1 Kings 20:12

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

And it came to pass, when he heard this message, as, he, was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants - Make ready! So they made ready, against the city.

Parallel Translations

Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his slaves, Set [yourselves in array]. And they set [themselves in array] against the city.

New Living Translation
Ahab's reply reached Ben-hadad and the other kings as they were drinking in their tents. "Prepare to attack!" Ben-hadad commanded his officers. So they prepared to attack the city.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when [Ben–hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. And they set [themselves in array] against the city.

New Century Version
Ben-Hadad was drinking in his tent with the other rulers when the message came from Ahab. Ben-Hadad commanded his men to prepare to attack the city, and they moved into place for battle.

New English Translation
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message as he [was] drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. And they set [themselves in array] against the city.

World English Bible
It happened, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. They set [themselves in array] against the city.

Amplified Bible
When Ben-hadad heard this message, as he and the kings were drinking in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, "Station yourselves." So they stationed themselves against the city [of Samaria].

English Standard Version
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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it was doon, whanne Benadab hadde herd this word, he drank, and the kyngis, in schadewyng places; and he seide to hise seruauntis, Cumpasse ye the citee.

Berean Standard Bible
Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, "Take your positions." So they stationed themselves against the city.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, Benhadad and the other kings had been drinking in their tents. But when Ahab's reply came, he ordered his soldiers to prepare to attack Samaria, and they all got ready.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

Bible in Basic English
Now when this answer was given to Ben-hadad, he was drinking with the kings in the tents, and he said to his men, Take up your positions. So they put themselves in position for attacking the town.

Complete Jewish Bible
It happened that Ben-Hadad received this message when he was drinking, he and his kings, in the field-barracks. He ordered his servants: "Take up your battle positions!" So they got ready to attack the city.

Darby Translation
And it came to pass when he heard this word, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the tents, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves. And they set themselves against the city.

Easy-to-Read Version
King Ben-Hadad was drinking in his tent with the other rulers when the messengers came back and gave him the message from King Ahab. King Ben-Hadad commanded his men to prepare to attack the city, so the men moved into their places for the battle.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the booths, that he said unto his servants: 'Set yourselves in array.' And they set themselves in array against the city.

King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe, when Benhadad heard this message (as hee was drinking, he and the kings in the pauilions) that hee said vnto his seruants, Set yourselues in aray. And they set themselues in aray against the citie.

New Life Bible
When Ben-hadad heard these words, he was drinking with the kings in the tents. He said to his servants, "Go to your places." So they went to their place of battle against the city.

New Revised Standard
When Ben-hadad heard this message—now he had been drinking with the kings in the booths—he said to his men, "Take your positions!" And they took their positions against the city.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when he heard that tidings, as he was with the Kings drinking in the pauilions, he sayd vnto his seruants, Bring forth your engines, and they set them against the citie.

George Lamsa Translation
And when Bar-hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, Set yourselves in array against the city.

Good News Translation
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when Benadad heard this word, that he and the kings were drinking in pavilions, and he said to his servants: Beset the city. And they beset it.

Revised Standard Version
When Ben-ha'dad 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.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it fortuned, that when Benhadad hearde that tydinges, as he was with the kinges drinking within the pauilions, and he saide vnto this seruauntes, Put your selues in order. And they set them selues in aray against the citie.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they proclaimed a fast, and set Nebuthai in a chief place among the people.

Christian Standard Bible®
When Ben-hadad heard this response, while he and the kings were drinking in their quarters, he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they took their positions against the city.

Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when [Ben-Hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. They set [themselves in array] against the city.

King James Version
And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

Lexham English Bible
It happened at the moment he heard this word, he and the kings were drinking in the tents. He said to his servants, "Get ready to attack." So they got ready to attack the city.

Literal Translation
And it happened when this word was heard, and he was drinking, he and the kings, in the booths, that he said to his servants, Set in order; and they set in order against the city.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass at the hearing of this word -- and he is drinking, he and the kings, in the booths -- that he saith unto his servants, `Set yourselves;' and they set themselves against the city.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wha Benadab herde yt (eue as he was drynkinge wt the kynges in ye pauylion) he sayde vnto his seruautes: Set yor selues in araye. And they set the selues in araie against ye cite.

