1 Kings 20: Ben Hadad besieges Samaria, two defeats, and the prophet in disguise
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What happens?
Ben Hadad king of Syria, with thirty-two kings, besieges Samaria and demands Ahab's silver, gold, wives and children, and then the right to search his house. On the advice of the elders Ahab refuses, and a prophet tells him that Yahweh will give the great army into his hand; the young men of the princes of the provinces go out first, and the Syrians flee. The next year the Syrians fight at Aphek, on the plain, saying Israel's god is a god of the hills, and a man of God says Yahweh will give them into Ahab's hand. Israel kills one hundred thousand in one day, and a wall falls on twenty-seven thousand. Ben Hadad's servants come out in sackcloth and ropes, and Ahab calls Ben Hadad his brother, makes a covenant with him and lets him go. A man of the sons of the prophets has himself wounded, disguises himself, and tells Ahab a story; then he says that because Ahab let go the man Yahweh had devoted to destruction, Ahab's life will take his place. Ahab goes home sullen and angry.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. The words "Yahweh says" in verses 13, 14, 28 and 42 are spoken by a prophet, a man of God and one of the sons of the prophets, giving Yahweh's message; they are the prophets' words, not Yahweh speaking in the scene, so they are not in gold. The prophet also speaks in verse 22, and the man of the sons of the prophets in verses 35 to 40. Ben Hadad and his messengers speak in verses 2 to 6, 10, 12, 18 and 34, his men bring him word in verse 17, and his servants speak in verses 23 to 25 and 31 to 33. Ahab speaks in verses 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 32 to 34 and 40, and the elders and the people in verse 8. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
In plain English: Ben Hadad the king of Syria (the Hebrew has: Aram) gathered his whole army. Thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. He went up, besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
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2He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says,
In plain English: He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, "Ben Hadad says,
3‘Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’”
In plain English: 'Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives and your children, even the best, are mine too.'"
4The king of Israel answered, “It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.”
In plain English: The king of Israel answered, "As you say, my lord the king. I am yours, and everything I have."
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5The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children;
In plain English: The messengers came back and said, "Ben Hadad says, 'I sent to you and said, "You must give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children."
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6but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. Whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.”’”
In plain English: But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. Whatever your eyes find precious (this Bible: pleasant), they will take in their hands and carry away.'"
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7Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”
In plain English: Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, "Please see how this man is looking for trouble (this Bible: mischief). He sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him."
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8All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen, and don’t consent.”
In plain English: All the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen, and do not agree."
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9Therefore 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.’” The messengers departed and brought him back the message.
In plain English: So he said to Ben Hadad's messengers, "Tell my lord the king, 'Everything you first sent to your servant for, I will do. But this thing I cannot do.'" The messengers left and took the answer back to him.
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10Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
In plain English: Ben Hadad sent to him and said, "May the gods do this to me, and more, if there is enough dust in Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me (literally: who are at my feet)."
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11The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’”
In plain English: The king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'The one who puts on (literally: girds on) his armor should not boast like the one who takes it off.'"
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12When Ben Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, “Prepare to attack!” So they prepared to attack the city.
In plain English: Ben Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in the tents (or: booths; this Bible: pavilions). He said to his servants, "Take your positions (this Bible: prepare to attack)!" So they took their positions against the city.
The Hebrew word: "Pavilions" is sukkah, which the dictionary gives as "a hut or lair". The kings are drinking in these shelters while the siege goes on, and again in when the young men go out.
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13Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”
In plain English: Then a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Yahweh says, 'Do you see all this great crowd (this Bible: multitude)? I will give it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'"
Good to know: The prophet here and in verse 22, the man of God of verse 28, and the man of the sons of the prophets of verses 35 to 42 are not named. Each one says "Yahweh says" and gives Yahweh's message. Those are their words, so they are not printed in gold.
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14Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”
In plain English: Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Yahweh says, 'By the young men of the officials (this Bible: princes) of the provinces.'" Then Ahab said, "Who will begin the battle?" He answered, "You."
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15Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
In plain English: Then Ahab counted (this Bible: mustered) the young men of the officials of the provinces, and there were two hundred and thirty-two. After them he counted all the people, all the people of Israel: seven thousand.
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16They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
In plain English: They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was getting drunk in the tents (or: booths; this Bible: pavilions), he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who were helping him.
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17The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”
In plain English: The young men of the officials of the provinces went out first. Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, "Men are coming out from Samaria."
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18He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
In plain English: He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive. If they have come out for war, take them alive."
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19So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
In plain English: So these went out of the city: the young men of the officials of the provinces, and the army that followed them.
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20They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
In plain English: Each one killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel chased them. Ben Hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
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21The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.
In plain English: The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and the chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great slaughter.
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22The prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and plan what you must do, for at the return of the year, the king of Syria will come up against you.”
In plain English: The prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, make yourself strong, and think carefully about what you must do, because when the year comes round (this Bible: at the return of the year), the king of Syria will come up against you."
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23The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let’s fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.
