1 Kings 20:5-15

5 Then the messengers returned and said, "Thus says Ben-hadad, 'Surely, I sent to you saying, "You shall give me your silver and your gold and 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 whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will take in their hand and carry away.' "

7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, "Please observe and ¹see how this man is looking for trouble; for he sent to me for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him."

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen or consent."

9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, "Tell my lord the king, 'All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot * do.' " And the messengers departed and brought him word again.

10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, "May ²the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me."

11 Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, '³Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.' "

12 When Ben-hadad heard this message, as ⁴he was drinking with the kings in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, "Station yourselves." So they stationed themselves against the city.

Ahab Victorious

13 Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, ⁵I will deliver them into your hand today, and ⁶you shall know that I am the LORD.' "

14 Ahab said, "By whom?" So he said, "Thus says the LORD, 'By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.' " Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" And he answered, "You."

15 Then he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and there were 232 * *; and after them he mustered all the people, even all the sons of Israel, 7,000 *.

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1 Kings 20:5-15 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

1. 2 Kings 5:7
2. 1 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 6:31
3. Proverbs 27:1
4. 1 Kings 16:9; Proverbs 31:4, 5
5. 1 Kings 20:28
6. 1 Kings 18:36

Footnotes 8

[a]. Lit "Ben-hadad, saying"
[b]. Lit "all the desire of your eyes"
[c]. Lit "put"
[d]. Lit "are at my feet"
[e]. Lit "he and"
[f]. Or "booths"
[g]. Lit "bind"
[h]. Lit "said"