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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Kings 20 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_kings/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_kings/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 1 Kings 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_kings/19.htm" title="1 Kings 19">◄</a> 1 Kings 20 <a href="../1_kings/21.htm" title="1 Kings 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/1_kings/20.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Ahab Attacks the Arameans</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>A little while later, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered an army of cavalry and chariots in a military confederacy with 32 kings, invaded Samaria, and set up siege encampments there. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Then he sent envoys to visit King Ahab of Israel and told him, “This is what Ben-hadad says: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>‘Your silver and gold belong to me. So do the most beautiful of your wives and children.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>“Whatever you want, your majesty,” the king of Israel answered. “I belong to you, as does everything I own.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>After delivering Ahab’s answer,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:5 The Heb. lacks After delivering Ahab’s answer ">a</a></span> the envoys returned with this message: “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I’ve sent my envoys to you to tell you that your silver, gold, wives, and children are to be given to me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>About this time tomorrow, I’ll send my servants to you, and they’ll search through your palace and your servants’ houses. Whatever is important to you will be seized<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:6 Lit. seized in their hand">b</a></span> and taken away.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then the king of Israel called together all of the elders of the land and told them, “Please note that this man is here looking for trouble. He sent a message to me, demanding my wives, my children, and my silver and gold, and I haven’t refused him.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>“Don’t listen to him,” all the elders and the people replied. “And don’t agree to his terms.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:8 The Heb. lacks to his terms">c</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>So he told Ben-hadad’s envoys, “Tell his majesty the king, ‘Everything that you asked for the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the envoys left to deliver Ahab’s response. They<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:9 Lit. deliver and">d</a></span> returned a little while later.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Beh-hadad sent this message back: “May the gods do so to me, and more than that also, if the dust that remains of Samaria is enough to fill up a few handfuls for all of the armies at my disposal.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>But the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘The one who is starting to strap on his battle armor should never brag like the one who is taking it off.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Ben-hadad received Ahab’s response<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:12 Lit. message">e</a></span> while he was celebrating with his kings in the battle pavilions. “Sound ‘Battle Stations!’” he ordered, and the army began to prepare their attack.</p> <p class="heading">God’s Prophets Rebuke Ahab</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Right about then, a prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You see all of this great big army, do you? Well now, I’m going to deliver them all right into your hand, and you will learn that I am the LORD!’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“By whom?” Ahab asked.</p> <p class="reg">“This is what the LORD says,” the prophet replied. “‘By the young men who serve as officials within the provinces.’”</p> <p class="reg">“Who is to begin the battle?” Ahab asked.</p> <p class="reg">“You,” the prophet answered.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>So Ahab<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:15 Lit. he">f</a></span> gathered together 232 young men who served as officials within the provinces and then mustered 7,000 soldiers from among the Israelis. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>They attacked at noon, just as Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the battle pavilions, along with the 32 kings who had joined him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>The young men who served as officials within the provinces led the charge, and somebody informed Ben-hadad, “Some men have come out from Samaria.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>“Take them alive, whether they’ve come in peace or not,” he ordered.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Meanwhile, as the young men who served as officials within the provinces left the city, their army followed after them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Each man struck down his opponent, and the Arameans ran away with Israel in pursuit. King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on horseback with the help of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:20 The Heb. lacks the help of">g</a></span> his cavalry. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>The king of Israel went out and attacked the cavalry and chariots and killed the Arameans in a massive victory.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20;21 Or slaughter">h</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>The prophet approached the king of Israel and told him, “Go replenish your forces and prepare for the future, because early this next year the king of Aram will attack you again.”</p> <p class="heading">The Arameans are Defeated</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Sure enough, the advisors to the king of Aram told him, “Their gods are mountain gods. That’s why they were stronger than we were. But when we fight them on the plains, we’re certain to be the stronger army! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>So do this: remove the kings from command<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:24 The Heb. lacks from command">i</a></span> and replace them with captains. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then replace the army that you lost, horse-for-horse and chariot-for-chariot. We’ll fight them on the plains, and we’re certain to be the stronger army.” Ben-hadad<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:25 Lit. He">j</a></span> listened to what they had to say and carried out their advice.