1 Kings 20:31-43

31 His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’ ” The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said. “Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

34 “I will return the cities my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad offered. “You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

35 By the word of the LORD one of the company of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.

36 So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him.

38 Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes.

39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent^[a] of silver.’

40 While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” “That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

42 He said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die.^[b] Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’ ”

43 Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.

1 Kings 20:31-43 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

• 1. Job 41:3
• 2. S Genesis 37:34
• 3. 1 Kings 15:20
• 4. S Genesis 10:22
• 5. 2 Samuel 8:6
• 6. S Genesis 14:15; Jeremiah 49:23-27
• 7. S Exodus 23:32
• 8. S 1 Samuel 10:5; Amos 7:14
• 9. S 1 Kings 13:21; 2 Kings 2:3-7
• 10. 1 Kings 13:24
• 11. S Joshua 2:14; 2 Kings 10:24
• 12. 2 Samuel 12:5; S 2 Samuel 14:13
• 13. S 2 Samuel 12:7
• 14. Jeremiah 48:10
• 15. ver 39; S Joshua 2:14; 1 Kings 22:31-37
• 16. 1 Kings 21:4

Footnotes

• [a] That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
• [b] The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.