyH7970 and twoH8147 kingsH4428 that helpedH5826(QalActPtc) him. ^[17] And the young menH5288 of the princesH8269 of the provincesH4082 went outH3318(QalImpf) first;H7223 and BenhadadH1130 sent out,H7971(QalImpf) and they toldH5046(HiphImpf) him, saying,H559(QalInf) There are menH582 come outH3318(QalPerf) of Samaria.H8111 ^[18] And he said,H559(QalImpf) Whether they be come outH3318(QalPerf) for peace,H7965 takeH8610(QalImpv) them alive;H2416 or whether they be come outH3318(QalPerf) for war,H4421 takeH8610(QalImpv) them alive.H2416 ^[19] So these young menH5288 of the princesH8269 of the provincesH4082 came outH3318(QalPerf) of the city,H5892 and the armyH2428 which followedH310 them. ^[20] And they slewH5221(HiphImpf) every oneH376 his man:H376 and the SyriansH758 fled;H5127(QalImpf) and IsraelH3478 pursuedH7291(QalImpf) them: and BenhadadH1130 the kingH4428 of SyriaH758 escapedH4422(NiphImpf) on an horseH5483 with the horsemen.H6571 ^[21] And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 went out,H3318(QalImpf) and smoteH5221(HiphImpf) the horsesH5483 and chariots,H7393 and slewH5221(HiphPerf) the SyriansH758 with a greatH1419 slaughter.H4347 ^[22] And the prophetH5030 cameH5066(QalImpf) to the kingH4428 of Israel,H3478 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Go,H3212(QalImpv) strengthenH2388(HithImpv) thyself, and mark,H3045(QalImpv) and seeH7200(QalImpv) what thou doest:H6213(QalImpf) for at the returnH8666 of the yearH8141 the kingH4428 of SyriaH758 will come upH5927(QalActPtc) against thee. ^[23] And the servantsH5650 of the kingH4428 of SyriaH758 saidH559(QalPerf) unto him, Their godsH430 [are] godsH430 of the hills;H2022 therefore they were strongerH2388(QalPerf) than we; butH199 let us fightH3898(NiphImpf) against them in the plain,H4334 and surelyH3808 we shall be strongerH2388(QalImpf) than they. ^[24] And doH6213(QalImpv) this thing,H1697 TakeH5493(HiphImpv) the kingsH4428 away, every manH376 out of his place,H4725 and putH7760(QalImpv) captainsH6346 in their rooms: ^[25] And numberH4487(QalImpf) thee an army,H2428 like the armyH2428 that thou hast lost,H5307(QalActPtc) horseH5483 for horse,H5483 and chariotH7393 for chariot:H7393 and we will fightH3898(NiphImpf) againstH854 them in the plain,H4334 [and] surely we shall be strongerH2388(QalImpf) than they. And he hearkenedH8085(QalImpf) unto their voice,H6963 and did so.H6213(QalImpf) ^[26] And it came to pass at the returnH8666 of the year,H8141 that BenhadadH1130 numberedH6485(QalImpf) the Syrians,H758 and went upH5927(QalImpf) to Aphek,H663 to fightH4421 against Israel.H3478 ^[27] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 were numbered,H6485(HotpPerf) and were all present,H3557(PolpPerf) and wentH3212(QalImpf) againstH7125(QalInf) them: and the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 pitchedH2583(QalImpf) before them like twoH8147 little flocksH2835 of kids;H5795 but the SyriansH758 filledH4390(PielPerf) the country.H776 ^[28] And there cameH5066(QalImpf) a manH376 of God,H430 and spakeH559(QalImpf) unto the kingH4428 of Israel,H3478 and said,H559(QalImpf) Thus saithH559(QalPerf) the Lord,H3068 Because the SyriansH758 have said,H559(QalPerf) The LordH3068 [is] GodH430 of the hills,H2022 but he [is] not GodH430 of the valleys,H6010 therefore will I deliverH5414(QalPerf) all this greatH1419 multitudeH1995 into thine hand,H3027 and ye shall knowH3045(QalPerf) that I [am] the Lord.H3068 ^[29] And they pitchedH2583(QalImpf) oneH428 over againstH5227 the otherH428 sevenH7651 days.H3117 And [so] it was, that in the seventhH7637 dayH3117 the battleH4421 was joined:H7126(QalImpf) and the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 slewH5221(HiphImpf) of the SyriansH758 an hundredH3967 thousandH505 footmenH7273 in oneH259 day.H3117 ^[30] But the restH3498(NiphPtc) fledH5127(QalImpf) to Aphek,H663 into the city;H5892 and [there] a wallH2346 fellH5307(QalImpf) upon twentyH6242 and sevenH7651 thousandH505 of the menH376 [that were] left.H3498(NiphPtc) And BenhadadH1130 fled,H5127(QalPerf) and cameH935(QalImpf) into the city,H5892 into an innerH2315 chamber.H2315 ^[31] And his servantsH5650 