Online Bible

First Book of Kings, Chapter 20

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1 Kings 20 NWT - New World Translation1 Kings 20 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 20 of 1 Kings—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. [a] As for Ben-haʹdad1 the king of Syria, he collected all his military forces together and also thirty-two kings with him2 and horses3 and chariots,4 and he proceeded to go up and lay siege5 to Sa·marʹi·a6 and fight against it.
  2. Then he sent messengers7 to Aʹhab the king of Israel at the city. And he went on to say to him: “This is what Ben-haʹdad has said,
  3. ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, and your wives and your sons, the best looking, are mine.’”8
  4. To this the king of Israel answered and said: “According to your word, my lord the king, yours I am with all that belongs to me.”9
  5. ¶ Later the messengers came back and said: “This is what Ben-haʹdad has said, ‘I sent to you, saying: “Your silver and your gold and your wives and your sons you will give me.
  6. But about this time tomorrow I shall send my servants to you, and they must carefully search your house and the houses of your servants; and it must occur that everything desirable10 to your eyes they will put in their hand, and they must take it away.”’”
  7. ¶ At that the king of Israel called all the older men of the land11 and said: “Take note, please, and see that it is calamity that this one is seeking;12 for he sent to me for my wives and my sons and my silver and my gold, and I did not hold them back from him.”
  8. Then all the older men and all the people said to him: “Do not obey, and you should not consent.”
  9. So he said to the messengers of Ben-haʹdad: “Say to my lord the king, ‘All that you sent to your servant at first I shall do; but this thing I am not able to do.’” With that the messengers went off and brought word back to him.
  10. ¶ Ben-haʹdad now sent to him and said: “So may the gods13 do to me, and so may they add to it,14 if the dust of Sa·marʹi·a will be sufficient for handfuls for all the people that follow me!”[b]15
  11. In turn the king of Israel answered and said: “YOU men, speak [to him], ‘Do not let one girding16 on boast about himself like one unfastening.’”17
  12. And it came about that as soon as he heard this word, while he himself and the kings were drinking18 in the booths, he immediately said to his servants: “Get set!” And they began to get set against the city.
  13. ¶ And, look! a certain prophet approached Aʹhab the king of Israel19 and then said: “This is what Jehovah[c] has said,20 ‘Have you seen all this great crowd? Here I am giving it into your hand today, and you will certainly know that I am Jehovah.’”[d]21
  14. Then Aʹhab said: “By whom?” to which he said: “This is what Jehovah[e] has said, ‘By the young men of the princes of the jurisdictional districts.’” Finally he said: “Who will open the battle engagement?” to which he said: “You!”
  15. ¶ And he proceeded to take the count of the young men of the princes of the jurisdictional districts, and they came to be two hundred and thirty-two;22 and after them he took the count of all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.
  16. And they began to go out at noon while Ben-haʹdad was drinking himself drunk23 in the booths, he together with the kings, the thirty-two kings that were helping him.
  17. When the young men24 of the princes of the jurisdictional districts came out first, Ben-haʹdad at once sent out; and they came telling him, saying: “There are men that have come out from Sa·marʹi·a.”
  18. At that he said: “Whether it is for peace that they have come out, YOU should seize them alive; or whether it is for battle that they have come out, alive is how YOU should seize them.”25
  19. And these were the ones that came out from the city, the young men of the princes of the jurisdictional districts and the military forces that were behind them.
  20. And they began to strike down each one his man; and the Syrians26 took to flight,27 and Israel went in pursuit of them, but Ben-haʹdad the king of Syria got to escape upon a horse together with the horsemen.
  21. But the king of Israel went out and kept striking down the horses and the chariots,28 and he struck down the Syrians with a great slaughter.
  22. ¶ Later the prophet29 approached the king of Israel and said to him: “Go, strengthen yourself30 and take note and see what you are going to do;31 for at the return of the year[f] the king of Syria is coming up against you.”32
  23. ¶ As for the servants of the king of Syria, they said to him: “Their God is a God of mountains.[g]33 That is why they proved stronger than we were. So, on the other hand, let us fight against them on the level land [and see] whether we shall not prove stronger than they are.
