Discovery Box1 Kings 16:21--22:40
Context16:21 At that time the people of Israel were divided in their loyalties. Half the people supported Tibni son of Ginath and wanted to make him king; the other half supported Omri. 16:22 Omri’s supporters were stronger than those who supported Tibni son of Ginath. Tibni died; Omri became king.
16:23 In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 16:24 He purchased the hill of Samaria 1 from Shemer for two talents 2 of silver. He launched a construction project there 3 and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria. 16:25 Omri did more evil in the sight of 4 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:26 He followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat and encouraged Israel to sin; 5 they angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. 6
16:27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 7 16:28 Omri passed away 8 and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab replaced him as king. 9
16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri’s son Ahab became king over Israel. Ahab son of Omri ruled over Israel for twenty-two years in Samaria. 10 16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of 11 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:31 As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal. 12 16:32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. 16:33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he 13 did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
16:34 During Ahab’s reign, 14 Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. 15 Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; 16 Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, 17 just as the Lord had warned 18 through Joshua son of Nun. 19
17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve), 20 there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.” 21 17:2 The Lord told him: 22 17:3 “Leave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. 17:4 Drink from the stream; I have already told 23 the ravens to bring you food 24 there.” 17:5 So he did 25 as the Lord told him; he went and lived in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. 17:6 The ravens would bring him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he would drink from the stream.
17:7 After a while, 26 the stream dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 17:8 The Lord told him, 27 17:9 “Get up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already told 28 a widow who lives there to provide for you.” 17:10 So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he went through the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. He called out to her, “Please give me a cup 29 of water, so I can take a drink.” 17:11 As she went to get it, he called out to her, “Please bring me a piece of bread.” 30 17:12 She said, “As certainly as the Lord your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then I’m going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation.” 31 17:13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you planned. 32 But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son. 17:14 For this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the Lord makes it rain on the surface of the ground.’” 17:15 She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. 33 17:16 The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised 34 through Elijah.
17:17 After this 35 the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe. 17:18 She asked Elijah, “Why, prophet, have you come 36 to me to confront me with 37 my sin and kill my son?” 17:19 He said to her, “Hand me your son.” He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him down on his bed. 17:20 Then he called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?” 17:21 He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, please let this boy’s breath return to him.” 17:22 The Lord answered Elijah’s prayer; the boy’s breath returned to him and he lived. 17:23 Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room to the house, and handed him to his mother. Elijah then said, “See, your son is alive!” 17:24 The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a prophet and that the Lord really does speak through you.” 38
18:1 Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the Lord told Elijah, 39 “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” 18:2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 40 18:3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord. 41 18:4 When Jezebel was killing 42 the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) 18:5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas 43 so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill 44 some of the animals.” 18:6 They divided up the land between them; Ahab went 45 one way and Obadiah went the other.
18:7 As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. 46 When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” 18:8 He replied, “Yes, 47 go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’” 48 18:9 Obadiah 49 said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution? 50 18:10 As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them 51 swear an oath that they could not find you. 18:11 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’ 52 18:12 But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. 53 If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. 54 That would not be fair, 55 because your servant has been a loyal follower of 56 the Lord from my youth. 18:13 Certainly my master is aware of what I did 57 when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. 18:14 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’ 58 but he will kill me.” 18:15 But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord who rules over all 59 lives (whom I serve), 60 I will make an appearance before him today.”
18:16 When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah. 61 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he 62 said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster 63 on Israel?” 18:18 Elijah 64 replied, “I have not brought disaster 65 on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals. 18:19 Now send out messengers 66 and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports. 67
18:20 Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel. 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? 68 If the Lord is the true God, 69 then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word. 18:22 Elijah said to them: 70 “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 18:23 Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire. 18:24 Then you 71 will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” 72 All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.” 73
18:25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.” 74 18:26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, 75 and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped 76 around on the altar they had made. 77 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” 78 18:28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, 79 mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood. 80 18:29 Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, 81 but there was no sound, no answer, and no response. 82
18:30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 83 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new 84 name.” 85 18:32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. 86 Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs 87 of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, 88 he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 18:35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, 89 Elijah the prophet approached the altar 90 and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove 91 today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God 92 and that you are winning back their allegiance.” 93 18:38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky. 94 It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. 18:39 When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God! 95 The Lord is the true God!” 18:40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed 96 them there.