THE MESSAGE
It happened that when Ben-Hadad heard this retort he was into some heavy drinking, boozing it up with the sheiks in their field shelters. Drunkenly, he ordered his henchmen, "Go after them!" And they attacked the city.

New American Standard Bible
And when Ben-hadad heard this message, while he was drinking with the kings in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, "Take your positions." So they took their positions against the city.

New King James Version
And it happened when Ben-Hadad heard this message, as he and the kings were drinking at the command post, that he said to his servants, "Get ready." And they got ready to attack the city.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
When Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking with the kings in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, "Station yourselves." So they stationed themselves against the city.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his servants, "Station yourselves." So they stationed themselves against the city.

Contextual Overview

¹² And it came to pass, when he heard this message, as, he, was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants - Make ready! So they made ready, against the city. ¹³ And lo! a certain prophet, drew near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, - Thus, saith Yahweh, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? Behold me! delivering it into thy hand, to-day, so shalt thou know that, I, am, Yahweh. ¹⁴ And Ahab said - By whom? And he said - Thus, saith Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then said he - Who shall begin the war? And he said - Thou! ¹⁵ Then numbered he the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were found to be, two hundred and thirty-two, - and, after them, he numbered all the people all the sons of Israel, seven thousand. ¹⁶ And they went forth at noon. Now, Ben-hadad, was drinking himself drunk, in the pavilions, he and the thirty-two kings helping him. ¹⁷ Then went forth the young men of the princes of the provinces, first, - and, when Ben-hadad sent, they told him, saying - Men, have come forth, out of Samaria. ¹⁸ And he said - If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, - or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them. ¹⁹ Now, when, these, had come forth out of the city, even the young men of the princes of the provinces, - with the force which was following them, ²⁰ then smote they every one his man, and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, - but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on horse, with horsemen. ²¹ And the king of Israel went forth, and took the horses and the chariots, - and he went on smiting the Syrians, with a great smiting.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

message: Heb. word

drinking: 1 Kings 20:16, 1 Kings 16:9, 1 Samuel 25:36, 2 Samuel 13:28, Proverbs 31:4, Proverbs 31:5, Daniel 5:2, Daniel 5:30, Luke 21:34, Ephesians 5:18

pavilions: or, tents, That persons of regal dignity regaled themselves in this manner, we may learn from Dr. Chandler, who, when he went to visit the Aga of Suki, after his return from hawking, found him vexed and tired; and "a couch was prepared from him beneath a shed made against a cottage, and covered with green boughs to keep off the sun. He entered as we were standing by, and fell down on it to sleep, without taking any notice of us." Jeremiah 43:10

Set yourselves in array, And they set: etc. or, Place the engines, And they placed engines

Reciprocal: Judges 16:25 - their hearts 1 Chronicles 19:19 - the servants

Cross-References

Genesis 11:29
And Abram and Nahor took to themselves wives; the name of Abrams wife, was Sarai; and, the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, daughter of Haran father of Milcah, and father of Iscah.

Genesis 12:13
Say, I beseech thee that my sister, art thou, - to the end it may be well with me for thy sake, so shall my soul be preserved alive because of thee.

1 Thessalonians 5:22
From every form of wickedness, abstain.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message (as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions),.... Though it was at noon, or before, 1 Kings 20:16, which shows that he and they were addicted to intemperance:

that he said unto his servants; some of the principal officers of his army:

set yourselves in array; prepare for battle, betake yourselves to your arms, invest the city at once, and place the engines against it to batter it down:

and they set themselves in array against the city; besieged it in form, at least prepared for it; for it seems after all that it was not properly done.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Pavilions - “Booths” (Genesis 33:17 margin; Leviticus 23:42; Jonah 4:5). The term seems to be properly applied to a stationary “booth” or “hut,” as distinguished from a moveable “tent.” On military expeditions, and especially in the case of a siege, such “huts” were naturally constructed to shelter the king and his chief officers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 20:12. In the pavilions — This word comes from papilio, a butterfly, because tents, when pitched or spread out, resembled such animals; partly because of the mode of their expansion, and partly because of the manner in which they were painted.

Set yourselves in array. — The original word, שימו simu, which we translate by this long periphrasis, is probably a military term for Begin the attack, Invest the city, Every man to his post, or some such like expression.