In plain English: The servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their god is a god of the hills (or: their gods are gods of the hills). That is why they were stronger than we were. But let us fight them on the plain (literally: the level ground), and surely we will be stronger than they are.
The Hebrew word: "God" here is elohim, the same word that is "the gods" in , so the servants' words can be read "their god is a god of the hills" or "their gods are gods of the hills". In the man of God gives Yahweh's answer to these words.
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24Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place.
In plain English: Do this: remove each of the kings from his place, and put governors (this Bible: captains) in their places.
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25Muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.” He listened to their voice and did so.
In plain English: Gather an army like the army you lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will fight them on the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are." He listened to them and did so.
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26At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
In plain English: When the year came round, Ben Hadad gathered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
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27The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats, but the Syrians filled the country.
In plain English: The people of Israel were gathered and given supplies, and they went out to meet them. The people of Israel camped opposite them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the land.
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28A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.’”
In plain English: A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel. He said, "Yahweh says, 'Because the Syrians have said, "Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys," I will give all this great crowd into your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'"
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29They encamped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day.
In plain English: They camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the people of Israel killed one hundred thousand Syrian foot soldiers in one day.
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30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner room.
In plain English: The rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, came into the city, and went into an inner room (literally: a room within a room).
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31His servants said to him, “See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life.”
In plain English: His servants said to him, "Look, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings (literally: kings of loyal kindness). Please let us put sackcloth around our waists (this Bible: on our bodies) and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare your life."
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32So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” He said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
In plain English: So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben Hadad says, 'Please let me live.'" He said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."
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33Now the men observed diligently and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
In plain English: The men watched closely (this Bible: observed diligently; or: took it as a sign), and were quick to take up his word. They said, "Your brother Ben Hadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." Ben Hadad came out to him, and he had him come up into the chariot.
The Hebrew word: "Observed diligently" is from nachash, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate". It is in 9 verses. This is the only one where this Bible says "observed"; in the other 8 it has words such as "divined", "divination" and "enchantments", as in , Joseph's cup "by which he indeed divines".
What changes: Read as "observed diligently", Ben Hadad's men watched closely for what Ahab would say. Read as "took it as a sign", they took Ahab's word "brother" as a good sign for them. Either way, they were quick to hold him to that word.
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34Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” “I”, said Ahab, “will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
In plain English: Ben Hadad said to him, "I will give back the cities that my father took from your father. You will set up streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." "And I," said Ahab (the Hebrew does not name who speaks), "will let you go with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
The Hebrew word: "Streets" is from chuts, which the dictionary gives as "outside, outdoors". In 1 Kings it is in 5 verses: this Bible says "outside" in 3 and "streets" only here. The text does not say what the streets were for.
Good to know: The words "said Ahab" are not in the Hebrew; this Bible adds them. The Hebrew has only "And I, with the covenant, will let you go." The next words, "So he made a covenant with him and let him go", tell that Ahab let Ben Hadad go.
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35A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by Yahweh’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him.
In plain English: A man of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, by the word of Yahweh, "Please strike me!" But the man refused to strike him.
Good to know: This is the first verse in this Bible that speaks of "the sons of the prophets". They are named often in 2 Kings, around Elijah and Elisha (, ). The text does not say why the man refused to strike him; verse 36 gives the prophet's words: "Because you have not obeyed Yahweh's voice".
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36Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed Yahweh’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.
In plain English: Then he said to him, "Because you have not listened to the voice of Yahweh, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you." As soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.
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37Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him and wounded him.
In plain English: Then he found another man and said, "Please strike me." The man struck him and wounded him.
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38So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
In plain English: So the prophet went and waited for the king by the road. He disguised himself with a headband (or: with ashes) over his eyes.
The Hebrew word: "Headband" is apher, which the dictionary gives as "a turban". It is in only 2 verses, here and in verse 41. The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "with ashes".
What changes: Read as "headband", the prophet covered his eyes with a band of cloth. Read as "ashes", he put ashes over his eyes. Either way, the king did not know him until he took it away in verse 41.
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39As the king passed by, he cried to the king, and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
In plain English: As the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, "Your servant went out into the middle of the battle. A man turned aside and brought a man to me, and said, 'Guard this man! If he goes missing, your life will be in place of his life, or else you will pay a talent of silver.'
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40As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You yourself have decided it.”
In plain English: But while your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." The king of Israel said to him, "That is your sentence (this Bible: judgment). You have decided it yourself."
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41He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
In plain English: He quickly took the headband (or: the ashes) away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
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42He said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.’”
In plain English: He said to the king, "Yahweh says, 'Because you let go out of your hand the man I had devoted to destruction (literally: the man of my ban), your life will take the place of his life, and your people the place of his people.'"
The Hebrew word: "Devoted to destruction" is word for word "the man of my cherem": a thing under the ban, explained in the note on . The dictionary gives cherem as "usually a doomed object". The text has not said before this verse that Ben Hadad was under the ban.
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43The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.
In plain English: The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.
Good to know: "Sullen and angry" are the same two Hebrew words in , when Naboth will not give Ahab his vineyard.
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