18:41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.” 97 18:42 So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees. 18:43 He told his servant, “Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” 98 Seven times Elijah sent him to look. 99 18:44 The seventh time the servant 100 said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah 101 then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’” 102 18:45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward 103 Jezreel. 18:46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power; 104 he tucked his robe into his belt 105 and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 19:2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, 106 “May the gods judge me severely 107 if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!” 108
19:3 Elijah was afraid, 109 so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 19:4 while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub 110 and asked the Lord to take his life: 111 “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.” 112 19:5 He stretched out 113 and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messenger 114 touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 19:6 He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more. 115 19:7 The Lord’s angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.” 116 19:8 So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
19:9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 117 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 118 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 119 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 120 19:11 The Lord 121 said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, 122 but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 19:12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. 123 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden 124 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 125 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 126 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 127 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 128 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 19:16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 19:17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 19:18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” 129
19:19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. 19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah 130 said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 131 went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. 132 He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
20:1 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 133 and besieged and attacked it. 134 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 135 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.” 136 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders 137 of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. 138 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.” 139 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.’” 140 So the messengers went back and gave their report.
20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely 141 if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 142 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.” 143 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, 144 he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. 145 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? 146 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?” 147 He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab 148 asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
20:15 So Ahab 149 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 150 20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 151 in their quarters. 152 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.” 153 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 154 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; 155 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 156 Syria.
20:22 The prophet 157 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. 158 Determine 159 what you must do, for in the spring 160 the king of Syria will attack 161 you.” 20:23 Now the advisers 162 of the king of Syria said to him: “Their God is a god of the mountains. That’s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. 20:24 So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders. 20:25 Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots. 163 Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.” He approved their plan and did as they advised. 164
20:26 In the spring 165 Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army 166 and marched to Aphek to fight Israel. 167 20:27 When the Israelites had mustered and had received their supplies, they marched out to face them in battle. When the Israelites deployed opposite them, they were like two small flocks 168 of goats, but the Syrians filled the land. 20:28 The prophet 169 visited the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Syrians said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,” I will hand over to you this entire huge army. 170 Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
20:29 The armies were deployed opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day. 20:30 The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. 171 Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room. 172 20:31 His advisers 173 said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. 174 Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads 175 and surrender 176 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 servant 177 Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab 178 replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 179 20:33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab 180 then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 20:34 Ben Hadad 181 said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets 182 in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” 183 Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” 184 So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.
20:35 One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, “Wound me!” 185 But the man refused to wound him. 20:36 So the prophet 186 said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. 20:37 He found another man and said, “Wound me!” So the man wounded him severely. 187 20:38 The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes. 20:39 When the king passed by, he called out to the king, “Your servant went out into the heat 188 of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner. 189 He told me, ‘Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason, 190 you will pay with your life or with a talent 191 of silver.’ 192 20:40 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him, “Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.” 193 20:41 The prophet 194 quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. 20:42 The prophet 195 then said to him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.’” 196 20:43 The king of Israel went home to Samaria 197 bitter and angry.
21:1 After this the following episode took place. 198 Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 199 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, 200 I will pay you silver for it.” 201 21:3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.” 202
21:4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, 203 “I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.” 204 He lay down on his bed, pouted, 205 and would not eat. 21:5 Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, “Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?” 21:6 He answered her, “While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’” 206 21:7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “You are the king of Israel! 207 Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. 208 I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
21:8 She wrote out orders, 209 signed Ahab’s name to them, 210 and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders 211 to the leaders 212 and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. 213 21:9 This is what she wrote: 214 “Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 21:10 Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
21:11 The men of the 215 city, the leaders 216 and the nobles who lived there, 217 followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them. 218 21:12 They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 21:13 The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him 219 outside the city and stoned him to death. 220 21:14 Then they reported to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 221
21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she 222 said to Ahab, “Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he’s dead.” 21:16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, 223 he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
21:17 The Lord told Elijah the Tishbite: 224 21:18 “Get up, go down and meet King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it. 21:19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Haven’t you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?”’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood they will also lick up your blood – yes, yours!”’”
