1 Kings 20:7

1 Kings 20:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
• New International Version (NIV)The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, "Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Notice, please, and see how this man seeks trouble, for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not deny him.”

Context of 1 Kings 20:7

5The messengers returned and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I indeed sent word to you, saying, “You shall give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children,” 6but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and they will take with their hands (confiscate) whatever is desirable in your eyes and carry it away.’ ” Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and see how this man is seeking our destruction. For he sent messengers to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 8All the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent [to this additional demand].” 9So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Every demand you first sent to your servant I will do, but I cannot do this [additional] thing [as a condition of peace].’ ” And the messengers left; then they brought him word again.

1 Kings 20:7 word by word

וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְכָל־זִקְנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ דְּעֽוּ־נָ֣א וּרְא֔וּ כִּ֥י רָעָ֖ה זֶ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֨ח אֵלַ֜י לְנָשַׁ֤י וּלְבָנַי֙ וּלְכַסְפִּ֣י וְלִזְהָבִ֔י וְלֹ֥א מָנַ֖עְתִּי מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• all the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
• of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Markיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• I pray you, and seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• seekethבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• mischiefרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
• for he sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• unto me for my wivesאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• and for my childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• and for my silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• and for my goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
• and I deniedמָנַעmâna‛ · to withholdH4513

Cross-references for 1 Kings 20:7

• 1 Kings 8:1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion.
• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes [in shock and outrage at the request] and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me [a request] to heal a man of his leprosy? Just consider [what he is asking] and see how he is seeking an opportunity [for a battle] with me.”
• 1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.
• 1 Chronicles 28:1David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders (officials) of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, with the palace officers and the mighty men, and all the brave warriors.
• Proverbs 11:14Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm], But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.
• Job 15:35They conceive mischief and bring forth wickedness, And their inmost soul prepares deceit and fraud.”
• Psalms 7:14Behold, the [wicked and irreverent] man is pregnant with sin, And he conceives mischief and gives birth to lies.
• Psalms 36:4He plans wrongdoing on his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not reject or despise evil.
• Psalms 62:3How long will you attack a man So that you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
• Psalms 140:2They devise evil things in their hearts; They continually [gather together and] stir up wars.
• Proverbs 6:14Who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually; Who spreads discord and strife.
• Proverbs 11:27He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
• Proverbs 24:2For their minds plot violence, And their lips talk of trouble [for the innocent].
• Daniel 11:27And as for both of these kings, their hearts will be set on doing evil; they will speak lies over the same table, but it will not succeed, for the end is yet to come at the appointed time.
• Romans 3:13“Their throat is an open grave; They [habitually] deceive with their tongues.” “The venom of asps is beneath their lips.”
• 1 Kings 20:4The king of Israel [conceded his defeat and] answered, “By your word, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”

Commentaries on 1 Kings 20:7

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7The political institution of a Council of elders (Exodus 3:16, etc.), which had belonged to the undivided nation from the sojourn in Egypt downward, had therefore been continued among the ten tribes after their separation, and still held an important place in the system of Government. The Council was not merely called together when the king needed it, but held its regular sittings at the seat of government; and hence, “all the elders of the land” were now…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9When Ben-hadad's second group made even bigger demands (see 1 Samuel 11:1–2), Ahab realized Ben-hadad wanted war. Ahab agreed to the first demand but refused the second. my lord the king: Ahab spoke to Ben-hadad politely, showing he was willing to accept the Aramean king's rule. He might have hoped his polite response would prevent a fight.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-122-12. Thus said Ben-hadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine--To this message sent him during the siege, Ahab returned a tame and submissive answer, probably thinking it meant no more than an exaction of tribute. But the demand was repeated with greater insolence; and yet, from the abject character of Ahab, there is reason to believe he would have yielded to this arrogant claim also, had not the voice of his subjects been raised against it. Ben-hadad's…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 20:7

• Government

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Ahab
• Mark
• Samaria
• Benhadad
• Deny
• Israel, Kingdom of
• Samaria, City of

Commentaries on 1 Kings 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary