1 Kings 20 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Kings 20 ▼
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1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria and besieged and attacked it. 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 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 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 He said to him, |This is what Ben Hadad says, 'Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.'| ‘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 The king of Israel replied, |It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.| 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 The messengers came again and said, |This is what Ben Hadad says, 'I sent this message to you, |You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.| 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 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants' houses. They will carry away all your valuables.| 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 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders of the land and said, |Notice how this man is looking for trouble. Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist 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 All the leaders and people said to him, |Do not give in or agree to his demands.| 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 said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, |Say this to my master, the king, 'I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.'| So the messengers went back and gave their report. 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 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, |May the gods judge me severely if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.| 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 The king of Israel replied, |Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like 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 When Ben Hadad received this reply, he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. He ordered his servants, |Get ready to attack!| So they got ready to attack the city. 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 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, |This is what the LORD says, 'Do you see this huge army? Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know 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 Ahab asked, |By whom will this be accomplished?| He answered, |This is what the LORD says, 'By the servants of the district governors.'| Ahab asked, |Who will launch the attack?| He answered, |You will.| 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 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 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 marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily in their quarters. 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 servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, |Men are marching out of 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 He ordered, |Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.| 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 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind 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 one struck down an enemy soldier; the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 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 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated Syria. 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 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, |Go, fortify your defenses. Determine what you must do, for in the spring the king of Syria will attack you.| 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 Now the advisers of the king of Syria said to him: |Their God is a god of the mountains. That's why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. 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: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders. 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 Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots. Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.| He approved their plan and did as they advised. 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 In the spring Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army and marched to Aphek to fight 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 When the Israelites had mustered and had received their supplies, they marched out to face them in battle. When the Israelites deployed opposite them, they were like two small flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the land. 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 The prophet visited the king of Israel and said, |This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Syrians said, |The LORD is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,| I will hand over to you this entire huge army. Then you will know that I 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 The armies were deployed opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one 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 remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room. 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 His advisers said to him, |Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and surrender to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.| 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 sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, |Your servant Ben Hadad says, 'Please let me live!'| Ahab replied, |Is he still alive? He is 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 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, |Ben Hadad is your brother.| Ahab then said, |Go, get him.| So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his 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 said, |I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.| Ahab then said, |I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.| So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him. 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 One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, |Wound me!| But the man refused to wound him. 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 the prophet said to him, |Because you have disobeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.| When he left him, a lion attacked 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 He found another man and said, |Wound me!| So the man wounded him severely. 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 The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down 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 When the king passed by, he called out to the king, |Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner. He told me, 'Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason, you will pay with your life or with a 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 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.| The king of Israel said to him, |Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.| 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 The prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was 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 The prophet then said to him, |This is what the LORD says, 'Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of 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 The king of Israel went home to Samaria bitter and angry. 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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