1 Kings 20 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Kings 20 ▼
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1 A little while later, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered an army of cavalry and chariots in a military confederacy with 32 kings, invaded Samaria, and set up siege encampments there. Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it.
2 Then he sent envoys to visit King Ahab of Israel and told him, |This is what Ben-hadad says: And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says:
3 Your silver and gold belong to me. So do the most beautiful of your wives and children.'| ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”
4 |Whatever you want, your majesty,| the king of Israel answered. |I belong to you, as does everything I own.| And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”
5 After delivering Ahab's answer, the envoys returned with this message: |This is what Ben-hadad says: 'I've sent my envoys to you to tell you that your silver, gold, wives, and children are to be given to me. The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children.
6 About this time tomorrow, I'll send my servants to you, and they'll search through your palace and your servants' houses. Whatever is important to you will be seized and taken away.'| Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’” But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”
7 Then the king of Israel called together all of the elders of the land and told them, |Please note that this man is here looking for trouble. He sent a message to me, demanding my wives, my children, and my silver and gold, and I haven't refused him.| Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”
8 |Don't listen to him,| all the elders and the people replied. |And don't agree to his terms.| And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”
9 So he told Ben-hadad's envoys, |Tell his majesty the king, 'Everything that you asked for the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.'| So the envoys left to deliver Ahab's response. They returned a little while later. So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again. So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.
10 Beh-hadad sent this message back: |May the gods do so to me, and more than that also, if the dust that remains of Samaria is enough to fill up a few handfuls for all of the armies at my disposal.| Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”
11 But the king of Israel replied, |Tell him, 'The one who is starting to strap on his battle armor should never brag like the one who is taking it off.'| And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’”
12 Ben-hadad received Ahab's response while he was celebrating with his kings in the battle pavilions. |Sound 'Battle Stations!'| he ordered, and the army began to prepare their attack. When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city. Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he ordered his men: “Prepare to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city.
13 Right about then, a prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and told him, |This is what the LORD says: 'You see all of this great big army, do you? Well now, I'm going to deliver them all right into your hand, and you will learn that I am the LORD!'| And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
14 |By whom?| Ahab asked. |This is what the LORD says,| the prophet replied. |'By the young men who serve as officials within the provinces.'| |Who is to begin the battle?| Ahab asked. |You,| the prophet answered. And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” “But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’” “And who will start the battle?” he asked. The prophet answered, “You will.”
15 So Ahab gathered together 232 young men who served as officials within the provinces and then mustered 7,000 soldiers from among the Israelis. Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand. So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all.
16 They attacked at noon, just as Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the battle pavilions, along with the 32 kings who had joined him. And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
17 The young men who served as officials within the provinces led the charge, and somebody informed Ben-hadad, |Some men have come out from Samaria.| The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first. Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”
18 |Take them alive, whether they've come in peace or not,| he ordered. He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.” He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
19 Meanwhile, as the young men who served as officials within the provinces left the city, their army followed after them. So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them
20 Each man struck down his opponent, and the Arameans ran away with Israel in pursuit. King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on horseback with the help of his cavalry. And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen.
21 The king of Israel went out and attacked the cavalry and chariots and killed the Arameans in a massive victory. And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow. The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.
22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and told him, |Go replenish your forces and prepare for the future, because early this next year the king of Aram will attack you again.| Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.” Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”
23 Sure enough, the advisors to the king of Aram told him, |Their gods are mountain gods. That's why they were stronger than we were. But when we fight them on the plains, we're certain to be the stronger army! And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.
24 So do this: remove the kings from command and replace them with captains. And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places, Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers.
25 Then replace the army that you lost, horse-for-horse and chariot-for-chariot. We'll fight them on the plains, and we're certain to be the stronger army.| Ben-hadad listened to what they had to say and carried out their advice. and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so. You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.” He agreed with them and acted accordingly.
26 Early the next year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and invaded Aphek in a battle against Israel. In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. The next spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 The Israelis were mustered, equipped with provisions, and sent out to fight. The Israeli encampment looked like two little flocks of goats compared to how the Aramean encampments filled the countryside! And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.
28 Right about then, a man of God approached and told the king of Israel, |This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Arameans keep saying |The LORD is a mountain god, but isn't a valley god,| I'm going to deliver this entire vast army right into your control, so you'll learn that I really am the LORD.'| And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
29 So they remained in opposing camps for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle commenced, and the Israelis killed 100,000 Aramean infantry troops in a single day. And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day.
30 The rest of the Aramean army retreated into Aphek, but the city wall collapsed on 27,000 soldiers who had taken shelter there. Ben-hadad himself ran away and hid inside a closet somewhere in the city. And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek, where the wall collapsed on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
31 |Look, now,| his advisors suggested, |we've heard that the Israeli kings are merciful. So let's clothe ourselves with sackcloth, tie our hair back with ropes, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll spare your life.| And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32 So they put on some sackcloth, tied their hair back with ropes, and approached the king of Israel. |Your servant Ben-hadad says this,| they said. |Please let me live.| |Is he still alive?| Ahab asked. |He's my brother.| So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’” The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Ben-hadad's advisors, quickly analyzing the signs in what Ahab was saying, responded, |Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.| |Go get him,| Ahab responded. So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab took him up into his personal chariot. Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said. “Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34 Ben-hadad made this promise to Ahab: |I will restore the cities that my ancestors took from your ancestors. You'll be able to build streets named after yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.| |With this promise I will release you,| Ahab replied. So Ahab made a treaty with Ben-hadad and let him go. And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go. “I will return the cities my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad offered. “You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.
35 Right about then, one of the members of the guild of prophets told another through a message from the LORD: |Please strike me!| But the man refused to do so, And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. By the word of the LORD one of the company of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.
36 so he told him, |Because you haven't obeyed the LORD's voice, as soon as you leave here, a lion will kill you.| As soon as the man left, a lion found him and killed him. Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.
37 Later, he found another man and told him, |Please strike me!| So the man struck him and wounded him. Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him. The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him.
38 Then the prophet left and waited for the king to pass by, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes.
39 As the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and told him, |Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and a soldier turned aside, brought a prisoner to me, and told me, 'Guard this man. If he turns up missing for any reason at all, you'll pay for it with your life or be fined one talent of silver.' And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.’
40 While your servant was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped.| The king told him, |By your actions you've earned the proper judgment!| And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.” While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” “That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”
41 Then the prophet quickly tore off his bandage, and the king of Israel recognized him as being one of the prophets. Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42 He told the king, |This is what the LORD says: 'Because you let the man whom I had dedicated to destruction go free, therefore your life is to be forfeited for his life, and your people for his people.'| And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” He said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’”
43 After hearing this, the king of Israel rode back to his palace in Samaria, frustrated and in a foul mood. And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria. Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.
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