◄ 1 Kings 20:8 ►
And the elders and the people all said, "Do not listen to him or consent to his terms."
Study Bible
And all the elders
The term "elders" in the Hebrew context refers to the leaders or senior figures within the community, often those with wisdom and experience. In ancient Israel, elders played a crucial role in decision-making and governance. Their involvement here signifies the gravity of the situation and the collective wisdom being applied. The elders' presence underscores the importance of seeking counsel from those who are spiritually mature and experienced in the faith.

and the people
This phrase indicates the inclusion of the broader community in the decision-making process. In theocratic Israel, the people were often involved in significant decisions, reflecting a communal approach to leadership. This highlights the biblical principle of unity and collective discernment in facing challenges, emphasizing that God's guidance often comes through the community of believers.

said to him
The act of speaking to the king, Ahab, shows the boldness and responsibility of the elders and the people. In a time when kings held significant power, it was crucial for the leaders and the community to voice their convictions. This reflects the biblical theme of speaking truth to power and the importance of righteous counsel in leadership.

Do not listen to him
This directive is a call to resist the demands of Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. The phrase "do not listen" implies a rejection of external pressures that contradict God's will. It serves as a reminder to believers to discern and reject worldly influences that seek to lead them away from God's purposes.

or consent to his terms
The word "consent" involves agreement or compliance. In this context, it refers to the potential submission to unjust demands. The refusal to consent highlights the importance of standing firm in faith and integrity, even when faced with intimidation or coercion. It encourages believers to remain steadfast in their convictions, trusting in God's sovereignty and protection.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ahab
The King of Israel during this time, known for his weak leadership and idolatry, often influenced by his wife Jezebel.

2. Ben-Hadad
The King of Aram (Syria), who besieged Samaria and demanded tribute from Ahab.

3. Elders of Israel
The leaders and advisors in Israel who counseled Ahab against yielding to Ben-Hadad's demands.

4. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where this event takes place.

5. The Siege
Ben-Hadad's military action against Samaria, which sets the stage for the confrontation and counsel given to Ahab.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly Counsel
Seeking advice from wise and godly individuals can provide clarity and direction, especially in times of crisis.

Courage to Stand Firm
Ahab's initial response to Ben-Hadad's demands shows the need for courage and conviction in the face of intimidation.

Discernment in Leadership
Leaders must discern between wise counsel and pressure to conform to ungodly demands.

Community Support
The role of the community, represented by the elders, is crucial in supporting leaders to make righteous decisions.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Despite the threat, trusting in God's plan and provision is essential for overcoming fear and making righteous decisions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the counsel of the elders in 1 Kings 20:8 reflect the biblical principle of seeking wise advice, and how can we apply this in our daily decision-making?

2. In what ways does Ahab's response to Ben-Hadad's demands challenge us to stand firm in our convictions today?

3. How can we discern between godly counsel and worldly advice in our own lives, and what scriptures can guide us in this process?

4. What role does community play in supporting leaders, both in biblical times and in our current context?

5. How can we cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty when facing intimidating or challenging situations?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 21
Ahab's character and further actions, including his dealings with Naboth's vineyard, show his continued moral and spiritual struggles.

Proverbs 11:14
Highlights the importance of wise counsel, as seen in the elders advising Ahab.

2 Chronicles 18
Another instance where Ahab seeks counsel, illustrating the importance of discerning true prophetic voices.

Exodus 18:13-27
Jethro's advice to Moses about the value of wise counsel and shared leadership.

Proverbs 15:22
Emphasizes the success that comes from seeking and heeding wise counsel.
Sermons
The Spirit of WarJ.A. Macdonald 1 Kings 20:1-11
Veiled MerciesJ. Urquhart 1 Kings 20:1-21
People
Ahab, Aram, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Hadad, Israelites, Syrians
Places
Aphek, Damascus, Samaria, Syria
Topics
Agree, Attention, Consent, Demands, Elders, Hearken, Heed, Listen, Responsible, Says
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 20:8

     5834   disagreement

1 Kings 20:2-9

     5594   tribute

Library
The Lost Opportunity
TEXT: "And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it."--1 Kings 20:40. There is a very striking incident connected with this text. The great battle is raging, a certain important prisoner has been taken, and if you read between the lines you seem to know that upon him depend many of the issues of war. His skill in leading the enemy had been marvelous, his courage in the thick of the fight striking; …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Putting on the Armour
And the king of Israel answered and said. Tell him. Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.'--1 KINGS xx. 11. For the Young. Ahab, King of Israel, was but a poor creature, and, like most weak characters, he turned out a wicked one, because he found that there were more temptations to do wrong than inducements to do right. Like other weak people, too, he was torn asunder by the influence of stronger wills. On the one side he had a termagant of a wife, stirring …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress.
(Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col. 577.) To our most religious and most serene princes, Constantine and Irene his mother. Tarasius, the unworthy bishop of your God-protected royal city, new Rome, and all the holy Council which met at the good pleasure of God and upon the command of your Christ-loving majesty in the renowned metropolis of Nice, the second council to assemble in this city. Christ our God (who is the head of the Church) was glorified, most noble princes, when your heart, …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

Nature of the Renderings
From the text we now turn to the renderings, and to the general principles that were followed, both in the Old and in the New Testament. The revision of the English text was in each case subject to the same general rule, viz. "To introduce as few alterations as possible into the Text of the Authorised Version consistently with faithfulness"; but, owing to the great difference between the two languages, the Hebrew and the Greek, the application of the rule was necessarily different, and the results …
C. J. Ellicott—Addresses on the Revised Version of Holy Scripture

The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness, and when Thou Art Called to Die in the Lord.
As soon as thou perceivest thyself to be visited with any sickness, meditate with thyself: 1. That "misery cometh not forth of the dust; neither doth affliction spring out of the earth." Sickness comes not by hap or chance (as the Philistines supposed that their mice and emrods came, 1 Sam. vi. 9), but from man's wickedness, which, as sparkles, breaketh out. "Man suffereth," saith Jeremiah, "for his sins." "Fools," saith David, "by reason of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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