  24. And do this thing: Remove the kings34 each one from his place and put in governors instead of them.35
  25. As for you, you should number a military force for yourself equal to the military force that fell from your side, with horse for horse and chariot for chariot; and let us fight against them on the level land [and see] whether we shall not prove stronger than they are.”36 Accordingly he listened to their voice and did just that way.
  26. ¶ And it came about at the return of the year that Ben-haʹdad proceeded to muster the Syrians37 and to go up to Aʹphek38 for battle against Israel.
  27. As for the sons of Israel, they were mustered and supplied39 and began to go out to meet them; and the sons of Israel went into camp in front of them like two tiny flocks of goats, while the Syrians, for their part, filled the earth.40
  28. Then the man of the [true] God41 approached and said to the king of Israel, yes, he went on to say: “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘For the reason that the Syrians have said: “Jehovah is a God[h] of mountains, and he is not a God of low plains,” I shall have to give all this great crowd into your hand,42 and YOU men will certainly know that I am Jehovah.’”43
  29. ¶ And they continued encamped for seven days, these in front of those.44 And it came about on the seventh day that the engagement in battle began; and the sons of Israel went striking down the Syrians, a hundred thousand men on foot in one day.
  30. And those that were left went fleeing to Aʹphek,45 to the city; and the wall came falling down upon twenty-seven thousand men that were left.46 As for Ben-haʹdad, he fled47 and finally came into the city into the innermost48 chamber.
  31. ¶ So his servants said to him: “Here, now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are kings of loving-kindness.49 Please, let us carry sackcloth50 upon our loins51 and ropes upon our heads, and let us go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will preserve your soul alive.”52
  32. Accordingly they girded sackcloth about their loins, with ropes upon their heads, and came in to the king of Israel and said: “Your servant Ben-haʹdad has said, ‘Please, let my soul live.’” To this he said: “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
  33. So the men53 themselves took it as an omen and quickly took it as a decision of his own accord, and they went on to say: “Ben-haʹdad is your brother.” At that he said: “Come, fetch him.” Then Ben-haʹdad went out to him; and he at once had him get up into the chariot.54
  34. ¶ [Ben-haʹdad] now said to him: “The cities55 that my father took from your father I shall return; and streets you will assign to yourself in Damascus the same as my father assigned in Sa·marʹi·a.”
    ¶ “And as for me, in a covenant56 I shall send you away.”
    ¶ With that he concluded a covenant with him and sent him away.
  35. ¶ And a certain man of the sons of the prophets[i]57 said to his friend by the word58 of Jehovah: “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.
  36. Therefore he said to him: “For the reason that you did not listen to the voice of Jehovah, here you are going away from me, and a lion will certainly strike you down.” After that he went away from beside him, and the lion59 got to find him and strike him down.60
  37. ¶ And he went on to find another man and to say: “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him, striking and wounding.[j]
  38. ¶ Then the prophet went and stood still for the king by the road, and he kept himself disguised61 with a bandage over his eyes.
  39. And it came about that as the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and proceeded to say:62 “Your servant himself went out into the thick of the battle; and, look! a man was leaving the line, and he came bringing a man to me and then said, ‘Guard this man. If he should in any way be missing, your soul63 will also have to take the place of his soul,64 or else a talent[k] of silver you will weigh out.’65
  40. And it came about that as your servant was active here and there, why, he himself was gone.” At this the king of Israel said to him: “Thus your own judgment is. You yourself have decided.”66
  41. Upon that he hurriedly removed the bandage from over his eyes, and the king of Israel got to recognize him, that he was from the prophets.67
  42. He now said to him: “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘For the reason that you have let go out of your hand the man devoted to me for destruction,[l]68 your soul must take the place of his soul,69 and your people the place of his people.’”70
  43. At that the king of Israel went on his way toward his house, sullen and dejected,71 and came to Sa·marʹi·a.72

