Discovery Box1 Kings 15:18-20
Context15:18 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it 1 to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: 15:19 “I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. 2 See, I have sent you silver and gold as a present. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.” 3 15:20 Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. 4 They conquered 5 Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth. 6
1 Kings 20:1-22
Context20:1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria 7 and besieged and attacked it. 8 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 9 20:3 He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’” 20:4 The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”
20:5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 20:6 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.” 10 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders 11 of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. 12 Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 20:8 All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.” 13 20:9 So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’” 14 So the messengers went back and gave their report.
20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely 15 if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 16 20:11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.” 17 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, 18 he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. 19 He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.
20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? 20 Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” 21 He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab 22 asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
20:15 So Ahab 23 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 24 20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 25 in their quarters. 26 20:17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 27 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 28 20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20:20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; 29 the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 20:21 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated 30 Syria.
20:22 The prophet 31 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. 32 Determine 33 what you must do, for in the spring 34 the king of Syria will attack 35 you.”
1 Kings 20:2
Context20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 36
1 Kings 13:5
Context13:5 The altar split open and the ashes 37 fell from the altar to the ground, 38 in fulfillment of the sign the prophet had announced with the Lord’s authority. 39
[15:18] 1 tn Heb “King Asa sent it.”
[15:19] 2 tn Heb “[May there be] a covenant between me and you [as there was] between my father and your father.”
[15:19] 3 tn Heb “so he will go up from upon me.”
[15:20] 4 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of the armies which belonged to him against the cities of Israel.”
[15:20] 5 tn Heb “he struck down.”
[15:20] 6 tn Heb “and all Kinnereth together with all the land of Naphtali.”
[20:1] 7 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:1] 8 tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”
[20:2] 9 tn Heb “to the city.”
[20:6] 10 tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.”
[20:7] 12 tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.”
[20:8] 13 tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.”
[20:9] 14 tn Heb “all which you sent to your servant in the beginning I will do, but this thing I am unable to do.”
[20:10] 15 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[20:10] 16 tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”
[20:11] 17 sn The point of the saying is that someone who is still preparing for a battle should not boast as if he has already won the battle. A modern parallel would be, “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
[20:12] 18 tn Heb “When he heard this word.”
[20:12] 19 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:13] 20 tn Heb “this great horde.”
[20:14] 21 tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[20:14] 22 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 24 tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
[20:16] 25 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
[20:16] 26 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:17] 27 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:18] 28 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
[20:20] 29 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
[20:21] 30 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
[20:22] 31 tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).
[20:22] 32 tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”
[20:22] 33 tn Heb “know and see.”
[20:22] 34 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
[20:22] 35 tn Heb “go up against.”
[20:2] 36 tn Heb “to the city.”
[13:5] 37 tn Heb “the fat.” Reference is made to burnt wood mixed with fat. See HALOT 234 s.v. דשׁן.
[13:5] 38 tn Heb “were poured out from the altar.”
[13:5] 39 tn Heb “according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the