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Early the next year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and invaded Aphek in a battle against Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The Israelis were mustered, equipped with provisions, and sent out to fight. The Israeli encampment looked like two little flocks of goats compared to how the Aramean encampments<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:27 The Heb. lacks encampments">k</a></span> filled the countryside!</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Right about then, a man of God approached and told the king of Israel, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans keep saying “The LORD is a mountain god, but isn’t a valley god,” I’m going to deliver this entire vast army right into your control, so you’ll learn that I really am the LORD.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>So they remained in opposing camps for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle commenced, and the Israelis killed 100,000 Aramean infantry troops in a single day. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The rest of the Aramean army retreated into Aphek, but the city wall collapsed on 27,000 soldiers who had taken shelter there. Ben-hadad himself ran away and hid inside a closet<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:30 Lit. inside an inner room">l</a></span> somewhere in the city.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>“Look, now,” his advisors suggested, “we’ve heard that the Israeli kings are merciful. So let’s clothe ourselves with sackcloth, tie our hair back with ropes, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he’ll spare your life.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>So they put on some sackcloth, tied their hair back with ropes, and approached the king of Israel. “Your servant Ben-hadad says this,” they said. “Please let me live.”</p> <p class="reg">“Is he still alive?” Ahab asked. “He’s my brother.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Ben-hadad’s advisors,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:33 Lit. The men">m</a></span> quickly analyzing the signs in what Ahab was saying, responded, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.”</p> <p class="reg">“Go get him,” Ahab responded. So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab took him up into his personal chariot.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Ben-hadad made this promise to Ahab: “I will restore the cities that my ancestors took from your ancestors. You’ll be able to build streets named after yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”</p> <p class="reg">“With this promise I will release you,” Ahab<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:34 Lit. he">n</a></span> replied. So Ahab<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:34 Lit. he">o</a></span> made a treaty with Ben-hadad<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:34 Lit. him">p</a></span> and let him go.</p> <p class="heading">Ahab is Condemned</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Right about then, one of the members of the guild<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:35 Lit. sons">q</a></span> of prophets told another through a message from the LORD: “Please strike me!” But the man refused to do so, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>so he told him, “Because you haven’t obeyed the LORD’s voice, as soon as you leave here, a lion will kill you.” As soon as the man left, a lion found him and killed him.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Later, he found another man and told him, “Please strike me!” So the man struck him and wounded him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Then the prophet left and waited for the king to pass by, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and told him, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and a soldier turned aside, brought a prisoner to me, and told me, ‘Guard this man. If he turns up missing for any reason at all, you’ll pay for it with your life or be fined one talent<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:39 i.e. about 75 pounds">r</a></span> of silver.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>While your servant was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped.”</p> <p class="reg">The king told him, “By your actions you’ve earned the proper judgment!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Then the prophet quickly tore off his bandage, and the king of Israel recognized him as being one of the prophets. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>He told the king,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:42 Lit. told him">s</a></span> “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you let the man whom I had dedicated to destruction go free, therefore your life is to be forfeited for his life, and your people for his people.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>After hearing this, the king of Israel rode back to his palace in Samaria, frustrated and in a foul mood.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 20:5 The Heb. lacks <i>After delivering Ahab’s answer </i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 20:6 Lit. <i>seized in their hand</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 20:8 The Heb. lacks <i>to his terms</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 20:9 Lit. <i>deliver and</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 20:12 Lit. <i>message</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 20:15 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 20:20 The Heb. lacks <i>the help of</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 20;21 Or <i>slaughter</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 20:24 The Heb. lacks <i>from command</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 20:25 Lit. <i>He</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 20:27 The Heb. lacks <i>encampments</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 20:30 Lit. <i>inside an inner room</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 20:33 Lit. <i>The men</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 20:34 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 20:34 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 20:34 Lit. <i>him</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 20:35 Lit. <i>sons</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 20:39 i.e. about 75 pounds<br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 20:42 Lit. <i>told him</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../1_kings/19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../1_kings/21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/1_kings/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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