Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.” New Living Translation “Take them alive,” Ben-hadad commanded, “whether they have come for peace or for war.” English Standard Version He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” Berean Standard Bible “If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.” Berean Literal Bible And he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. And if they have come out for war, take them alive.” King James Bible And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. New King James Version So he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive.” New American Standard Bible Then he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well.” NASB 1995 Then he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” NASB 1977 Then he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” Legacy Standard Bible Then he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” Amplified Bible And he said, “Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive.” Berean Annotated Bible “If they have marched out in peace, he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive. Christian Standard Bible So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.” American Standard Version And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive. Contemporary English Version "Take them alive!" Benhadad ordered. "I don't care if they have come out to fight or to surrender." English Revised Version And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. GOD'S WORD® Translation He said, "Take them alive, whether they have come out to make peace or to fight." Good News Translation He ordered, "Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace." International Standard Version "Take them alive, whether they've come in peace or not," he ordered. NET Bible He ordered, "Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive." New Heart English Bible He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive." Webster's Bible Translation And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.” World English Bible He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he says, “If they have come out for peace, catch them alive; and if they have come out for battle, catch them alive.” Berean Literal Bible And he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. And if they have come out for war, take them alive.” Young's Literal Translation And he saith, 'If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.' Smith's Literal Translation And he will say, If for peace they came forth, seize them living; and if for war they came forth, seize them living. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight, take them alive. Catholic Public Domain Version And he said: “If they have arrived for peace, apprehend them alive; if to do battle, capture them alive.” New American Bible He answered, “Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive.” New Revised Standard Version He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said: “If they have gone out in peace, take them alive, and if they have gone out for battle, take them alive.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he said: 'Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And he said to them, If they come forth peaceably, take them alive; and if they come forth to war, take them alive: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad…17And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 18“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.” 19Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them,… Cross References “If they have marched out in peace,” Deuteronomy 20:10-11 When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. / If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you. 2 Kings 18:31-32 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, / until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ he said, 1 Kings 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.” 2 Kings 6:21-23 And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” / “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again. “take them alive. 2 Kings 10:14 Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them. 1 Samuel 15:8-9 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. / Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless. Even if they have marched out for war, Deuteronomy 20:13-14 When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword. / But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you. Joshua 11:5-6 All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. / Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.” take them alive.” Joshua 10:22-26 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” / So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. / When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks. … 2 Chronicles 25:12 and the army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces. 2 Kings 6:8-12 Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” / Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” / So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. … 2 Chronicles 18:14-22 When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for they will be delivered into your hand.” / But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?” / So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’” … Isaiah 7:4-9 and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. / For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying: / ‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’ … Jeremiah 21:4-7 this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city. / And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. / I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’ … Ezekiel 38:10-12 This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. / You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a quiet people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates— / in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder, to turn a hand against the desolate places now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and possessions and who live at the center of the land.’ Judges 7:16-22 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch. / “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. / When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” … Treasury of Scripture And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. they slew 2 Samuel 2:16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. the Syrians Leviticus 26:8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. Judges 7:20-22 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon… 1 Samuel 14:13-15 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him… escaped 1 Samuel 30:16,17 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah… 2 Kings 19:36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. Jump to Previous Alive Battle Catch Peace War WhetherJump to Next Alive Battle Catch Peace War Whether1 Kings 20 1. Ben-Hadad, not content with Ahab's homage, besieges Samaria13. By the direction of a prophet, the Syrians are slain 22. As the prophet forewarned Ahab, the Syrians come against him in Aphek 28. By the word of the prophet, and God's judgment, the Syrians are smitten again 31. The Syrians submit; Ahab sends Ben-Hadad away with a covenant 35. The prophet, under the parable of a prisoner, 39. making Ahab judge himself, denounces God's judgment against him If they have marched out in peace, This phrase occurs during a confrontation between the Arameans and Israel. The context is a battle where King Ben-Hadad of Aram is strategizing against King Ahab of Israel. The mention of "peace" suggests a potential diplomatic approach or surrender, which was common in ancient Near Eastern warfare. The Arameans might have expected a peaceful delegation or a surrender, reflecting the complex nature of ancient warfare where battles could be resolved through negotiation or submission. he said, take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive. Persons / Places / Events 1. Ben-HadadThe king of Aram (Syria) who is besieging Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He is a central figure in this chapter, known for his arrogance and overconfidence. 