1 Kings 20:1-12

War with Aram

1 Now ¹Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, ²and there were thirty-two * kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and ³besieged * Samaria and fought against it.

2 Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, "Thus says Ben-hadad,

3 'Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.' "

4 The king of Israel replied, "It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have."

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 ⁴see 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 ⁵the 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, '⁶Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.' "

12 When Ben-hadad heard this message, as ⁷he was drinking with the kings in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, "Station yourselves." So they stationed themselves against the city.

1 Kings 20:1-12 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. 1 Kings 15:18, 20; 2 Kings 6:24
• 2. 1 Kings 22:31
• 3. 1 Kings 16:24; 2 Kings 6:24
• 4. 2 Kings 5:7
• 5. 1 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 6:31
• 6. Proverbs 27:1
• 7. 1 Kings 16:9; Proverbs 31:4, 5

Footnotes

• [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"