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New Living Translation

1 Kings 20:1

About that time King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Chariot;   Confederacies;   Siege;   Thompson Chain Reference - Benhadad;   Samaria;   Sieges;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Armies;   Chariots;   Samaria, Ancient;   Sieges;   Syria;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Samaria;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ben-hadad;   Palestine;   Samaria, samaritans;   Syria;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Samaria;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Damascus;   Syria;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Damascus;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Samaria, Samaritans;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ben-Hadad;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Benhadad ;   Samaria ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Benhadad;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Samaria;   Smith Bible Dictionary - A'hab;   A'ram;   Sama'ria;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Naaman;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - King;   Samaria, City of;   Siege;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Benhadad;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Samaria;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now King Ben-hadad of Aram assembled his entire army. Thirty-two kings, along with horses and chariots, were with him. He marched up, besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Hebrew Names Version
Ben-Hadad the king of Aram gathered all his host together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Shomron, and fought against it.
King James Version
And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
English Standard Version
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.
New Century Version
Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered together all his army. There were thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots who went with him and surrounded Samaria and attacked it.
New English Translation
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.
Amplified Bible
Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were [allied] with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria [Israel's capital], and fought against it.
New American Standard Bible
Now Ben-hadad, king of Aram, gathered all his army, and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Ben-hadad the King of Aram assembled all his armie, and two & thirtie Kings with him, with horses, and charets, & went vp and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his military force, and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.
Contemporary English Version
King Benhadad of Syria called his army together. He was joined by thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots, and together they marched to Samaria and attacked.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now Ben-Hadad the king of Aram rallied his whole army; with him were thirty-two kings, besides horses and chariots. Then he marched on Shomron and laid siege to it.
Darby Translation
And Ben-Hadad king of Syria assembled all his host; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Easy-to-Read Version
King Ben-Hadad of Aram gathered his army together. There were 32 kings with him and many horses and chariots. They surrounded Samaria and attacked it.
George Lamsa Translation
AND Bar-hadad the king of Edom gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.
Good News Translation
King Benhadad of Syria gathered all his troops, and supported by thirty-two other rulers with their horses and chariots, he marched up, laid siege to Samaria, and launched attacks against it.
Lexham English Bible
Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all of his army, and thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. He went up and laid siege against Samaria and fought with it.
Literal Translation
And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Benadab ye kynge of Siria gathered all his power, & there were two & thirtie kynges wt him, & horses & charettes, and he wente vp, and layed sege vnto Samaria, & foughte agaynst it.
American Standard Version
And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Bible in Basic English
Now Ben-hadad, king of Aram, got all his army together, and thirty-two kings with him, and horses and carriages of war; he went up and made war on Samaria, shutting it in.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his hoast together, hauing thirtie & two kinges with him, and horses and charets: and went vp and besieged Samaria, & warred against it.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Ben-hadad the king of Aram gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
King James Version (1611)
And Benhadad the King of Syria gathered all his hoste together, and there were thirtie and two kings with him, and horses, and charets: and hee went vp and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Nabuthai the Jezraelite had a vineyard, near the threshingfloor of Achaab king of Samaria.
English Revised Version
And Ben–hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Berean Standard Bible
Now 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Benadab, kyng of Sirye, gaderide al his oost, and two and thritti kyngis with hym, and horsis, and charis; and he stiede ayens Samarie, and fauyt, and bisegide it.
Young's Literal Translation
And Ben-Hadad king of Aram hath gathered all his force, and thirty and two kings [are] with him, and horse and chariot, and he goeth up and layeth siege against Samaria, and fighteth with it,
Update Bible Version
And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Ben-hadad the king of Syria collected all his army: and [there were] thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
World English Bible
Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
New King James Version
Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it.
New Life Bible
Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and war-wagons. And he went up against Samaria in battle.
New Revised Standard
King Ben-hadad of Aram gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were with him, along with horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria, laid siege to it, and attacked it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, had gathered together all his forces, and, thirty-two kings, were with him, and horses and chariots, - then came he up, and laid siege to Samaria, and made war against it.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Benadad, king of Syria, gathered together all his host, and there were two and thirty kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and going up, he fought against Samaria, and besieged it.
Revised Standard Version
Ben-ha'dad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Sama'ria, and fought against it.
THE MESSAGE
At about this same time Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his troops. He recruited in addition thirty-two local sheiks, all outfitted with horses and chariots. He set out in force and surrounded Samaria, ready to make war. He sent an envoy into the city to set his terms before Ahab king of Israel: "Ben-Hadad lays claim to your silver and gold, and to the pick of your wives and sons."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.

