1 Kings 20
20
Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria
1About that time King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it. 2Ben-hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel: “This is what Ben-hadad says: 3‘Your silver and gold are mine, and so are your wives and the best of your children!’”
4“All right, my lord the king,” Israel’s king replied. “All that I have is yours!”
5Soon Ben-hadad’s messengers returned again and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children. 6But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take away everything you consider valuable!’”
7Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold.”
8“Don’t give in to any more demands,” all the elders and the people advised.
9So Ahab told the messengers from Ben-hadad, “Say this to my lord the king: ‘I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.’” So the messengers returned to Ben-hadad with that response.
10Then Ben-hadad sent this message to Ahab: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide even a handful for each of my soldiers.”
11The king of Israel sent back this answer: “A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.”
12Ahab’s reply reached Ben-hadad and the other kings as they were drinking in their tents.#20:12 Or in Succoth; also in 20:16. “Prepare to attack!” Ben-hadad commanded his officers. So they prepared to attack the city.
Ahab’s Victory over Ben-Hadad
13Then a certain prophet came to see King Ahab of Israel and told him, “This is what the Lord says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
14Ahab asked, “How will he do it?”
And the prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it.”
“Should we attack first?” Ahab asked.
“Yes,” the prophet answered.
15So Ahab mustered the troops of the 232 provincial commanders. Then he called out the rest of the army of Israel, some 7,000 men. 16About noontime, as Ben-hadad and the thirty-two allied kings were still in their tents drinking themselves into a stupor, 17the troops of the provincial commanders marched out of the city as the first contingent.
As they approached, Ben-hadad’s scouts reported to him, “Some troops are coming from Samaria.”
18“Take them alive,” Ben-hadad commanded, “whether they have come for peace or for war.”
19But Ahab’s provincial commanders and the entire army had now come out to fight. 20Each Israelite soldier killed his Aramean opponent, and suddenly the entire Aramean army panicked and fled. The Israelites chased them, but King Ben-hadad and a few of his charioteers escaped on horses. 21However, the king of Israel destroyed the other horses and chariots and slaughtered the Arameans.
22Afterward the prophet said to King Ahab, “Get ready for another attack. Begin making plans now, for the king of Aram will come back next spring.#20:22 Hebrew at the turn of the year; similarly in 20:26. The first day of the year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or April.”
Ben-Hadad’s Second Attack
23After their defeat, Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “The Israelite gods are gods of the hills; that is why they won. But we can beat them easily on the plains. 24Only this time replace the kings with field commanders! 25Recruit another army like the one you lost. Give us the same number of horses, chariots, and men, and we will fight against them on the plains. There’s no doubt that we will beat them.” So King Ben-hadad did as they suggested.
26The following spring he called up the Aramean army and marched out against Israel, this time at Aphek. 27Israel then mustered its army, set up supply lines, and marched out for battle. But the Israelite army looked like two little flocks of goats in comparison to the vast Aramean forces that filled the countryside!
28Then the man of God went to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: The Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills and not of the plains.’ So I will defeat this vast army for you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
29The two armies camped opposite each other for seven days, and on the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day. 30The rest fled into the town of Aphek, but the wall fell on them and killed another 27,000. Ben-hadad fled into the town and hid in a secret room.
31Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “Sir, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. So let’s humble ourselves by wearing burlap around our waists and putting ropes on our heads, and surrender to the king of Israel. Then perhaps he will let you live.”
32So they put on burlap and ropes, and they went to the king of Israel and begged, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’”
The king of Israel responded, “Is he still alive? He is my brother!”
33The men took this as a good sign and quickly picked up on his words. “Yes,” they said, “your brother Ben-hadad!”
“Go and get him,” the king of Israel told them. And when Ben-hadad arrived, Ahab invited him up into his chariot.
34Ben-hadad told him, “I will give back the towns my father took from your father, and you may establish places of trade in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”
Then Ahab said, “I will release you under these conditions.” So they made a new treaty, and Ben-hadad was set free.
A Prophet Condemns Ahab
35Meanwhile, the Lord instructed one of the group of prophets to say to another man, “Hit me!” But the man refused to hit the prophet. 36Then the prophet told him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And when he had gone, a lion did attack and kill him.
37Then the prophet turned to another man and said, “Hit me!” So he struck the prophet and wounded him.
38The prophet placed a bandage over his eyes to disguise himself and then waited beside the road for the king. 39As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Sir, I was in the thick of battle, and suddenly a man brought me a prisoner. He said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he gets away, you will either die or pay a fine of seventy-five pounds#20:39 Hebrew 1 talent [34 kilograms]. of silver!’ 40But while I was busy doing something else, the prisoner disappeared!”
“Well, it’s your own fault,” the king replied. “You have brought the judgment on yourself.”