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Behold now, we have heardH8085(QalPerf) that the kingsH4428 of the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 [are] mercifulH2617 kings:H4428 let us, I pray thee, putH7760(QalImpf) sackclothH8242 on our loins,H4975 and ropesH2256 upon our heads,H7218 and go outH3318(QalImpf) to the kingH4428 of Israel:H3478 peradventure he will saveH2421(PielImpf) thy life.H5315 ^[32] So they girdedH2296(QalImpf) sackclothH8242 on their loins,H4975 and [put] ropesH2256 on their heads,H7218 and cameH935(QalImpf) to the kingH4428 of Israel,H3478 and said,H559(QalImpf) Thy servantH5650 BenhadadH1130 saith,H559(QalPerf) I pray thee, let me live.H2421(QalImpf) And he said,H559(QalImpf) [Is] he yet alive?H2416 he [is] my brother.H251 ^[33] Now the menH582 did diligently observeH5172(PielImpf) whether [any thing would come] from him, and did hastilyH4116(PielImpf) catchH2480(HiphImpf) [it]: and they said,H559(QalImpf) Thy brotherH251 Benhadad.H1130 Then he said,H559(QalImpf) GoH935(QalImpv) ye, bringH3947(QalImpv) him. Then BenhadadH1130 came forthH3318(QalImpf) to him; and he caused him to come upH5927(HiphImpf) into the chariot.H4818 ^[34] And [Benhadad] saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, The cities,H5892 which my fatherH1 tookH3947(QalPerf) from thy father,H1 I will restore;H7725(HiphImpf) and thou shalt makeH7760(QalImpf) streetsH2351 for thee in Damascus,H1834 as my fatherH1 madeH7760(QalPerf) in Samaria.H8111 Then [said Ahab], I will send thee awayH7971(PielImpf) with this covenant.H1285 So he madeH3772(QalImpf) a covenantH1285 with him, and sent him away.H7971(PielImpf) ^[35] And a certainH259 manH376 of the sonsH1121 of the prophetsH5030 saidH559(QalPerf) unto his neighbourH7453 in the wordH1697 of the Lord,H3068 SmiteH5221(HiphImpv) me, I pray thee. And the manH376 refusedH3985(PielImpf) to smiteH5221(HiphInf) him. ^[36] Then saidH559(QalImpf) he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyedH8085(QalPerf) the voiceH6963 of the Lord,H3068 behold, as soon as thou art departedH1980(QalActPtc) from me, a lionH738 shall slayH5221(HiphPerf) thee. And as soon as he was departedH3212(QalImpf) from him,H681 a lionH738 foundH4672(QalImpf) him, and slewH5221(HiphImpf) him. ^[37] Then he foundH4672(QalImpf) anotherH312 man,H376 and said,H559(QalImpf) SmiteH5221(HiphImpv) me, I pray thee. And the manH376 smoteH5221(HiphImpf) him, so that in smitingH5221(HiphInf) he woundedH6481(QalInf) [him]. ^[38] So the prophetH5030 departed,H3212(QalImpf) and waitedH5975(QalImpf) for the kingH4428 by the way,H1870 and disguisedH2664(HithImpf) himself with ashesH666 upon his face.H5869 ^[39] And as the kingH4428 passed by,H5674(QalActPtc) he criedH6817(QalPerf) unto the king:H4428 and he said,H559(QalImpf) Thy servantH5650 went outH3318(QalPerf) into the midstH7130 of the battle;H4421 and, behold, a manH376 turned aside,H5493(QalPerf) and broughtH935(HiphImpf) a manH376 unto me, and said,H559(QalImpf) KeepH8104(QalImpv) this man:H376 if by any meansH6485(NiphInf) he be missing,H6485(NiphImpf) then shall thy lifeH5315 be for his life,H5315 or else thou shalt payH8254(QalImpf) a talentH3603 of silver.H3701 ^[40] And as thy servantH5650 was busyH6213(QalActPtc) here and there, he was gone.H369 And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, So [shall] thy judgmentH4941 [be]; thyself hast decidedH2782(QalPerf) [it]. ^[41] And he hasted,H4116(PielImpf) and took the ashesH666 awayH5493(HiphImpf) from his face;H5869 and the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 discernedH5234(HiphImpf) him that he [was] of the prophets.H5030 ^[42] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Thus saithH559(QalPerf) the Lord,H3068 Because thou hast let goH7971(PielPerf) out of [thy] handH3027 a manH376 whom I appointed to utter destruction,H2764 therefore thy lifeH5315 shall go for his life,H5315 and thy peopleH5971 for his people.H5971 ^[43] And the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 wentH3212(QalImpf) to his houseH1004 heavyH5620 and displeased,H2198 and cameH935(QalImpf) to Samaria.H8111

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