Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

1 Kings 20:16

The attack began at noon, as Benhadad and his thirty-two allies were getting drunk in their tents.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Drunkenness;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   King;   Prophecy;   Thompson Chain Reference - Benhadad;   Drunkenness;   Intemperance;   Intoxication;   Temperance;   Temperance-Intemperance;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Drunkenness;   Samaria, Ancient;   Syria;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Drunkenness;   Eating, Mode of;   Samaria;   Wine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ben-hadad;   Samaria, samaritans;   Syria;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Eating;   Pavilion;   Samaria;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Pavilion;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Booth;   District;   Drunkenness;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Noon;   Pavilion;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ben-Hadad;   Tent;   War;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Benhadad ;   Pavilion;   Samaria ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Meals;   Samaria;   Smith Bible Dictionary - A'hab;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Drunkenness;   Pavilion;   Samaria, City of;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Benhadad;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kings who were helping him were getting drunk in their quarters.
Hebrew Names Version
They went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
King James Version
And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
English Standard Version
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.
New Century Version
They marched out at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two rulers helping him were getting drunk in their tents.
New English Translation
They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily in their quarters.
Amplified Bible
They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was getting drunk in the temporary shelters, he and the thirty-two kings who were helping him.
New American Standard Bible
They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two kings who were helping him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they went out at noone: but Ben-hadad did drinke till he was drunken in the tentes, both he and the Kings: for two and thirtie Kings helped him.
Legacy Standard Bible
And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths with the thirty-two kings who helped him.
Contemporary English Version
At noon, King Ahab and his Israelite army marched out of Samaria, with the young soldiers in front. King Benhadad of Syria and the thirty-two kings with him were drunk when the scouts he had sent out ran up to his tent, shouting, "We just now saw soldiers marching out of Samaria!"
Complete Jewish Bible
They set out at noon. Ben-Hadad was drinking himself senseless in the field-barracks, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who were his allies.
Darby Translation
And they went out at noon; and Ben-Hadad drank himself drunk in the tents, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings that helped him.
Easy-to-Read Version
King Ahab began his attack at noon, while King Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings were drinking and getting drunk in their tents.
George Lamsa Translation
And they went out at noon, but Bar-hadad was drinking old wine in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who were come to help him.
Lexham English Bible
They went out at noon while Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the tents, he and the thirty-two kings helping him.
Literal Translation
And they went out at noon, and Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty two kings helping him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and they wente out in the noone daye. As for Benadab, he dranke and was dronken in the pauylion with the two & thirtie kynges which were come to helpe him.
American Standard Version
And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
Bible in Basic English
And in the middle of the day they went out. But Ben-hadad was drinking in the tents with the thirty-two kings who were helping him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they went out at noone: but Benhadad dyd drinke till he was drunken in the pauillions, both he and the kinges: eue thirtie & two kinges, that holpe him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
King James Version (1611)
And they went out at noone: But Benhadad was drinking himselfe drunke in the pauilions, hee and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass, when Achaab heard that Nabuthai the Jezraelite was dead, that he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth. And it came to pass afterward, that Achaab arose and went down to the vineyard of Nabuthai the Jezraelite, to take possession of it.
English Revised Version
And they went out at noon. But Ben–hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
Berean Standard Bible
They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei yeden out in myddai. Forsothe Benadab drank, and was drunkun in his schadewyng place, and two and thretti kyngis with hym, that camen to the help of hym.
Young's Literal Translation
and they go out at noon, and Ben-Hadad is drinking -- drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings, helping him.
Update Bible Version
And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
World English Bible
They went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
New King James Version
So they went out at noon. Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two kings helping him were getting drunk at the command post.
New Living Translation
About noontime, as Ben-hadad and the thirty-two allied kings were still in their tents drinking themselves into a stupor,
New Life Bible
They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the tents with the thirty-two kings who helped him.
New Revised Standard
They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings allied with him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they went forth at noon. Now, Ben-hadad, was drinking himself drunk, in the pavilions, he and the thirty-two kings helping him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they went out at noon. But Benadad was drinking himself drunk in his pavilion, and the two and thirty kings with him, who were come to help him.
Revised Standard Version
And they went out at noon, while Ben-ha'dad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.
THE MESSAGE
At noon they set out after Ben-Hadad who, with his allies, the thirty-two sheiks, was busy at serious drinking in the field shelters. The commandos of the regional chiefs made up the vanguard. A report was brought to Ben-Hadad: "Men are on their way from Samaria."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two kings who helped him.

