1 Kings 20:18

18 He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if they've come to fight, the same - take them alive as hostages."

1 Kings 20:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:18

And he said, whether they be come out for peace
To propose terms of peace:

take them alive;
make them prisoners, which was contrary to the laws of nations:

or whether they be come out for war, take them alive;
he made no doubt of their being easily taken; but he would not have them be put to death, that he might examine them, and know the state of things in Samaria, and what Ahab intended to do, that he might take his measures accordingly.

1 Kings 20:18 In-Context

16 At noon they set out after Ben-Hadad who, with his allies, the thirty-two sheiks, was busy at serious drinking in the field shelters.

17 The commandos of the regional chiefs made up the vanguard. A report was brought to Ben-Hadad: "Men are on their way from Samaria."

18 He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if they've come to fight, the same - take them alive as hostages."

19 The commandos poured out of the city with the full army behind them.

20 They hit hard in hand-to-hand combat. The Arameans scattered from the field, with Israel hard on their heels. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram got away on horseback, along with his cavalry.