Font Size
1 Kings 20:30-35
English Standard Version
1 Kings 20:30-35
English Standard Version
30 And the rest fled into the city of (A)Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.
Ben-hadad also fled and entered (B)an inner chamber in the city. 31 And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us (C)put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” 32 So they (D)tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, (E)“The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in (F)Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad's Release
35 And a certain man of (G)the sons of the prophets said to his fellow (H)at the command of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.
Read full chapter
1 Kings 20:30-35
New International Version
1 Kings 20:30-35
New International Version
30 The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek,(A) where the wall collapsed(B) on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid(C) in an inner room.
31 His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful.(D) Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth(E) around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32 Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”
The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said.
“Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34 “I will return the cities(F) my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad(G) offered. “You may set up your own market areas(H) in Damascus,(I) as my father did in Samaria.”
Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty(J) I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.
A Prophet Condemns Ahab
35 By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets(K) said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.(L)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.