2. Ahab The king of Israel at the time, who is often criticized for his idolatry and weak leadership. He is the one defending against Ben-Hadad's siege. 3. Samaria The capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, under siege by Ben-Hadad and his coalition of kings. 4. Aramean Army The forces led by Ben-Hadad, consisting of a coalition of 32 kings, who are attempting to conquer Israel. 5. Prophet of God Though not directly mentioned in this verse, a prophet plays a crucial role in the chapter by delivering God's messages to Ahab, offering divine guidance and assurance of victory. Teaching Points The Folly of PrideBen-Hadad's command reflects his arrogance and underestimation of Israel. Pride often blinds us to reality and can lead to our downfall. God's Sovereignty Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains sovereign and can use any situation to fulfill His purposes. This reminds us that God's plans are not thwarted by human actions. The Importance of Obedience Ahab's eventual victory is tied to his obedience to the prophet's instructions. Obedience to God's word is crucial for experiencing His blessings. Divine Protection The passage illustrates that God can protect and deliver His people even when they are outnumbered or facing seemingly insurmountable odds. Discernment in Conflict Ben-Hadad's command to take the Israelites alive, regardless of their intentions, shows a lack of discernment. We must seek God's wisdom in how we approach conflicts and challenges. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 20:18?2. How does 1 Kings 20:18 demonstrate God's sovereignty over human plans and decisions? 3. What can we learn about discernment from the king's command in 1 Kings 20:18? 4. How does 1 Kings 20:18 connect to Proverbs 19:21 about human plans? 5. In what ways can we seek God's guidance before making decisions like in 1 Kings 20? 6. How can 1 Kings 20:18 inspire us to trust God's control in conflicts? 7. What is the significance of 1 Kings 20:18 in the context of Israel's battles? 8. How does 1 Kings 20:18 reflect God's sovereignty in warfare? 9. What does 1 Kings 20:18 reveal about the character of the Aramean king? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 20? 11. How do the details of King Ahab's military campaigns in 1 Kings 20 align or conflict with other biblical passages about his reign? 12. How plausible is it that just 232 junior officers could rout a massive Aramean army (1 Kings 20:15-21)? 13. 1 Chronicles 20:1: How does David's apparent absence during the battle align with or contradict other accounts of his military leadership? 14. Luke 14:31-32: Does Jesus' warfare analogy conflict with other passages (e.g., Matthew 5:9) advocating peace? What Does 1 Kings 20:18 Mean If they have marched out in peace• Ben-hadad assumes any delegation coming peacefully is no real threat; he wants them captured rather than killed, displaying arrogance (cf. Proverbs 16:18; Isaiah 10:12). • His plan ignores God’s word already spoken by the prophet to Ahab promising victory (1 Kings 20:13–14), underscoring how worldly rulers dismiss divine warnings (Psalm 2:1–4). take them alive • Capturing rather than killing would humiliate Israel publicly, showing total dominance (Judges 8:12; 2 Kings 25:6). • The order reveals Ben-hadad’s prideful confidence that numbers and drink-fueled bravado (1 Kings 20:16) guarantee an effortless win, contrasting with the LORD’s pattern of saving through weakness (1 Samuel 17:47). Even if they have marched out for war • Whether Israel comes as emissaries or as soldiers, Ben-hadad sees no difference; he thinks he holds every advantage (Psalm 33:16–17). • His dismissal of Israel’s military intent shows a hardened heart much like Pharaoh’s before the Exodus (Exodus 14:17–18), setting the stage for God to magnify His own glory. take them alive • Repeating the command highlights the king’s fixed resolve and blindness; repetition in Scripture often signals emphasis (Genesis 41:32). • The irony is rich: those ordered to take Israel alive will soon be routed and spared only by God’s mercy shown through Ahab (1 Kings 20:29–34; cf. Romans 9:17). • It also foreshadows how God can turn enemy strategies to serve His purposes, as later when Elisha leads a blind Aramean army into Samaria and orders the king to feed rather than kill them (2 Kings 6:22–23). summary Ben-hadad’s twofold command to “take them alive” exposes overconfidence, contempt for God’s people, and ignorance of the LORD’s sovereignty. By treating Israel’s approach—peaceful or armed—as equally inconsequential, he unwittingly sets himself against God’s declared plan. The narrative reminds us that human pride collapses before divine purpose, and every boastful scheme ultimately serves to display the LORD’s matchless power and mercy. Verse 18. - And he said, Whether they be come out for peace [i.e., to negociate or to submit], take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. [We may trace in these words, possibly the influence of wine, but certainly the exasperation which Ahab's last message had occasioned the king. So incensed is he that he will not respect the rights of ambassadors, and he is afraid lest belligerents should be slain before he can arraign them before him. Possibly he meant that they should be tortured or slain before his face.]Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not they have marched out יָצָ֖אוּ (yā·ṣā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim in peace,” לְשָׁל֥וֹם (lə·šā·lō·wm) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace he said, וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “take תִּפְשׂ֣וּם (tip̄·śūm) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine plural Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably them alive. חַיִּ֑ים (ḥay·yîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life Or if וְאִ֧ם (wə·’im) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not they have marched out יָצָ֖אוּ (yā·ṣā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim for war, לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה (lə·mil·ḥā·māh) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4421: A battle, war take תִּפְשֽׂוּם׃ (tip̄·śūm) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine plural Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably them alive.” חַיִּ֥ים (ḥay·yîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life Links 1 Kings 20:18 NIV1 Kings 20:18 NLT 1 Kings 20:18 ESV 1 Kings 20:18 NASB 1 Kings 20:18 KJV 1 Kings 20:18 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 20:18 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 20:18 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 20:18 French Bible 1 Kings 20:18 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 20:18 He said Whether they are come out (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
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