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ LXX transposes chapters 20 and 21; therefore in LXX chapter 21 begins here.
  2. ^ Lit., “that are at my feet!”
  3. ^ “Jehovah.” Heb., Yehwahʹ; AqBurkitt uses the Tetragrammaton in the ancient Heb. characters; Gr., Kyʹri·os. See App 1C §7.
  4. ^ See App 1C §7.
  5. ^ See App 1C §7.
  6. ^ “At the return of the year,” that is, next spring. See 2Ch 36:10.
  7. ^ Or, “Their gods are gods of mountains.” See vs 28 ftn.
  8. ^ “A God of.” Heb., ʼElo·hehʹ, pl. of ʼElohʹah, to denote excellence or majesty.
  9. ^ “Of the sons of the prophets.” Heb., mib·benehʹ han·nevi·ʼimʹ; the first occurrence of this expression.
  10. ^ “Striking and wounding.” In Heb. these are verbs in the infinitive absolute, indefinite as to time and impersonal.
  11. ^ See App 8A.
  12. ^ Lit., “the man, my devoted thing.”

REFERENCES

  1. ^ 2Ki 6:24; 8:7
  2. ^ Is 10:8; Eze 26:7
  3. ^ Pr 21:31
  4. ^ De 20:1
  5. ^ Le 26:25; De 28:52
  6. ^ 2Ki 6:24; 17:5
  7. ^ 2Ki 19:9, 23; Is 37:9
  8. ^ Ex 15:9; Jb 40:12; Is 10:13
  9. ^ Le 26:28; De 28:48
  10. ^ Jg 5:30; Ezr 8:27
  11. ^ Pr 11:14
  12. ^ Pr 11:27
  13. ^ 1Ki 19:2; Je 5:7
  14. ^ Ac 23:12
  15. ^ Pr 16:18; Is 37:24
  16. ^ 1Sa 2:3; 25:13; Ps 45:3
  17. ^ Pr 27:1; Ec 7:8; 8:7
  18. ^ Pr 31:4
  19. ^ 1Ki 16:29
  20. ^ Is 55:11
  21. ^ Ex 14:18; Ps 37:20
  22. ^ 1Sa 14:6; 2Ch 14:11
  23. ^ Pr 31:4; Ec 10:17; Ho 4:11
  24. ^ 1Ki 20:14
  25. ^ Pr 16:18; 18:12; Lu 14:11
  26. ^ Ge 25:20; De 26:5; 2Sa 8:6; 2Ki 5:2; Is 9:12
  27. ^ Le 26:8; De 28:7; Ps 33:16; 46:6
  28. ^ Jos 11:6
  29. ^ 1Ki 20:13; Am 3:7
  30. ^ 2Ch 25:8; Ps 25:8; 27:14
  31. ^ Pr 20:18
  32. ^ 2Sa 11:1; 1Ch 20:1; 2Ch 36:10
  33. ^ Ps 47:7; 83:18; 97:9; 115:2; Ro 1:21; 1Co 8:4
  34. ^ 1Ki 20:1, 16
  35. ^ Pr 21:30
  36. ^ Ps 10:3
  37. ^ 1Ki 20:20
  38. ^ 1Sa 29:1; 2Ki 13:17
  39. ^ Jos 1:11
  40. ^ Jg 6:5; 1Sa 13:5; 2Ch 32:7; Heb 11:34
  41. ^ Ps 18:30
  42. ^ De 32:27; Ps 58:10; Eze 20:9; 36:22
  43. ^ Ex 6:7; 7:5; 8:10; Eze 6:14; 39:7
  44. ^ Jos 6:15
  45. ^ 1Ki 20:26
  46. ^ Is 24:18; Je 48:44; Am 2:14; 9:3
  47. ^ 1Ki 20:20
  48. ^ 1Ki 22:25
  49. ^ Pr 20:28; Is 16:5
  50. ^ Jon 3:8
  51. ^ Ge 37:34; 1Ki 21:27; Es 4:1; Is 22:12; Re 11:3
  52. ^ Jon 3:9
  53. ^ Pr 25:13
  54. ^ 2Ki 10:15
  55. ^ 1Ki 15:20; 2Ch 16:4
  56. ^ Ex 23:32
  57. ^ 2Ki 2:3; Am 7:14
  58. ^ 1Ki 17:14
  59. ^ 1Ki 13:24
  60. ^ Pr 16:25
  61. ^ 2Sa 14:2
  62. ^ 2Sa 12:1; 14:4
  63. ^ Ge 2:7; Le 17:11
  64. ^ 2Ki 10:24; Ac 12:19; 16:27
  65. ^ Ex 21:30; Pr 13:8
  66. ^ Jb 34:4; Lu 19:22; Ga 6:7
  67. ^ 1Ki 20:35
  68. ^ Le 27:29; Jos 6:18; 1Sa 15:9; 1Ch 2:7; Je 48:10
  69. ^ 1Ki 22:31, 35; 2Ch 18:33
  70. ^ 2Ki 6:24; 8:12; 2Ch 18:16
  71. ^ 1Ki 21:4; Ps 2:10
  72. ^ 1Ki 16:29

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

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    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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