1 Kings 20

All 43 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Benhadad king of Syria assembled his entire army, along with 32 allied kings and their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria, surrounded it, and attacked.
2. 2He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel with this message: "Benhadad says,
3. 3'Your silver and gold belong to me. Your wives and your best children are mine too.'"
4. 4The king of Israel replied, "As you say, my lord the king. I and everything I have are yours."
5. 5But the messengers came back again and said, "Benhadad says, 'I already sent word that you must hand over your silver, gold, wives, and children.
6. 6But now I'm also sending my officials to you tomorrow at this time. They will search your palace and the houses of your servants, and they will seize whatever they find valuable and carry it away.'"
7. 7Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, "Notice, I ask you, how this man seeks trouble: for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not refuse him."
8. 8All the elders and all the people told him, "Don't give in. Don't agree to this."
9. 9So Ahab told Benhadad's messengers, "Tell my lord the king: I will do everything you first demanded of me, but this new demand I cannot accept." The messengers left and carried his answer back to Benhadad.
10. 10Benhadad sent a message, saying, 'May the gods do so to me, and even more, if the dust of Samaria is enough to give each of my followers a handful.'
11. 11The king of Israel replied, "Tell him, a soldier putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off."
12. 12When Benhadad heard this reply — he was drinking with the other kings in their tents — he ordered his men, "Get into attack positions!" So they prepared to assault the city.
13. 13Just then, a prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, "This is what the LORD says: 'Do you see this massive army? I am going to hand them over to you today, and you will know that I am the LORD.'"
14. 14Ahab asked, "Through whom will you do this?" The prophet answered, "The LORD says, 'Through the young officers who serve the provincial commanders.'" Ahab asked, "Who should lead the attack?" The prophet replied, "You."
15. 15So Ahab assembled the young officers of the provincial commanders — 232 men. After them, he mustered the rest of the Israelite forces, totaling 7,000 soldiers.
16. 16They marched out at noon. Meanwhile, Benhadad and the 32 allied kings were getting drunk in their tents.
17. 17The young officers of the provincial commanders led the charge. Benhadad's scouts reported to him, "Men are coming out of Samaria."
18. 18He said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, capture them alive."
19. 19But the young officers marched out of the city with the full army right behind them.
20. 20Each man struck down his opponent. The Syrians broke and ran, and Israel chased them. Benhadad king of Syria barely escaped on horseback with some of his cavalry.
21. 21The king of Israel pressed the attack, destroying horses and chariots and inflicting devastating losses on the Syrians.
22. 22Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and pay attention to what you do, because the king of Syria will attack you again next spring."
23. 23And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, 'Their gods are gods of the hills; that's why they were stronger than us. But if we fight them on the plain, we will surely be stronger than they are.'
24. 24Do this: remove the kings, each one from his place, and put captains in their positions instead.
25. 25Then rebuild your army to match the one you lost — horse for horse, chariot for chariot. We'll fight them on the plains, and we'll definitely overpower them." Benhadad agreed and did exactly that.
26. 26The following spring, Benhadad mustered the Syrian army and marched to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27. 27The Israelites were counted and all present, and they went out to face them. The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of young goats, but the Syrians filled the countryside.
28. 28A man of God approached the king of Israel and said, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, I will hand this entire massive army over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'"
29. 29The two armies camped facing each other for 7 days. On the 7th day, the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in a single day.
30. 30The survivors fled to the city of Aphek, where a wall collapsed on 27,000 of the remaining men. Benhadad himself escaped into the city and hid in an inner room.
31. 31His servants said to him, "We've heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us wrap ourselves in sackcloth and put ropes around our heads, then go to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll spare your life."
32. 32So they wrapped sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads, then went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Benhadad begs you: please let me live." Ahab replied, "Is he still alive? He's like a brother to me."
33. 33The men were watching closely for any sign of hope, and they jumped on his words immediately: "Yes! Your brother Benhadad!" Ahab said, "Go get him and bring him to me." So Benhadad came out, and Ahab invited him up into his chariot.
34. 34Benhadad said to him, "I'll return the cities my father took from your father. You can make streets for yourself in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria." Ahab replied, "On those terms, I'll let you go." So he made a covenant with him and released him.
35. 35A man from the group of the prophets said to his neighbor at the LORD's command, "Hit me, please." But the man refused to hit him.
36. 36So the prophet told him, "Because you didn't obey the LORD's voice, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me." And sure enough, after the man walked away, a lion found him and killed him.
37. 37The prophet found another man and said, "Hit me, please." This man struck him hard enough to wound him.
38. 38Then the prophet went and waited for the king along the road, disguising himself by putting ashes upon his face.
39. 39As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him: "Your servant was in the thick of battle when a soldier brought me a prisoner and said, 'Guard this man! If he escapes, you'll pay with your life — or owe a talent of silver.'
40. 40But while I was busy with other things, the prisoner disappeared." The king of Israel said, "Well, you've pronounced your own sentence. That's your judgment."
41. 41The prophet quickly removed the ashes from his face, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42. 42The prophet said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because you let go of the man I appointed for utter destruction, your life will be taken for his life, and your people for his people.'"
43. 43The king of Israel headed home to Samaria, sullen and furious.