1 Kings 20:13-21

The Lord Delivers Israel

20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? ¹  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?” ²  He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab ³  asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”

20:15 So Ahab ⁴  assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. ⁵  20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily ⁶  in their quarters. ⁷  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.” ⁸  20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” ⁹  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; ¹⁰  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 ¹¹  Syria.

[20:13]  ¹ tn Heb “this great horde.”

[20:14]  ² tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[20:14]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”

[20:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”

[20:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.

[20:17]  ⁸ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[20:18]  ⁹ tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”

[20:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “each struck down his man.”

[20:21]  ¹¹ tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”