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1 Kings 20
Christian Standard Bible

Victory over Ben-hadad

20 Now King Ben-hadad(A) of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings,(B) along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria,(C) and fought against it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well!’” (D)

4 Then the king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

5 The messengers then returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent messengers to you, saying, “You are to give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.” 6 But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you,[a](E) and they will search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will lay their hands on and take away whatever is precious to you.’”

7 Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “Recognize[b] that this one is only looking for trouble,(F) for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.”

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen or agree.”

9 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers left and took word back to him.

10 Then Ben-hadad sent messengers to him and said, “May the gods punish me and do so severely(G) if Samaria’s dust(H) amounts to a handful for each of the people who follow me.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast(I) like the one who takes it off.’”

12 When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinking(J) in their quarters,[c] he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.

13 A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this whole huge army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am the Lord.’”(K)

14 Ahab asked, “By whom?”

And the prophet said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘By the young men of the provincial leaders.’”

Then he asked, “Who is to start the battle?” (L)

He said, “You.”

15 So Ahab mobilized the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he mobilized all the Israelite troops: 7,000.(M) 16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kings(N) who were helping him were getting drunk in their quarters. 17 The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”(O)

18 So he said, “If they have marched out in peace,(P) take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”

19 The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city, 20 and each one struck down his opponent.(Q) So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them,(R) but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry. 21 Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a severe slaughter on Aram.

22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider carefully[d] what you should do, for in the spring(S) the king of Aram will attack you.”

23 Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.(T) That’s why they were stronger than we were. Instead, we should fight with them on the plain; then we will certainly be stronger than they are. 24 Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place. 25 Raise another army for yourself like the army you lost—horse for horse, chariot for chariot—and let’s fight with them on the plain; and we will certainly be stronger than they are.” The king listened to them and did it.

26 In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek(U) to battle Israel. 27 The Israelites mobilized, gathered supplies, and went to fight them. The Israelites camped in front of them like two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the landscape.(V)

28 Then the man of God(W) approached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,”(X) I will hand over all this whole huge army to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”(Y)

29 They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day,(Z) the battle took place, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—one hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. 30 The ones who remained fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell on those twenty-seven thousand remaining men.

Ben-hadad also fled and went into an inner room(AA) in the city. 31 His servants said to him, “Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth around our waists(AB) and ropes around our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So they dressed with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’”

So he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on this[e] and responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.”

Then he said, “Go and bring him.”

So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot. 34 Then Ben-hadad said to him, “I restore to you the cities that my father took from your father,(AC) and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, like my father set up in Samaria.”(AD)

Ahab responded, “On the basis of this treaty, I release you.” So he made a treaty with him and released him.

Ahab Rebuked by the Lord

35 One of the sons of the prophets(AE) said to his fellow prophet by the word of the Lord, “Strike me!” But the man refused to strike him.

36 He told him, “Because you did not listen to the Lord, mark my words: When you leave me, a lion will kill you.”(AF) When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said to him, “Strike me!” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound. 38 Then the prophet went and waited for the king on the road. He disguised(AG) himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant marched out into the middle of the battle. Suddenly, a man turned aside and brought someone to me and said, ‘Guard this man! If he is ever missing, it will be your life in place of his life,(AH) or you will weigh out seventy-five pounds[f] of silver.’ 40 But while your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.”

The king of Israel said to him, “That will be your sentence; you yourself have decided it.”(AI)

41 He quickly removed the bandage from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. 42 The prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you released from your hand the man I had set apart for destruction,(AJ) it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’” 43 The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry,(AK) and he entered Samaria.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:6 Lit take all the delight of your eyes
  2. 20:7 Lit “Know and see
  3. 20:12 Lit booths, also in v. 16
  4. 20:22 Lit then know and see
  5. 20:33 Some Hb mss, alt Hb tradition, LXX; other Hb mss read they hastened and caught hold; “Is this it?”
  6. 20:39 Lit a talent
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1 Kings 20
New American Standard Bible

War with Aram

20 Now (A)Ben-hadad, king of Aram, gathered all his army, (B)and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and (C)besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 2 Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab, king of Israel, and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.’” 4 And the king of Israel replied, “As [a]you say, my lord, O king; I am yours, as well as all that I have.” 5 Then the messengers returned and said, “Ben-hadad says [b]this: ‘I did indeed send word to you, saying, “You shall give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children”; 6 but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and they will take in their hands everything that is pleasing to your eyes, and take it all away.’”

