1 Kings 20:1

Ben Hadad Invades Israel

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 ¹  and besieged and attacked it. ² 

1 Kings 20:9-10

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.’” ³  So the messengers went back and gave their report.

20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely ⁴  if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” ⁵ 

1 Kings 20:30

20:30 The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. ⁶  Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room. ⁷ 

1 Kings 20:32

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 ⁸  Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab ⁹  replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” ¹⁰ 

[20:1]  ¹ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[20:1]  ² tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”

[20:9]  ³ 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]  ⁵ tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”

[20:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”

[20:30]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ tn Heb “and Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, [into] an inner room in an inner room.”

[20:32]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:32]  ¹¹ 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.