41Then the prophet quickly pulled the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42The prophet said to him, “This is what the Lord says: Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed,#20:42 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. now you must die in his place, and your people will die instead of his people.” 43So the king of Israel went home to Samaria angry and sullen.
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1 Kings 20: NLT
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1 Kings 20
20
Ben Hadad Invades Israel
1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. and besieged and attacked it.#tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.” 2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city.#tn Heb “to the city.” 3 He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’” 4 The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”
5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 6 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.”#tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.” 7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders#tn Heb “elders.” of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble.#tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.” Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 8 All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.”#tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.” 9 So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’”#tn Heb “all which you sent to your servant in the beginning I will do, but this thing I am unable to do.” So the messengers went back and gave their report.
10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely#tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.” if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.”#tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.” 11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.”#sn The point of the saying is that someone who is still preparing for a battle should not boast as if he has already won the battle. A modern parallel would be, “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.” 12 When Ben Hadad received this reply,#tn Heb “When he heard this word.” he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters.#tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents. He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.
The Lord Delivers Israel
13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army?#tn Heb “this great horde.” Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?”#tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification. He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity. asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
15 So Ahab#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity. assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000.#tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.” 16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily#tn Heb “drinking and drunken.” in their quarters.#tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents. 17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. 18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.”#tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.” 19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier;#tn Heb “each struck down his man.” the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 21 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated#tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.” Syria.
The Lord Gives Israel Another Victory
22 The prophet#tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13). visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses.#tn Heb “strengthen yourself.” Determine#tn Heb “know and see.” what you must do, for in the spring#tn Heb “at the turning of the year.” the king of Syria will attack#tn Heb “go up against.” you.” 23 Now the advisers#tn Or “servants.” of the king of Syria said to him: “Their God is a god of the mountains. That’s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. 24 So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders. 25 Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots.#tn Heb “And you, you muster an army like the one that fell from you, horse like horse and chariot like chariot.” Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.” He approved their plan and did as they advised.#tn Heb “he listened to their voice and did so.”
26 In the spring#tn Heb “at the turning of the year.” Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army#tn Heb “mustered Aram.” and marched to Aphek to fight Israel.#tn Heb “and went up to Aphek for battle with Israel.” 27 When the Israelites had mustered and had received their supplies, they marched out to face them in battle. When the Israelites deployed opposite them, they were like two small flocks#tn The noun translated “small flocks” occurs only here. The common interpretation derives the word from the verbal root חשׂף, “to strip off; to make bare.” In this case the noun refers to something “stripped off” or “made bare.” HALOT 359 s.v. II חשׂף derives the noun from a proposed homonymic verbal root (which occurs only in Ps 29:9) meaning “cause a premature birth.” In this case the derived noun could refer to goats that are undersized because they are born prematurely. of goats, but the Syrians filled the land. 28 The prophet#tn Heb “the man of God.” visited the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Syrians said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,” I will hand over to you this entire huge army.#tn Heb “I will place all this great horde in your hand.” Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
29 The armies were deployed opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day. 30 The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them.#tn Heb “and the remaining ones fled to Aphek to the city and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men, the ones who remained.” Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room.#tn Heb “and Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, [into] an inner room in an inner room.” 31 His advisers#tn Or “servants.” said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind.#tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings. Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads#sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match. and surrender#tn Heb “go out.” to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.” 32 So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant#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. Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity. replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”#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. 33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity. then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 34 Ben Hadad#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets#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. in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.”#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.”#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.” So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.
A Prophet Denounces Ahab’s Actions
35 One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, “Wound me!”#tn Heb “Now a man from the sons of the prophets said to his companion by the word of the Lord, ‘Wound me.’” But the man refused to wound him. 36 So the prophet#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. 37 He found another man and said, “Wound me!” So the man wounded him severely.#tn Heb “and the man wounded him, wounding and bruising.” 38 The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes. 39 When the king passed by, he called out to the king, “Your servant went out into the heat#tn Heb “middle.” of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner.#tn Heb “man” (also a second time later in this verse). He told me, ‘Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason,#tn Heb “if being missed, he is missed.” The emphatic infinitive absolute before the finite verbal form lends solemnity to the warning. you will pay with your life or with a talent#tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 75 pounds of silver. of silver.’#tn Heb “your life will be in place of his life, or a unit of silver you will pay.” 40 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him, “Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.”#tn Heb “so [i.e., in accordance with his testimony] is your judgment, you have determined [it].” 41 The prophet#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity. quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. 42 The prophet#tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity. then said to him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.’”#tn Heb “Because you sent away the man of my destruction [i.e., that I determined should be destroyed] from [my/your?] hand, your life will be in place of his life, and your people in place of his people.” 43 The king of Israel went home to Samaria#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. bitter and angry.
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