1 Kings 20 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Ahab Wars with Aram

1 Now Ben-hadad ^H1130 king ^H4428 of Aram ^H758 gathered ^H6908 all ^H3605 his military ^H2428 force ^H2428, and there were thirty-two ^H7970 H8147 kings ^H4428 with him, and horses ^H5483 and chariots ^H7393. And he went ^H5927 up ^H5927 and besieged ^H6696 H5921 Samaria ^H8111 and fought ^H3898 against it.

2 Then he sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to the city ^H5892 to Ahab ^H256 king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and said ^H559 to him, “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Ben-hadad ^H1130, 3 ‘Your silver ^H3701 and your gold ^H2091 are mine; your most beautiful ^H2896 wives ^H802 and children ^H1121 are also mine.’” 4 Then the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 answered ^H6030 and said ^H559, “It is according to your word ^H1697, my lord ^H113, O king ^H4428; I am yours, and all ^H3605 that I have.” 5 Then the messengers ^H4397 returned ^H7725 and said ^H559, “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 [fn]Ben-hadad ^H1130, ‘Surely ^H3588, I sent ^H7971 to you saying ^H559, “You shall give ^H5414 me your silver ^H3701 and your gold ^H2091 and your wives ^H802 and your children ^H1121,” 6 but about this time ^H6256 tomorrow ^H4279 I will send ^H7971 my servants ^H5650 to you, and they will search ^H2664 your house ^H1004 and the houses ^H1004 of your servants ^H5650; and [fn]whatever ^H3605 is desirable ^H4261 in your eyes ^H5869, they will put ^H7760 in their hand ^H3027 and carry ^H3947 away.’”

7 Then the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 called ^H7121 all ^H3605 the elders ^H2205 of the land ^H776 and said ^H559, “Please ^H4994 know ^H3045 and see ^H7200 how ^H3588 this ^H2088 man is looking ^H1245 for ^H1245 trouble ^H7451; for he sent ^H7971 to me for my wives ^H802 and my children ^H1121 and my silver ^H3701 and my gold ^H2091, and I withheld ^H4513 nothing from him.” 8 And all ^H3605 the elders ^H2205 and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 said ^H559 to him, “Do not listen ^H8085 or consent ^H14.” 9 So he said ^H559 to the messengers ^H4397 of Ben-hadad ^H1130, “Say ^H559 to my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428, ‘All ^H3605 that you sent ^H7971 for to your servant ^H5650 at the first ^H7223 I will do ^H6213, but this ^H2088 thing ^H1697 I cannot ^H3201 H3808 do ^H6213.’” And the messengers ^H4397 departed ^H1980 and brought ^H7725 him word ^H1697 again ^H7725. 10 Then Ben-hadad ^H1130 sent ^H7971 to him and said ^H559, “May the gods ^H430 do ^H6213 so ^H3541 to me and more ^H3254 also ^H3541, if ^H518 the dust ^H6083 of Samaria ^H8111 will be sufficient ^H5606 for [fn]a handful ^H8168 for all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 who ^H834 [fn]follow ^H7272 me.” 11 Then the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 answered ^H6030 and said ^H559, “Speak ^H1696 to him, ‘Let not him who girds ^H2296 on his armor boast ^H1984 like him who takes ^H6605 it off ^H6605.’” 12 Now it happened that when Ben-hadad heard ^H8085 this ^H2088 message ^H1697, as he was drinking ^H8354 [fn]with the kings ^H4428 in the booths ^H5521, he said ^H559 to his servants ^H5650, “Station ^H7760 yourselves.” So they stationed ^H7760 themselves against ^H5921 the city ^H5892.

13 Now behold ^H2009, a prophet ^H5030 approached ^H5066 Ahab ^H256 king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and said ^H559, “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068, ‘Have you seen ^H7200 all ^H3605 this ^H2088 great ^H1419 multitude ^H1995? Behold ^H2009, I will deliver ^H5414 them into your hand ^H3027 today ^H3117, and you shall know ^H3045 that I am Yahweh ^H3068.’” 14 And Ahab ^H256 said ^H559, “By whom ^H4310?” So he said ^H559, “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068, ‘By the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 of the rulers ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082.’” Then he said ^H559, “Who ^H4310 shall [fn]begin ^H631 the battle ^H4421?” And he said ^H559, “You.” 15 Then he mustered ^H6485 the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 of the rulers ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082, and there were 232 ^{H3967 H8147 H7970}; and after ^H310 them he mustered ^H6485 all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, even all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, 7,000 ^H7651 H505.

