1 Kings 20:32-34
New English Translation
32 So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant[a] Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab[b] replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”[c] 33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab[d] then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 34 Ben Hadad[e] said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets[f] in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.”[g] So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 20:32 sn Your servant. By referring to Ben Hadad as Ahab’s servant, they are suggesting that Ahab make him a subject in a vassal treaty arrangement.
- 1 Kings 20:32 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 20:32 sn He is my brother. Ahab’s response indicates that he wants to make a parity treaty and treat Ben Hadad as an equal partner.
- 1 Kings 20:33 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 20:34 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Kings 20:34 tn Heb “streets,” but this must refer to streets set up with stalls for merchants to sell their goods. See HALOT 299 s.v. חוּץ.
- 1 Kings 20:34 tn Heb “I will send you away with a treaty.” The words “Ahab then said” are supplied in the translation. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate that the speaker has changed from Ben Hadad to Ahab. Some suggest adding “and he said” before “I will send you away.” Others prefer to maintain Ben Hadad as the speaker and change the statement to, “Please send me away with a treaty.”
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