7 Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please be aware and (D)see that this man is looking for trouble; for he sent me his demand for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 8 Then all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen nor consent.” 9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Everything that you sent as a demand to your servant at the first, I will do; but this thing I cannot do.’” Then the messengers departed, and brought him word again. 10 Ben-hadad sent word to him and said, “May (E)the gods do so to me and more so, [c]if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who [d]follow me.” 11 Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘(F)He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off.’” 12 And when Ben-hadad heard this message, while (G)he was drinking [e]with the kings in the [f]temporary shelters, he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.

Ahab Victorious

13 Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, (H)I am going to hand them over to you today, and (I)you shall know that I am the Lord.’” 14 But Ahab said, “By whom?” So he said, “The Lord says this: ‘By the young men of the leaders of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who will begin the battle?” And he said, “You will.” 15 So he mustered the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, all the sons of Israel: seven thousand.

16 They went out at noon, while (J)Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the [g]temporary shelters [h]with the thirty-two kings who were helping him. 17 The young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.” 18 (K)Then he said, “If they have come out [i]for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well.”

19 So these men went out from the city, the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and the army which followed them. 20 And they [j]killed, each one, his man; and the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21 The king of Israel also went out and struck the horses and chariots, and [k]killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.

22 Then (L)the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, show yourself courageous and be aware and see what you have to do; for (M)at [l]the turn of the year the king of Aram will march against you.”

23 Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “(N)Their gods are gods of the mountains; for that reason they were stronger than we. But let us fight them in the plain, and we will certainly be stronger than they. 24 Carry out this [m]plan: remove the kings, each from his place, and put governors in their place, 25 and [n]muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and we will certainly be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

Another Aramean War

26 So (O)at [o]the turn of the year Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to (P)Aphek to fight against Israel. 27 And the sons of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and they went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped opposite them like two little flocks of goats, (Q)while the Arameans filled the country. 28 Then (R)a man of God approached and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Since the Arameans have said, “(S)The Lord is a god of mountains, but He is not a god of valleys,” therefore (T)I will hand over to you all this great multitude, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” 29 So they camped, one opposite the other, for seven days. And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel [p]killed of the Arameans a hundred thousand foot soldiers in a single day. 30 But the rest fled to (U)Aphek into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city, going from one (V)inner room to another.

31 But (W)his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let’s (X)put sackcloth [q]around our waists and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will let [r]you live.” 32 So (Y)they put sackcloth [s]around their waists and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “(Z)Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let [t]me live.’” And Ahab said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 33 Now the men took this as a good omen, and quickly [u]accepting it from him, they said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he had him mount the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, “(AA)The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you can make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

35 Now a man from (AB)the sons of the prophets said to [v]another (AC)by the word of the Lord, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him. 36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you leave me, (AD)a lion will [w]kill you.” And as soon as he left him a lion found him and [x]killed him. 37 Then he found another man and said, “Please strike me.” And the man struck him, [y]injuring him. 38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and (AE)disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 And as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he goes missing, (AF)then your life shall be forfeited in place of his life, or else you shall pay a [z]talent of silver.’ 40 Now while your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself determined it.” 41 Then he quickly took the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him, that he was one of the prophets. 42 And the prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Since you have let go from your hand the man I had designated for destruction, (AG)your [aa]life shall be forfeited in place of his [ab]life, and your people in place of his people.’” 43 So (AH)the king of Israel went to his house sullen and furious, and came to Samaria.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 20:4 Lit your word
  2. 1 Kings 20:5 Lit this, saying
  3. 1 Kings 20:10 I.e., what is left of Samaria after it is destroyed
  4. 1 Kings 20:10 Lit are at my feet
  5. 1 Kings 20:12 Lit he and
  6. 1 Kings 20:12 Or huts
  7. 1 Kings 20:16 Or huts
  8. 1 Kings 20:16 Lit he and the 32 kings
  9. 1 Kings 20:18 I.e., to seek terms for surrender
  10. 1 Kings 20:20 Lit struck
  11. 1 Kings 20:21 Lit struck
  12. 1 Kings 20:22 I.e., spring
  13. 1 Kings 20:24 Lit word
  14. 1 Kings 20:25 Lit count
  15. 1 Kings 20:26 I.e., spring
  16. 1 Kings 20:29 Lit struck
  17. 1 Kings 20:31 Lit on
  18. 1 Kings 20:31 Lit your soul
  19. 1 Kings 20:32 Lit on
  20. 1 Kings 20:32 Lit my soul
  21. 1 Kings 20:33 Lit accepted
  22. 1 Kings 20:35 Lit his neighbor
  23. 1 Kings 20:36 Lit strike
  24. 1 Kings 20:36 Lit struck
  25. 1 Kings 20:37 Lit striking and injuring
  26. 1 Kings 20:39 About 75 lb. or 34 kg
  27. 1 Kings 20:42 Lit soul
  28. 1 Kings 20:42 Lit soul
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1 Kings 19
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