16 And they went ^H3318 out ^H3318 at noon ^H6672, while Ben-hadad ^H1130 was drinking ^H8354 himself drunk ^H7910 in the booths ^H5521 [fn]with the thirty-two ^H7970 H8147 kings ^H4428 who helped ^H5826 him. 17 And the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 of the rulers ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 first ^H7223; and Ben-hadad ^H1130 sent ^H7971 out ^H7971 and they told ^H5046 him, saying ^H559, “Men ^H376 have come ^H3318 out ^H3318 from Samaria ^H8111.” 18 Then he said ^H559, “If ^H518 they have come ^H3318 out ^H3318 for peace ^H7965, take ^H8610 them alive ^H2416; or if ^H518 they have come ^H3318 out ^H3318 for war ^H4421, take ^H8610 them alive ^H2416.”

19 So these ^H428 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 from the city ^H5892, the young ^H5288 men ^H5288 of the rulers ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082, and the military ^H2428 force ^H2428 which ^H834 followed ^H310 them. 20 And they each ^H376 struck ^H5221 his man ^H376; and the Arameans ^H758 fled ^H5127 and Israel ^H3478 pursued ^H7291 them, and Ben-hadad ^H1130 king ^H4428 of Aram ^H758 escaped ^H4422 on a horse ^H5483 with horsemen ^H6571. 21 And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 and struck ^H5221 down ^H5221 the horses ^H5483 and chariots ^H7393, and struck ^H5221 the Arameans ^H758 with a great ^H1419 slaughter ^H4347.

22 Then the prophet ^H5030 came ^H5066 near ^H5066 to the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and said ^H559 to him, “Go ^H1980, strengthen ^H2388 yourself and know ^H3045 and see ^H7200 what ^H834 you have to do ^H6213; for at the turn ^H8666 of the year ^H8141 the king ^H4428 of Aram ^H758 will come ^H5927 up ^H5927 against ^H5921 you.”

23 Now the servants ^H5650 of the king ^H4428 of Aram ^H758 said ^H559 to him, “Their gods ^H430 are gods ^H430 of the mountains ^H2022, therefore ^H5921 H3651 they were stronger ^H2388 than ^H4480 we; but rather ^H199 let us fight ^H3898 against ^H854 them in the plain ^H4334, and surely ^H518 H3808 we will be stronger ^H2388 than ^H4480 they. 24 Do ^H6213 this ^H2088 thing ^H1697: remove ^H5493 the kings ^H4428, each ^H376 from his place ^H4725, and put ^H7760 captains ^H6346 in ^H8478 their place ^H8478, 25 and you shall number ^H4487 a military ^H2428 force ^H2428 like the military ^H2428 force ^H2428 that you have lost ^H5307, horse ^H5483 for horse ^H5483, and chariot ^H7393 for chariot ^H7393. Then we will fight ^H3898 against ^H854 them in the plain ^H4334, and surely ^H518 H3808 we will be stronger ^H2388 than ^H4480 they.” And he listened ^H8085 to their voice ^H6963 and did ^H6213 so ^H3651.

Israel Fights the Arameans

26 Now it happened at the turn ^H8666 of the year ^H8141, that Ben-hadad ^H1130 mustered ^H6485 the Arameans ^H758 and went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Aphek ^H663 to fight ^H4421 against ^H5973 Israel ^H3478.

27 Now the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 were mustered ^H6485 and were provided ^H3557 for ^H3557 and went ^H1980 to meet ^H7122 them; and the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 camped ^H2583 before ^H5048 them like two ^H8147 little ^H2835 flocks ^H2835 of goats ^H5795, but the Arameans ^H758 filled ^H4390 the land ^H776. 28 Then a man ^H376 of God ^H430 came ^H5066 near ^H5066 and spoke ^H559 to the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and said ^H559, “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068, ‘Because ^H3282 H834 the Arameans ^H758 have said ^H559, “Yahweh ^H3068 is a god ^H430 of the mountains ^H2022, but He is not a god ^H430 of the valleys ^H6010,” therefore I will give ^H5414 all ^H3605 this ^H2088 great ^H1419 multitude ^H1995 into your hand ^H3027, and you shall know ^H3045 that I am Yahweh ^H3068.’” 29 So they camped ^H2583 one ^H428 opposite ^H5227 the other ^H428 seven ^H7651 days ^H3117. Now it happened that on the seventh ^H7637 day ^H3117 the battle ^H4421 was joined ^H7126, and the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 struck ^H5221 down ^H5221 of the Arameans ^H758 100,000 ^H3967 H505 foot ^H7273 soldiers ^H7273 in one ^H259 day ^H3117. 30 But the rest ^H3498 fled ^H5127 to Aphek ^H663 into the city ^H5892, and the wall ^H2346 fell ^H5307 on 27,000 ^{H6242 H7651 H505} men ^H376 who were left ^H3498. And Ben-hadad ^H1130 fled ^H5127 and came ^H935 into the city ^H5892 into an inner ^H2315 chamber ^H2315.

