1 Kings 20:2
New International Version
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says:

New Living Translation
Ben-hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel: “This is what Ben-hadad says:

English Standard Version
And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:

Berean Standard Bible
Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel,

King James Bible
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,

New King James Version
Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad:

New American Standard Bible
Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab, king of Israel, and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says:

NASB 1995
Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad,

NASB 1977
Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad,

Amplified Bible
Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel; and he said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:

Christian Standard Bible
He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “This is what Ben-hadad says:

American Standard Version
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,

Contemporary English Version
Benhadad sent a messenger to tell King Ahab of Israel,

English Revised Version
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel. They told Ahab, "This is what Benhadad says:

Good News Translation
He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel to say, "King Benhadad demands that

International Standard Version
Then he sent envoys to visit King Ahab of Israel and told him, "This is what Ben-hadad says:

Majority Standard Bible
Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel,

NET Bible
He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city.

New Heart English Bible
He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, "Thus says Ben Hadad,

Webster's Bible Translation
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said to him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,

World English Bible
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and sends messengers to Ahab king of Israel, to the city,

Young's Literal Translation
and sendeth messengers unto Ahab king of Israel, to the city,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will send messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, to the city,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And, sending messengers to Achab king of Israel into the city,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And sending messengers into the city, to Ahab, the king of Israel,

New American Bible
He sent messengers to Ahab, king of Israel, within the city,

New Revised Standard Version
Then he sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel, and said to him: “Thus says Ben-hadad:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, Thus says Bar-hadad,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he sent Messengers to Akhab, King of Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he sent into the city to Achaab king of Israel, and said to him, Thus says the son of Ader,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria
1Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it. 2Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, 3saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children are mine!’ ”…

Cross References
2 Kings 18:17-19
Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. / Then they called for the king. And Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them. / The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?

2 Kings 19:9-13
Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So Sennacherib again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, / “Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. / Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared? ...

Isaiah 36:2-4
And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh, with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. / Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to him. / The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?

Isaiah 37:9-13
Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “He has set out to fight against you.” On hearing this, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, / “Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. / Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared? ...

2 Samuel 10:1-5
Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. / And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, / the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” ...

2 Chronicles 32:9-19
Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem: / “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? / Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’ ...

Jeremiah 36:1-3
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: / “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. / Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Jeremiah 37:5-10
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem. / Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet: / “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says that you are to tell the king of Judah, who sent you to Me: Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to help you, will go back to its own land of Egypt. ...

Ezekiel 21:18-23
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost where the road branches off to each city. / Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem. ...

Nehemiah 6:1-4
When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— / Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. / So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?” ...

Matthew 11:2-6
Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples / to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” / Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ...

Matthew 14:3-5
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, / because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” / Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

Mark 6:17-20
For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. / For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” / So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, ...

Luke 7:18-23
Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. / So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” / When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’” ...

Luke 9:7-9
When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead, / others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen. / “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said to him, Thus said Benhadad,

2 Kings 19:9
And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,

Isaiah 36:2
And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.

Isaiah 37:9,10
And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, …

Jump to Previous
Ahab Ben Benhadad Ben-Hadad Ben-Ha'dad City Hadad Israel Messengers Representatives
Jump to Next
Ahab Ben Benhadad Ben-Hadad Ben-Ha'dad City Hadad Israel Messengers Representatives
1 Kings 20
1. Ben-Hadad, not content with Ahab's homage, besieges Samaria
13. 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














Then he sent messengers
The phrase "Then he sent messengers" indicates a formal and deliberate action taken by Ben-hadad, the king of Aram. In the ancient Near Eastern context, sending messengers was a common diplomatic practice. The Hebrew word for "messengers" is "mal'akhim," which can also mean "angels" or "envoys." This highlights the importance of the message being delivered, as these messengers were representatives of the king himself. The act of sending messengers underscores the gravity of the situation and the authority of the sender.

into the city
The phrase "into the city" refers to the city of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Samaria was a significant city, both politically and strategically, during the reign of King Ahab. The city's fortifications and its role as a center of power make it a focal point in the narrative. The historical context reveals that Samaria was often a target for surrounding nations due to its wealth and strategic location.

to Ahab king of Israel
"Ahab king of Israel" identifies the recipient of the message. Ahab was the seventh king of Israel and is often remembered for his idolatry and his marriage to Jezebel, which led Israel further away from the worship of Yahweh. The mention of Ahab in this context sets the stage for the conflict between the kingdoms of Israel and Aram. Ahab's reign is marked by political alliances and conflicts, and this message from Ben-hadad is a precursor to one such conflict.

saying, 'This is what Ben-hadad says'
The phrase "saying, 'This is what Ben-hadad says:'" introduces the authoritative message from Ben-hadad. The use of direct speech emphasizes the personal nature of the communication and the weight of the words that follow. Ben-hadad, whose name means "son of Hadad" (a storm god in Aramean religion), is asserting his power and intentions. This introduction sets the tone for the demands or declarations that Ben-hadad is about to make, highlighting the tension and impending confrontation between the two kings.

Verse 2. - And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into [Heb. to. It is not clear that they entered the city. They may have delivered their message to the king, or to his representatives at the gates or to the people on the walls (2 Kings 18:18, 27)] the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then he sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

messengers
מַלְאָכִ֛ים (mal·’ā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

into the city
הָעִֽירָה׃ (hā·‘î·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Ahab
אַחְאָ֥ב (’aḥ·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet

king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


Links
1 Kings 20:2 NIV
1 Kings 20:2 NLT
1 Kings 20:2 ESV
1 Kings 20:2 NASB
1 Kings 20:2 KJV

1 Kings 20:2 BibleApps.com
1 Kings 20:2 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 20:2 Chinese Bible
1 Kings 20:2 French Bible
1 Kings 20:2 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Kings 20:2 He sent messengers to Ahab king (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 20:1
Top of Page
Top of Page