21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, 225 “So, you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah 226 replied, “I have found you, because you are committed 227 to doing evil in the sight of 228 the Lord. 21:21 The Lord says, 229 ‘Look, I am ready to bring disaster 230 on you. I will destroy you 231 and cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. 232 21:22 I will make your dynasty 233 like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah because you angered me and made Israel sin.’ 234 21:23 The Lord says this about Jezebel, ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the outer wall 235 of Jezreel.’ 21:24 As for Ahab’s family, dogs will eat the ones 236 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.” 21:25 (There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed 237 to doing evil in the sight of 238 the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. 239 21:26 He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, 240 just like the Amorites 241 whom the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.)
21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 21:28 The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 242 21:29 “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse 243 before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.” 244
22:1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years. 245 22:2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit 246 the king of Israel. 22:3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.” 247 22:4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.” 248 22:5 Then Jehoshaphat added, 249 “First seek an oracle from the Lord.” 250 22:6 So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” 251 They said, “Attack! The sovereign one 252 will hand it over to the king.” 22:7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?” 22:8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. 253 But I despise 254 him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. 255 Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things.” 22:9 The king of Israel summoned an official and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
22:10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, 256 dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. 257 All the prophets were prophesying before them. 22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed.’” 22:12 All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 22:13 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. 258 Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success.” 259 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say.”
22:15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 260 22:16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in 261 the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?” 22:17 Micaiah 262 said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’” 22:18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?” 22:19 Micaiah 263 said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. 22:20 The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die 264 there?’ One said this and another that. 22:21 Then a spirit 265 stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ 22:22 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord 266 said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. 267 Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 22:23 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 22:24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 22:25 Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 22:26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 22:27 Say, ‘This is what the king says, “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water 268 until I safely return.”’” 269 22:28 Micaiah said, “If you really do safely return, then the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take note, 270 all you people.”
22:29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead. 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter 271 into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle. 22:31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers; 272 fight only the king of Israel.” 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 22:33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 22:34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random, 273 and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king 274 ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line, 275 because I’m wounded.” 22:35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot. 22:36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.” 22:37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him. 276 22:38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed); 277 dogs licked his blood, just as the Lord had said would happen. 278
22:39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 279 22:40 Ahab passed away. 280 His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.
[16:24] 1 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[16:24] 2 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 150 pounds of silver.
[16:24] 3 tn Heb “he built up the hill.”
[16:25] 4 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[16:26] 5 tn Heb “walked in all the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
[16:26] 6 tn Heb “angering the
[16:27] 7 tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his strength which he demonstrated, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[16:28] 8 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[16:28] 9 tc The Old Greek has eight additional verses here. Cf. 1 Kgs 22:41-44.
[16:29] 10 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[16:30] 11 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[16:31] 12 tn Heb “and he went and served Baal and bowed down to him.”
[16:33] 13 tn Heb “Ahab”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[16:34] 14 tn Heb “in his days.”
[16:34] 15 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[16:34] 16 tn Heb “with Abiram, his firstborn, he founded it.”
[16:34] 17 tn Heb “with Segub, his youngest, he set up its gates.”
[16:34] 18 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[16:34] 19 sn Warned through Joshua son of Nun. For the background to this statement, see Josh 6:26, where Joshua pronounces a curse on the one who dares to rebuild Jericho. Here that curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by God through Joshua.
[17:1] 20 tn Heb “before whom I stand.”
[17:1] 21 tn Heb “except at the command of my word.”
[17:2] 22 tn Heb “and the word of the
[17:4] 24 tn Heb “to provide for you.”
[17:5] 25 tn Heb “So he went and did.”