Contextual Overview

12 Benhadad received Ahab's answer as he and his allies, the other rulers, were drinking in their tents. He ordered his men to get ready to attack the city, and so they moved into position. 13 Meanwhile, a prophet went to King Ahab and said, "The Lord says, ‘Don't be afraid of that huge army! I will give you victory over it today, and you will know that I am the Lord .'" 14 "Who will lead the attack?" Ahab asked. The prophet answered, "The Lord says that the young soldiers under the command of the district governors are to do it." "Who will command the main force?" the king asked. "You," the prophet answered. 15 So the king called out the young soldiers who were under the district commanders, 232 in all. Then he called out the Israelite army, a total of seven thousand men. 16 The attack began at noon, as Benhadad and his thirty-two allies were getting drunk in their tents. 17 The young soldiers advanced first. Scouts sent out by Benhadad reported to him that a group of soldiers was coming out of Samaria. 18 He ordered, "Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace." 19 The young soldiers led the attack, followed by the Israelite army, 20 and each one killed the man he fought. The Syrians fled, with the Israelites in hot pursuit, but Benhadad escaped on horseback, accompanied by some of the cavalry. 21 King Ahab took to the field, captured the horses and chariots, and inflicted a severe defeat on the Syrians.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Benhadad: 1 Kings 20:11, 1 Kings 20:12, 1 Kings 16:7, Proverbs 23:29-32, Ecclesiastes 10:16, Ecclesiastes 10:17, Hosea 4:11

the thirty: Isaiah 54:15, The Syrians, the besiegers, had their directions from a drunken king, who gave orders over his cups, while he was drinking at noon. Drunkenness is a sin which is most detestable in all, but more so in a king than in a private individual, inasmuch as the greater weight a man's situation carries, whether from accumulated riches, family connections, hereditary authority, or invested command, so is the influence which his vices must have on those around him. Perhaps it may be said, from past experience, that drunkenness, which is a most heinous sin in the sight of God, may be charged on those who indulge only now and then in that which may eventually lead them into drunkenness; for they shut their eyes against the most palpable facts, and rather than give up the paltry gratification of a debauch, involve thousands by their example to positive harm. Benhadad's drunkenness was the forerunner of his fall. Belshazzar also, we read, drank wine with his princes, his wives, and his concubines, and praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone, and in the same hour came forth the finger of a man's hand and wrote his doom on the plaster of the wall. Those who fancy themselves perfectly secure, and above the possibility of falling, are commonly nearest their destruction: there is always an Ahab read to take advantage of and improve the self-imposed imbecility.

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 25:36 - merry 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry 1 Kings 16:9 - drinking 1 Kings 20:24 - Take the Proverbs 20:1 - General Proverbs 23:34 - thou Proverbs 31:4 - General Ecclesiastes 7:4 - the heart Jeremiah 43:10 - his royal Amos 6:7 - and the

Cross-References

Genesis 20:3
One night God appeared to him in a dream and said, "You are going to die, because you have taken this woman; she is already married."
Genesis 20:5
Abraham himself said that she was his sister, and she said the same thing. I did this with a clear conscience, and I have done no wrong."
Genesis 20:6
God replied in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did it with a clear conscience; so I kept you from sinning against me and did not let you touch her.
Genesis 20:8
Early the next morning Abimelech called all his officials and told them what had happened, and they were terrified.
Genesis 20:9
Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, "What have you done to us? What wrong have I done to you to make you bring this disaster on me and my kingdom? No one should ever do what you have done to me.
Genesis 24:65
and asked Abraham's servant, "Who is that man walking toward us in the field?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her scarf and covered her face.
Genesis 26:11
Abimelech warned all the people: "Anyone who mistreats this man or his wife will be put to death."
Proverbs 12:1
Any who love knowledge want to be told when they are wrong. It is stupid to hate being corrected.
Proverbs 25:12
A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than gold rings or jewelry made of the finest gold.
Proverbs 27:5
Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they went out at noon,.... From Samaria, the two hundred and thirty two young men, and the 7000 Israelites, openly, with great spirit and courage, fearless and undaunted; but it is not said that Ahab went out at the head of them; it seems as if he did not by what is said, 1 Kings 20:21,

but Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions (or booths, or tents), he, and the kings, the thirty two kings that helped him; who either were his subjects, or his tributaries, or confederates; being secure, and having nothing to fear from Ahab, he and they gave themselves up to carousing and drinking, even at noon, and so destruction came upon them unawares, as on Belshazzar.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

drinking himself drunk - Ben-hadad meant probably to mark his utter contempt of his foe. Compare the contempt of Belshazzar Daniel 5:1-4.


 
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