1 Kings 20:14-22

20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” ¹  He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab ²  asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”

20:15 So Ahab ³  assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. ⁴  20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily ⁵  in their quarters. ⁶  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.” ⁷  20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” ⁸  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; ⁹  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 ¹⁰  Syria.

The Lord Gives Israel Another Victory

20:22 The prophet ¹¹  visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. ¹²  Determine ¹³  what you must do, for in the spring ¹⁴  the king of Syria will attack ¹⁵  you.”

[20:14]  ¹ tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[20:14]  ² tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”

[20:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”

[20:16]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.

[20:17]  ⁷ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[20:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”

[20:20]  ⁹ tn Heb “each struck down his man.”

[20:21]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”

[20:22]  ¹¹ tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).

[20:22]  ¹² tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”

[20:22]  ¹³ tn Heb “know and see.”

[20:22]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”

[20:22]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “go up against.”