1 Kings 20:3

3 "Ben-Hadad lays claim to your silver and gold, and to the pick of your wives and sons."

1 Kings 20:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:3

Thy silver and thy gold is mine
Not of right, but reckoning it as good as in his hands, Ahab not being able to resist him:

and thy wives also;
for it seems he had more than Jezebel:

and thy children;
which were many, for he had no less than seventy sons, ( 2 Kings 10:1 ) ,

even the goodliest are mine:
some aggravate this, as if his view was to commit the unnatural sin with his male children, when in his possession.

1 Kings 20:3 In-Context

1 At about this same time Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his troops. He recruited in addition thirty-two local sheiks, all outfitted with horses and chariots. He set out in force and surrounded Samaria, ready to make war.

2 He sent an envoy into the city to set his terms before Ahab king of Israel:

3 "Ben-Hadad lays claim to your silver and gold, and to the pick of your wives and sons."

4 The king of Israel accepted the terms: "As you say, distinguished lord; I and everything I have is yours."

5 But then the envoy returned a second time, saying, "On second thought, I want it all - your silver and gold and all your wives and sons. Hand them over - the whole works.