[17:7] 26 tn Heb “And it came about at the end of days.”
[17:8] 27 tn Heb “And the word of the
[17:9] 28 tn Heb “Look, I have commanded.”
[17:11] 30 tn The Hebrew text also includes the phrase “in your hand.”
[17:12] 31 tn Heb “Look, I am gathering two sticks and then I will go and make it for me and my son and we will eat it and we will die.”
[17:13] 32 tn Heb “according to your word.”
[17:15] 33 tn Heb “and she ate, she and he and her house [for] days.”
[17:16] 34 tn Heb “out, according to the word of the
[17:17] 35 tn Heb “after these things.”
[17:18] 36 tn Heb “What to me and to you, man of God, that you have come.”
[17:18] 37 tn Heb “to make me remember.”
[17:24] 38 tn Heb “you are a man of God and the word of the
[18:1] 39 tn Heb “the word of the
[18:2] 40 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[18:3] 41 tn Heb “now Obadiah greatly feared the
[18:4] 42 tn Heb “cutting off.”
[18:5] 44 tn Heb “to cut off.”
[18:6] 45 tn The Hebrew text has “alone” here and again in reference to Obadiah toward the end of the verse.
[18:7] 46 tn Heb “look, Elijah [came] to meet him.”
[18:8] 48 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:9] 49 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Obadiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:9] 50 tn Heb “to kill me.”
[18:10] 51 tn Heb “he makes the kingdom or the nation swear an oath.”
[18:11] 52 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:12] 53 tn Heb “to [a place] which I do not know.”
[18:12] 54 tn Heb “and I will go to inform Ahab and he will not find you and he will kill me.”
[18:12] 55 tn The words “that would not be fair” are added to clarify the logic of Obadiah’s argument.
[18:12] 56 tn Heb “has feared the
[18:13] 57 tn Heb “Has it not been told to my master what I did…?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “Of course it has!”
[18:14] 58 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:15] 59 tn Traditionally, “the
[18:15] 60 tn Heb “(before whom I stand).”
[18:16] 61 tn Heb “Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.”
[18:18] 64 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:19] 66 tn The word “messengers” is supplied in the translation both here and in v. 20 for clarification.
[18:19] 67 tn Heb “who eat at the table of Jezebel.”
[18:21] 68 tn Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?” (see HALOT 762 s.v. סְעִפִּים). In context this idiomatic expression refers to indecision rather than physical disability.
[18:22] 70 tn Heb “to the people.”
[18:24] 71 tn Elijah now directly addresses the prophets.
[18:24] 73 tn Heb “The matter [i.e., proposal] is good [i.e., acceptable].”
[18:25] 74 tc The last sentence of v. 25 is absent in the Syriac Peshitta.
[18:26] 75 tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.”
[18:26] 76 tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21).
[18:26] 77 tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew
[18:27] 78 sn Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets.
[18:28] 79 tn Or “as was their custom.”
[18:28] 80 tn Heb “until blood poured out on them.”
[18:29] 81 tn Heb “when noon passed they prophesied until the offering up of the offering.”
[18:29] 82 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta include the following words here: “When it was time to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Tishbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations: ‘Stand aside for the time being, and I will offer my burnt offering.’ So they stood aside and departed.”
[18:30] 83 sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people.
[18:31] 84 tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text.
[18:31] 85 sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10.
[18:32] 86 tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the
[18:32] 87 tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts.
[18:34] 88 tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[18:36] 89 tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.”
[18:36] 90 tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[18:36] 91 tn Heb “let it be known.”
[18:37] 93 tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”
[18:38] 94 tn The words “from the sky” are added for stylistic reasons.
[18:39] 95 tn Heb “the God” (the phrase occurs twice in this verse).
[18:40] 96 tn Or “slaughtered.”
[18:41] 97 tn Heb “for [there is] the sound of the roar of the rain.”
