1 Kings 20:1-5

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  20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. ³  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.”

1 Kings 20:33-34

20:33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab ⁴  then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 20:34 Ben Hadad ⁵  said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets ⁶  in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” ⁷  Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” ⁸  So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.

[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.”

[20:2]  ³ tn Heb “to the city.”

[20:33]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:34]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:34]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[20:34]  ⁸ 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.”