Contextual Overview

1 About that time King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it. 2 Ben-hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel: "This is what Ben-hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and so are your wives and the best of your children!'" 4 "All right, my lord the king," Israel's king replied. "All that I have is yours!" 5 Soon Ben-hadad's messengers returned again and said, "This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children. 6 But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take away everything you consider valuable!'" 7 Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, "Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold." 8 "Don't give in to any more demands," all the elders and the people advised. 9 So Ahab told the messengers from Ben-hadad, "Say this to my lord the king: ‘I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.'" So the messengers returned to Ben-hadad with that response. 10 Then Ben-hadad sent this message to Ahab: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide even a handful for each of my soldiers."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3103, bc 901

Benhadad: 1 Kings 15:18, 1 Kings 15:20, 2 Kings 8:7-10, 2 Chronicles 16:2-4, Jeremiah 49:27, Amos 1:4

Thirty and two: 1 Kings 20:16, 1 Kings 20:24, Genesis 14:1-5, Judges 1:7, Ezra 7:12, Isaiah 10:8, Ezekiel 26:7, Daniel 2:37

and horses: Exodus 14:7, Deuteronomy 20:1, Judges 4:3, 1 Samuel 13:5, Isaiah 37:24

besieged: Leviticus 26:25, Deuteronomy 28:52, 2 Kings 6:24-29, 2 Kings 17:5, 2 Kings 17:6

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 10:19 - servants 1 Kings 16:24 - the name of the city 2 Kings 6:8 - the king 1 Chronicles 19:9 - the kings 1 Chronicles 19:19 - the servants

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
and the territory of Canaan extended from Sidon in the north to Gerar and Gaza in the south, and east as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha.
Genesis 13:1
So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned.
Genesis 14:7
Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
Genesis 16:1
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.
Genesis 16:7
The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.
Genesis 16:14
So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means "well of the Living One who sees me"). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.
Genesis 18:1
The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day.
Genesis 20:13
When God called me to leave my father's home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.'"
Genesis 20:14
Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him.
Genesis 24:62
Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together,.... This was Benhadad the second, the son of that Benhadad, to whom Asa sent to help him against Baasha, 1 Kings 15:18

and there were thirty and two kings with him; these were heads of families, so called, and at most governors of cities under Benhadad; petty princes, such as were in the land of Canaan in Joshua's time:

and horses and chariots; how many is not said:

and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it; he went up with such an intent, but had not as yet done it in form; what moved him to it cannot be said precisely, whether an ambitious view of enlarging his dominions, or because the king of Israel paid not the tribute his father had imposed upon him, see 1 Kings 20:34, however, so it was, through the providence of God, as a scourge to Ahab for his impiety.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ben-hadad, the king of Syria - Probably the son of the Ben-hadad who assisted Asa against Baasha (1 Kings 15:18 note).

Thirty and two kings with him - Not allies, but feudatories 1 Kings 20:24. Damascus had in the reign of this Ben-hadad become the center of an important monarchy, which may not improbably have extended from the Euphrates to the northern border of Israel. The Assyrian inscriptions show that this country was about the period in question parcelled out into a multitude of petty kingdoms, the chief tribes who possessed it being the Hittites, the Hamathites, and the Syrians of Damascus.

Horses and chariots - The Assyrian inscriptions show us how very important an arm of the service the chariot force was reckoned by the Syrians. A king, who has been identified with this Ben-hadad, brought into the field against Assyria nearly four thousand chariots.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XX

Ben-hadad, king of Syria, and thirty-two kings, besiege

Samaria, 1.

He sends an insulting message to Ahab; and insists on pillaging

the whole city, 2-7.

The elders of Israel counsel the king not to submit to such

shameful conditions, 8.

He sends a refusal to Ben-hadad; who, being enraged, vows

revenge, 9-12.

A prophet comes to Ahab, and promises him victory, and gives him

directions how he should order the battle, 13-19.

The Syrians are discomfited, and Ben-hadad scarcely escapes,

20, 21.

The prophet warns Ahab to be on his guard, for the Syrians would

return next year, 22.

The counsellors of the king of Syria instruct him how he may

successfully invade Israel, 23-25.

He leads an immense army to Aphek, to fight with Ahab, 26, 27.

A man of God encourages Ahab, who attacks the Syrians, and kills

one hundred thousand of them, 28, 29.

They retreat to Aphek, where twenty-seven thousand of them are

slain by a casualty, 30.

Ben-hadad and his courtiers, being closely besieged in Aphek,

and unable to escape, surrender themselves with sackcloth on

their loins, and halters on their heads; the king of Israel

receives them in a friendly manner, and makes a covenant with

Ben-hadad, 31-34.

A prophet, by a symbolical action, shows him the impolicy of his

conduct in permitting Ben-hadad to escape, and predicts his

death and the slaughter of Israel, 35-43.

NOTES ON CHAP. XX

Verse 1 Kings 20:1. Ben-hadad — Several MSS., and some early printed editions, have Ben-hadar, or the son of Hadar, as the Septuagint. He is supposed to be the same whom Asa stirred up against the king of Israel, 1 Kings 15:18; or, as others, his son or grandson.

Thirty and two kings — Tributary chieftains of Syria and the adjacent countries. In former times every town and city had its independent chieftain. Both the Septuagint and Josephus place this war after the history of Naboth.


 
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