[18:43] 98 sn So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Several times in this chapter those addressed by Elijah obey his orders. In vv. 20 and 42 Ahab does as instructed, in vv. 26 and 28 the prophets follow Elijah’s advice, and in vv. 30, 34, 40 and 43 the people and servants do as they are told. By juxtaposing Elijah’s commands with accounts of those commands being obeyed, the narrator emphasizes the authority of the
[18:43] 99 tn Heb “He said, ‘Return,’ seven times.”
[18:44] 100 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:44] 101 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:44] 102 tn Heb “so that the rain won’t restrain you.”
[18:45] 103 tn Heb “rode and went to.”
[18:46] 104 tn Heb “and the hand of the
[18:46] 105 tn Heb “and girded up his loins.” The idea is that of gathering up the robes and tucking them into the sash or belt so that they do not get in the way of the legs when running (or working or fighting).
[19:2] 107 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[19:2] 108 tn Heb “I do not make your life like the life of one of them.”
[19:3] 109 tc The MT has “and he saw,” but some medieval Hebrew
[19:4] 110 tn Or “broom tree” (also in v. 5).
[19:4] 111 tn Heb “and asked with respect to his life to die.”
[19:5] 114 tn Heb “Look, a messenger.”
[19:6] 115 tn Heb “and again lay down”
[19:7] 116 tn Heb “for the journey is too great for you.”
[19:10] 117 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
[19:10] 118 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
[19:10] 119 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
[19:10] 120 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
[19:11] 121 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[19:11] 122 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
[19:12] 123 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
[19:14] 125 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
[19:14] 126 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
[19:14] 127 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
[19:14] 128 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
[19:18] 129 tn Heb “I have kept in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and all the mouths that have not kissed him.”
[19:20] 130 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 131 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 132 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”
[20:1] 133 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:1] 134 tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”
[20:2] 135 tn Heb “to the city.”
[20:6] 136 tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.”
[20:7] 138 tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.”
[20:8] 139 tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.”
[20:9] 140 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] 141 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[20:10] 142 tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”
[20:11] 143 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] 144 tn Heb “When he heard this word.”
[20:12] 145 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:13] 146 tn Heb “this great horde.”
[20:14] 147 tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[20:14] 148 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 149 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 150 tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
[20:16] 151 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
[20:16] 152 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:17] 153 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:18] 154 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
[20:20] 155 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
[20:21] 156 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
[20:22] 157 tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).
[20:22] 158 tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”
[20:22] 159 tn Heb “know and see.”
[20:22] 160 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
[20:22] 161 tn Heb “go up against.”
[20:25] 163 tn Heb “And you, you muster an army like the one that fell from you, horse like horse and chariot like chariot.”
[20:25] 164 tn Heb “he listened to their voice and did so.”
[20:26] 165 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
[20:26] 166 tn Heb “mustered Aram.”
[20:26] 167 tn Heb “and went up to Aphek for battle with Israel.”
[20:27] 168 tn The noun translated “small flocks” occurs only here. The common interpretation derives the word from the verbal root חשׂף, “to strip off; to make bare.” In this case the noun refers to something “stripped off” or “made bare.” HALOT 359 s.v. II חשׂף derives the noun from a proposed homonymic verbal root (which occurs only in Ps 29:9) meaning “cause a premature birth.” In this case the derived noun could refer to goats that are undersized because they are born prematurely.
[20:28] 169 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[20:28] 170 tn Heb “I will place all this great horde in your hand.”
[20:30] 171 tn Heb “and the remaining ones fled to Aphek to the city and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men, the ones who remained.”
[20:30] 172 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, [into] an inner room in an inner room.”
[20:31] 174 tn 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.
[20:31] 175 sn 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.
[20:32] 177 sn 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.
[20:32] 178 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:32] 179 sn He is my brother. Ahab’s response indicates that he wants to make a parity treaty and treat Ben Hadad as an equal partner.
[20:33] 180 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:34] 181 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:34] 182 tn Heb “streets,” but this must refer to streets set up with stalls for merchants to sell their goods. See HALOT 299 s.v. חוּץ.
