1 Kings 20:9 Study Bible: Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, "Tell my lord the king, 'All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I cannot do.'" The messengers departed, and brought him back the message.

◄ 1 Kings 20:9 ►

So Ahab answered the messengers of Ben-hadad, "Tell my lord the king, 'All that you demanded of your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.'" So the messengers departed and relayed the message to Ben-hadad.

Study Bible

So he replied
This phrase indicates a response, a critical moment of decision. In the Hebrew text, the word for "replied" is often associated with a formal answer or declaration. This is not a casual conversation but a decisive moment where Ahab, the king of Israel, must stand firm against the demands of Ben-hadad, the king of Aram. It reflects the weight of leadership and the necessity of wisdom and courage in the face of oppression.

to the messengers of Ben-hadad
Messengers in ancient times were crucial for communication between kings and nations. They were the bearers of both peace and war. Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, represents a formidable enemy. Historically, Aram was a powerful kingdom, often in conflict with Israel. The use of messengers underscores the formal and serious nature of the communication, as well as the tension between the two nations.

Tell my lord the king
This phrase shows a level of respect and diplomacy. Despite the conflict, Ahab addresses Ben-hadad with a title of honor. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such language was customary, even when dealing with adversaries. It reflects the complex interplay of respect, politics, and strategy in royal communications.

Everything you demanded of your servant the first time I will do
Ahab acknowledges the initial demands, which he had agreed to. This reflects a strategic concession, possibly to buy time or to avoid immediate conflict. The term "your servant" is a diplomatic expression of subservience, often used to placate a more powerful ruler. It highlights the precarious position of Israel under Ahab's rule and the need for careful negotiation.

but this thing I cannot do
Here, Ahab draws a line, showing that there are limits to his concessions. The phrase "I cannot do" is a firm refusal, indicating that the new demands are unacceptable. This moment is pivotal, as it marks a shift from submission to resistance. It reflects the biblical theme of standing firm in one's convictions, even when under pressure.

So the messengers departed
The departure of the messengers signifies the end of this round of negotiations. It is a moment of suspense, as the outcome of Ahab's refusal is yet to be seen. In the biblical narrative, such departures often precede significant events, highlighting the tension and uncertainty in the unfolding story.

and relayed the message to Ben-hadad
The messengers faithfully deliver Ahab's response to Ben-hadad. This act of communication is crucial, as it sets the stage for the subsequent actions of both kings. In the biblical context, the relaying of messages often serves as a catalyst for divine intervention or judgment, reminding readers of the power of words and decisions in the unfolding of God's plan.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Ahab
The King of Israel during this time, known for his complex character and often criticized for his lack of faithfulness to God. In this verse, he is responding to a demand from Ben-hadad.

2. Ben-hadad
The King of Aram (Syria), who is making aggressive demands of Ahab, seeking to exert control over Israel.

3. Messengers
Representatives sent by Ben-hadad to deliver his demands to Ahab, and later to return with Ahab's response.

4. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, over which Ahab ruled. This event is part of the larger account of Israel's struggles with surrounding nations.

5. Aram (Syria)
A neighboring kingdom often in conflict with Israel, led by Ben-hadad during this period.

Teaching Points

Courage in Leadership
Ahab's refusal to comply with Ben-hadad's second demand demonstrates a moment of courage. Leaders today can learn the importance of standing firm in their convictions, even under pressure.

Discernment in Decision-Making
Ahab's initial willingness to comply with the first demand but refusal of the second shows the need for discernment. Believers should seek God's wisdom in making decisions, especially when faced with difficult choices.

The Role of Faith
While Ahab's faith is often questioned, this passage highlights the importance of relying on God rather than succumbing to fear. Trusting in God's sovereignty can empower believers to resist unjust demands.

The Power of Words
Ahab's response to Ben-hadad's messengers underscores the significance of our words. As Christians, we should be mindful of how we communicate, ensuring our words reflect our values and beliefs.

God's Sovereignty in Conflict
This account reminds us that God is in control, even in times of conflict. Believers can find peace in knowing that God oversees the affairs of nations and individuals alike.

Bible Study Questions

1. What can we learn from Ahab's response to Ben-hadad about handling pressure and demands from others?

2. How does Ahab's decision in 1 Kings 20:9 reflect the importance of discernment in leadership? Can you think of a New Testament example that emphasizes discernment?

3. In what ways does this passage encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty during times of conflict or uncertainty?

4. How can Proverbs 29:25 and James 4:7 provide guidance for believers facing similar situations of pressure or intimidation?

5. Reflect on a time when you had to stand firm in your convictions. How did your faith influence your decision, and what was the outcome?

Connections to Other Scriptures

1 Kings 20:1-8
Provides context for Ahab's response, detailing Ben-hadad's initial demands and Ahab's willingness to comply with the first set of demands.

2 Kings 6:8-23
Another instance of conflict between Israel and Aram, showing the ongoing tension and God's intervention on behalf of Israel.

Proverbs 29:25
Relates to the fear of man versus trust in God, relevant to Ahab's decision-making process.

James 4:7
Encourages believers to resist evil, which can be seen in Ahab's refusal to comply with Ben-hadad's second demand.

Sermons

The Spirit of War	J.A. Macdonald	1 Kings 20:1-11
Veiled Mercies	J. Urquhart	1 Kings 20:1-21

People

Ahab, Aram, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Hadad, Israelites, Syrians

Places

Aphek, Damascus, Samaria, Syria

Topics

Able, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Ben-ha'dad, Ben-hadad's, Demand, Demanded, Departed, Hadad, Meet, Message, Messengers, Orders, Representatives, Servant, Wherefore

Dictionary of Bible Themes

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

Links

1 Kings 20:9 NIV
1 Kings 20:9 NLT
1 Kings 20:9 ESV
1 Kings 20:9 NASB
1 Kings 20:9 KJV

1 Kings 20:9 Commentaries

Bible Hub