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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" /><title>1 Kings 20 ESV</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="../">ESV</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">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/1_kings/20.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Ahab’s Wars with Syria</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.</p> <p class="heading">Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.</p> <p class="heading">Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.</p><p class="regular">Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.</p> <p class="heading">A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad’s Release</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms">a</a></sup></span> of silver.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>And as 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.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>And he said to him, “Thus says the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)">b</a></sup></span> therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_kings/20-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">39</span> A <i class="catch-word">talent</i> was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms<br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">42</span> That is, set apart (<span class="catch-word">devoted</span>) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)<br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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