Online Bible

First Book of Kings, Chapter 20

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1 Kings 20 NASB - New American Standard Bible1 Kings 20 NASB - New American Standard Bible

Chapter 20 of 1 Kings—New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  1. ¶ Now 1Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, 2and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and 3besieged Samaria and fought against it.
  2. Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad,
  3. ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.’”
  4. The king of Israel replied, “It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.”
  5. Then the messengers returned and said, “Thus says [a]Ben-hadad, ‘Surely, I sent to you saying, “You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children,”
  6. but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and [b]whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will [c]take in their hand and carry away.’”
  7. ¶ Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and 4see how this man is looking for trouble; for he sent to me for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”
  8. All the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”
  9. So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again.
  10. Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “May 5the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls for all the people who [d]follow me.”
  11. Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘6Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’”
  12. When Ben-hadad heard this message, as 7he was drinking [e]with the kings in the [f]temporary shelters, he said to his servants, “Station yourselves.” So they stationed themselves against the city.
  13. ¶ Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, 8I will deliver them into your hand today, and 9you shall know that I am the LORD.’”
  14. Ahab said, “By whom?” So he said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall [g]begin the battle?” And he [h]answered, “You.”
  15. Then he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, even all the sons of Israel, 7,000.
  16. ¶ They went out at noon, while 10Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the [i]temporary shelters [j]with the thirty-two kings who helped him.
  17. The young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”
  18. 11Then he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
  19. ¶ So these went out from the city, the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
  20. They [k]killed each his man; and the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.
  21. The king of Israel went out and [l]struck the horses and chariots, and [m]killed the Arameans with a great slaughter.
  22. ¶ Then 12the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for 13at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.”
  23. ¶ Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “14Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.
  24. Do this thing: remove the kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,
  25. and [n]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 will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.
  26. 15At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to 16Aphek to fight against Israel.
  27. The sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, 17but the Arameans filled the country.
  28. Then 18a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “19The LORD is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore 20I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’”
  29. So they camped one over against the other seven days. And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel [o]killed of the Arameans 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.
  30. But the rest fled to 21Aphek into the city, and the wall fell on 27,000 men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city 22into an inner chamber.
  31. 23His servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us 24put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your [p]life.”
  32. So 25they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “26Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
  33. Now the men [q]took this as an omen, and quickly [r]catching his word said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he [s]took him up into the chariot.
  34. Ben-hadad said to him, “27The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
  35. ¶ Now a certain man of 28the sons of the prophets said to [t]another 29by the word of the LORD, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him.
  36. Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, 30a lion will [u]kill you.” And as soon as he had departed from him a lion found him and [v]killed him.
  37. Then he found another man and said, “Please [w]strike me.” And the man [x]struck him, [y]wounding him.
  38. So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and 31disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.
  39. As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, 32then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
  40. While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”
  41. Then he hastily took the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him that he was of the prophets.
  42. 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 33your [z]life shall go for his [aa]life, and your people for his people.’”
  43. So 34the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Lit Ben-hadad, saying
  2. ^ Lit all the desire of your eyes
  3. ^ Lit put
  4. ^ Lit are at my feet
  5. ^ Lit he and
  6. ^ Or booths
  7. ^ Lit bind
  8. ^ Lit said
  9. ^ Or booths
  10. ^ Lit he and the 32 kings
  11. ^ Lit smote
  12. ^ Lit smote
  13. ^ Lit smote
  14. ^ Lit number
  15. ^ Lit smote
  16. ^ Lit soul
  17. ^ Lit divined
  18. ^ Lit caught from him
  19. ^ Lit caused him to come up
  20. ^ Lit his neighbor
  21. ^ Lit smite
  22. ^ Lit smote
  23. ^ Lit smite
  24. ^ Lit smote
  25. ^ Lit striking and wounding
  26. ^ Lit soul
  27. ^ Lit soul

REFERENCES

  1. ^ 1Ki 15:18, 20; 2Ki 6:24
  2. ^ 1Ki 22:31
  3. ^ 1Ki 16:24; 2Ki 6:24
  4. ^ 2Ki 5:7
  5. ^ 1Ki 19:2; 2Ki 6:31
  6. ^ Pr 27:1
  7. ^ 1Ki 16:9; Pr 31:4, 5
  8. ^ 1Ki 20:28
  9. ^ 1Ki 18:36
  10. ^ 1Ki 16:9; 20:12; Pr 20:1
  11. ^ 2Ki 14:8-12
  12. ^ 1Ki 20:13
  13. ^ 2Sa 11:1; 1Ki 20:26
  14. ^ 1Ki 14:23; Je 16:19-21; Ro 1:21-23
  15. ^ 1Ki 20:22
  16. ^ 2Ki 13:17
  17. ^ Jg 6:3-5; 1Sa 13:5-8
  18. ^ 1Ki 17:18
  19. ^ 1Ki 20:23
  20. ^ 1Ki 20:13
  21. ^ 1Ki 20:26
  22. ^ 1Ki 22:25; 2Ch 18:24
  23. ^ 1Ki 20:23-26
  24. ^ Ge 37:34; 2Sa 3:31
  25. ^ 1Ki 20:31
  26. ^ 1Ki 20:3-6
  27. ^ 1Ki 15:20
  28. ^ 2Ki 2:3-7
  29. ^ 1Ki 13:17, 18
  30. ^ 1Ki 13:24
  31. ^ 1Ki 14:2
  32. ^ 2Ki 10:24
  33. ^ 1Ki 20:39
  34. ^ 1Ki 21:4

Read 1 Kings Chapter 20 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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