1 Kings 22:29-40
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ahab’s Death
29 Then(A) the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.(B) 30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise(C) myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.(D)
31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders,(E) “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”(F)
32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 But a man drew his bow(G) without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,[a] for I am badly wounded!”(H) 35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,(I) and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 Then the cry rang out in the army as the sun set, declaring:
Each man to his own city,
and each man to his own land!(J)
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.(K) 38 Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of the Lord that He had spoken.(L)
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palace(M) he built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(N) 40 Ahab rested with his fathers,(O) and his son Ahaziah(P) became king in his place.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 22:34 LXX; MT reads camp
1 Kings 22:29-40
Common English Bible
29 So Israel’s king and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat attacked Ramoth-gilead. 30 Israel’s king said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself when we go into battle,[a] but you should wear your royal attire.” When Israel’s king had disguised himself, they entered the battle.
31 Meanwhile, Aram’s king had commanded his thirty-two chariot officers, “Don’t bother with anyone big or small. Fight only with Israel’s king.”
32 As soon as the chariot officers saw Jehoshaphat, they assumed that he must be Israel’s king, so they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out for help. 33 When the chariot officers realized that he wasn’t Israel’s king, they stopped chasing him. 34 But someone randomly shot an arrow that struck Israel’s king between the joints in his armor.[b]
“Turn around and get me out of the battle,” the king told his chariot driver. “I’ve been hit!”
35 While the battle raged all that day, the king stood propped up in the chariot facing the Arameans. But that evening he died after his blood had poured from his wound into the chariot. 36 When the sun set, a shout spread throughout the camp: “Retreat to your towns! Retreat to your land!” 37 Once the king had died, people came from Samaria and buried the king there. 38 They cleaned the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up the king’s blood and the prostitutes bathed in it, just as the Lord had spoken.
Ahab’s last days
39 The rest of Ahab’s deeds and all that he did—including the ivory palace he built and all the towns he constructed—aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? 40 Ahab lay down with his ancestors. His son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 22:30 LXX, Tg; MT Disguise yourself and go
- 1 Kings 22:34 Heb uncertain
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