1 Kings 2:4

2:4 and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me,¹ ‘If your descendants watch their step² and live faithfully in my presence³ with all their heart and being,⁴ then,’ he promised,⁵ ‘you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’⁶

1 Kings 3:11

3:11 God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,⁷

1 Kings 8:48

8:48 When they return to you with all their heart and being⁸ in the land where they are held prisoner,⁹ and direct their prayers to you toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,¹⁰

1 Kings 19:10

19:10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal¹¹ to the Lord, the sovereign God,¹² even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you,¹³ torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”¹⁴

1 Kings 19:14

19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal¹⁵ to the Lord, the sovereign God,¹⁶ even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you,¹⁷ torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”¹⁸

1 Kings 20:31-32

20:31 His advisers¹⁹ said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind.²⁰ Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads²¹ and surrender²² to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.” 20:32 So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant²³ Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab²⁴ replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”²⁵

¹tn Heb “then the Lord will establish his word which he spoke to me, saying.”

²tn Heb “guard their way.”

³tn Heb “by walking before me in faithfulness.”

⁴tn Or “soul.”

⁵tn Heb “saying.”

⁶tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from upon the throne of Israel.”

⁷tn Heb “because you asked for this thing, and did not ask for yourself many days and did not ask for yourself riches and did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you asked for yourself understanding to hear judgment.”

¹³tn Or “soul.”

¹⁴tn Heb “in the land of their enemies.”

¹⁵tn Heb “your name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in v. 41.

¹⁹tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.

²⁰tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”

²¹tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”

²²tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”

²⁵tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.

²⁶tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”

²⁷tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”

²⁸tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”

³¹tn Or “servants.”

³²tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.

³³sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.

³⁴tn Heb “go out.”

³⁷sn Your servant. By referring to Ben Hadad as Ahab’s servant, they are suggesting that Ahab make him a subject in a vassal treaty arrangement.

³⁸tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³⁹sn He is my brother. Ahab’s response indicates that he wants to make a parity treaty and treat Ben Hadad as an equal partner.