1 Kings 20:31-32

31 1His servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us 2put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your life."
32 So 3they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, "4Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'Please let me live.' " And he said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."

1 Kings 20:31-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 20

This chapter relates the siege of Samaria by the king of Syria, and his insolent demand of Ahab's wives, children, and riches, 1Ki 20:1-12, the sally made out upon him, at the direction of the prophet, and the route made of the Syrian army, 1Ki 20:13-21, the return of the Syrian army the next year, when there was a pitched battle between them and Israel, in which the former were entirely defeated, 1Ki 20:22-30, the peace Ahab made with the king of Syria, 1Ki 20:31-34, and the reproof one of the sons of the prophets gave him for it, which made him very uneasy, 1Ki 20:35-43.

Cross References 4

  • 1. 1 Kings 20:23-26
  • 2. Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31
  • 3. 1 Kings 20:31
  • 4. 1 Kings 20:3-6

Footnotes 1

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.