[20:34] 183 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:34] 184 tn Heb “I will send you away with a treaty.” The words “Ahab then said” are supplied in the translation. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate that the speaker has changed from Ben Hadad to Ahab. Some suggest adding “and he said” before “I will send you away.” Others prefer to maintain Ben Hadad as the speaker and change the statement to, “Please send me away with a treaty.”
[20:35] 185 tn Heb “Now a man from the sons of the prophets said to his companion by the word of the
[20:36] 186 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:37] 187 tn Heb “and the man wounded him, wounding and bruising.”
[20:39] 189 tn Heb “man” (also a second time later in this verse).
[20:39] 190 tn Heb “if being missed, he is missed.” The emphatic infinitive absolute before the finite verbal form lends solemnity to the warning.
[20:39] 191 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 75 pounds of silver.
[20:39] 192 tn Heb “your life will be in place of his life, or a unit of silver you will pay.”
[20:40] 193 tn Heb “so [i.e., in accordance with his testimony] is your judgment, you have determined [it].”
[20:41] 194 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:42] 195 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:42] 196 tn Heb “Because you sent away the man of my destruction [i.e., that I determined should be destroyed] from [my/your?] hand, your life will be in place of his life, and your people in place of his people.”
[20:43] 197 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[21:1] 198 tn Heb “after these things.” The words “the following episode took place” are added for stylistic reasons.
[21:1] 199 sn King Ahab of Samaria. Samaria, as the capital of the northern kingdom, here stands for the nation of Israel.
[21:2] 200 tn Heb “if it is good in your eyes.”
[21:2] 201 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it will be mine as a garden of herbs.”
[21:3] 202 tn Heb “Far be it from me, by the
[21:4] 203 tn Heb “on account of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite spoke to him.”
[21:4] 204 tn Heb “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.”
[21:4] 205 tn Heb “turned away his face.”
[21:6] 206 tn Heb “While I was talking…, I said…, he said….” Ahab’s explanation is one lengthy sentence in the Hebrew text, which is divided in the English translation for stylistic reasons.
[21:7] 207 tn Heb “You, now, you are exercising kingship over Israel.”
[21:7] 208 tn Heb “so your heart [i.e., disposition] might be well.”
[21:8] 210 tn Heb “in the name of Ahab.”
[21:8] 213 tn Heb “to the nobles who were in his city, the ones who lived with Naboth.”
[21:9] 214 tn Heb “she wrote on the scrolls, saying.”
[21:11] 217 tn Heb “and the nobles who were living in his city.”
[21:11] 218 tn Heb “did as Jezebel sent to them, just as was written in the scrolls which she sent to them.”
[21:13] 220 tn Heb “and they stoned him with stones and he died.”
[21:14] 221 tn Heb “Naboth was stoned and he died.” So also in v. 15.
[21:15] 222 tn Heb “Jezebel”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“she”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[21:16] 223 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words here: “he tore his garments and put on sackcloth. After these things.”
[21:17] 224 tn Heb “the word of the
[21:20] 225 tn Heb “and Ahab said to Elijah.” The narrative is elliptical and streamlined. The words “when Elijah arrived” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[21:20] 226 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[21:20] 227 tn Heb “you have sold yourself.”
[21:20] 228 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[21:21] 229 tn The introductory formula “the
[21:21] 230 sn Disaster. There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word translated “disaster” (רָעָה, ra’ah) is similar to the word translated “evil” (v. 20, הָרַע, hara’). Ahab’s sins would receive an appropriate punishment.
[21:21] 231 tn Heb “I will burn after you.” Some take the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean here “sweep away.” See the discussion of this verb in the notes at 14:10 and 16:3.
[21:21] 232 tn Heb “and I will cut off from Ahab those who urinate against a wall, [including both those who are] restrained and let free [or “abandoned”] in Israel.” The precise meaning of the idiomatic phrase עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (’atsur vÿ’azuv, translated here “weak and incapacitated”) is uncertain. For various options see HALOT 871 s.v. עצר and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 107. The two terms are usually taken as polar opposites (“slaves and freemen” or “minors and adults”), but Cogan and Tadmor, on the basis of contextual considerations (note the usage with אֶפֶס (’efes), “nothing but”) in Deut 32:36 and 2 Kgs 14:26, argue convincingly that the terms are synonyms, meaning “restrained and abandoned,” and refer to incapable or incapacitated individuals.