31 Then his servants ^H5650 said ^H559 to him, “Behold ^H2009 now ^H4994, we have heard ^H8085 that the kings ^H4428 of the house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478 are kings ^H4428 of lovingkindness ^H2617, please ^H4994 let us put ^H7760 sackcloth ^H8242 on our loins ^H4975 and ropes ^H2256 on our heads ^H7218, and go ^H3318 out ^H3318 to the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478; perhaps ^H194 he will preserve ^H2421 your [fn]life ^H5315.” 32 So they girded ^H2296 sackcloth ^H8242 on their loins ^H4975 and put ropes ^H2256 on their heads ^H7218, and came ^H935 to the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 and said ^H559, “Your servant ^H5650 Ben-hadad ^H1130 says ^H559, ‘Please ^H4994 let me live ^H2421.’” And he said ^H559, “Is he still ^H5750 alive ^H2416? He is my brother ^H251.” 33 Now the men ^H376 interpreted ^H5172 this as ^H5172 an ^H5172 omen ^H5172, and hastily ^H4116 [fn]catching ^H2480 his word said ^H559, “Your brother ^H251 Ben-hadad ^H1130.” Then he said ^H559, “Go ^H935, bring ^H3947 him.” Then Ben-hadad ^H1130 came ^H3318 out ^H3318 to him, and he [fn]took ^H5927 him up ^H5927 into the chariot ^H4818. 34 And Ben-hadad said ^H559 to him, “The cities ^H5892 which ^H834 my father ^H1 took ^H3947 from your father ^H1 I will return ^H7725, and you shall make ^H7760 streets ^H2351 for yourself in Damascus ^H1834, as my father ^H1 made ^H7760 in Samaria ^H8111.” Ahab said, “And I will let ^H7971 you go ^H7971 with this covenant ^H1285.” So he cut ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 with him and let ^H7971 him go ^H7971.

A Prophecy Enrages Ahab

35 Now a certain ^H259 man ^H376 of the sons ^H1121 of the prophets ^H5030 said ^H559 to [fn]another ^H7453 by the word ^H1697 of Yahweh ^H3068, “Please ^H4994 strike ^H5221 me.” But the man ^H376 refused ^H3985 to strike ^H5221 him.

36 Then he said ^H559 to him, “Because ^H3282 H834 you have not listened ^H8085 to the voice ^H6963 of Yahweh ^H3068, behold ^H2009, as soon as you walk ^H1980 away from me, a lion ^H738 will strike ^H5221 you down ^H5221.” And as soon as he had walked ^H1980 away from him, a lion ^H738 found ^H4672 him and struck ^H5221 him down ^H5221. 37 Then he found ^H4672 another ^H312 man ^H376 and said ^H559, “Please ^H4994 [fn]strike ^H5221 me.” And the man ^H376 [fn]struck ^H5221 him, [fn]wounding ^H6481 H5221 him. 38 So the prophet ^H5030 walked ^H1980 away and stood ^H5975 by, for the king ^H4428 by the way ^H1870, and disguised ^H2664 himself with a bandage ^H666 over ^H5921 his eyes ^H5869. 39 Now it happened that as the king ^H4428 was passing ^H5674 by ^H5674, he cried ^H6817 out ^H6817 to the king ^H4428 and said ^H559, “Your servant ^H5650 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 into the midst ^H7130 of the battle ^H4421; and behold ^H2009, a man ^H376 turned ^H5493 aside ^H5493 and brought ^H935 a man ^H376 to me and said ^H559, ‘Guard ^H8104 this ^H2088 man ^H376; if ^H518 for ^H6485 any ^H6485 reason ^H6485 he is missing ^H6485, then your life ^H5315 shall be for his life ^H5315, or ^H176 else you shall pay ^H8254 a [fn]talent ^H3603 of silver ^H3701.’ 40 Now it happened that while your servant ^H5650 was busy ^H6213 here ^H2008 and there ^H2008, he was gone ^H369.” And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559 to him, “So ^H3651 shall your judgment ^H4941 be; you yourself ^H859 have decided ^H2782 it.” 41 Then he hastily ^H4116 took ^H5493 the bandage ^H666 away ^H5493 from his eyes ^H5869, and the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 recognized ^H5234 him, that he was of the prophets ^H5030. 42 And he said ^H559 to him, “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 Yahweh ^H3068, ‘Because ^H3282 you have let ^H7971 go ^H7971 out ^H7971 of your hand ^H3027 the man ^H376 whom I had devoted ^H2764 to destruction ^H2764, therefore your [fn]life ^H5315 shall go ^H1961 for his [fn]life ^H5315, and your people ^H5971 for his people ^H5971.’” 43 So the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 went ^H1980 to his house ^H1004 sullen ^H5620 and enraged ^H2198, and came ^H935 to Samaria ^H8111.