[21:22] 234 tn Heb “because of the provocation by which you angered [me], and you caused Israel to sin.”
[21:23] 235 tc A few Hebrew
[21:24] 236 tn “Dogs will eat the ones who belonging to Ahab who die in the city.”
[21:25] 237 tn Heb “who sold himself.”
[21:25] 238 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[21:25] 239 tn Heb “like Ahab…whom his wife Jezebel incited.”
[21:26] 240 tn The Hebrew word used here, גִלּוּלִים (gillulim) is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless things”) and הֲבָלִים (havalim, “vanities” or “empty winds”).
[21:26] 241 tn Heb “He acted very abominably by walking after the disgusting idols, according to all which the Amorites had done.”
[21:28] 242 tn Heb “the word of the
[21:29] 243 tn Or “humbles himself.” The expression occurs a second time later in this verse.
[21:29] 244 tn Heb “I will not bring the disaster during his days, [but] in the days of his son I will bring the disaster on his house.”
[22:1] 245 tn Heb “and they lived three years without war between Aram and Israel.”
[22:2] 246 tn The word “visit” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[22:3] 247 tn Heb “Do you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we hesitate to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course, you must know!”
[22:4] 248 tn Heb “Like me, like you; like my people, like your people; like my horses; like your horses.”
[22:5] 249 tn Heb “and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel.”
[22:5] 250 tn Heb “the word of the
[22:6] 251 tn Heb “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead for war or should I refrain?”
[22:6] 252 tn Though Jehoshaphat requested an oracle from “the
[22:8] 253 tn Heb “to seek the
[22:8] 255 tn The words “his name is” are supplied for stylistic reasons.
[22:10] 256 tn Heb “were sitting, a man on his throne.”
[22:10] 257 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[22:13] 258 tn Heb “the words of the prophets are [with] one mouth good for the king.”
[22:13] 259 tn Heb “let your words be like the word of each of them and speak good.”
[22:15] 260 sn “Attack! You will succeed; the
[22:16] 261 tn Or “swear an oath by.”
[22:17] 262 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[22:19] 263 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[22:20] 264 tn Heb “and fall.”
[22:21] 265 tn Heb “the spirit.” The significance of the article prefixed to רוּחַ (ruakh) is uncertain, but it could contain a clue as to this spirit’s identity, especially when interpreted in light of v. 24. It is certainly possible, and probably even likely, that the article is used in a generic or dramatic sense and should be translated, “a spirit.” In the latter case it would show that this spirit was vivid and definite in the mind of Micaiah the storyteller. However, if one insists that the article indicates a well-known or universally known spirit, the following context provides a likely referent. Verse 24 tells how Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and then asked sarcastically, “Which way did the spirit from the
[22:22] 266 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[22:22] 267 tn The Hebrew text has two imperfects connected by וְגַם (vÿgam). These verbs could be translated as specific futures, “you will deceive and also you will prevail,” in which case the
[22:27] 268 tn Heb “the bread of affliction and the water of affliction.”
[22:27] 269 tn Heb “come in peace.” So also in v. 28.
[22:30] 271 tn The Hebrew verbal forms could be imperatives (“Disguise yourself and enter”), but this would make no sense in light of the immediately following context. The forms are better interpreted as infinitives absolute functioning as cohortatives. See IBHS 594 §35.5.2a. Some prefer to emend the forms to imperfects.
[22:31] 272 tn Heb “small or great.”
[22:34] 273 tn Heb “now a man drew a bow in his innocence” (i.e., with no specific target in mind, or at least without realizing his target was the king of Israel).
[22:34] 274 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[22:37] 276 tn Heb “and the king died and he came to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.”
[22:38] 277 tn Heb “now the prostitutes bathed.”
[22:38] 278 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[22:39] 279 tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the house of ivory which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
