Berean Standard Bible
1 Kings 20:7
7Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.”
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 came back and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent to you to demand your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children. 6But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to search your palace and the houses of your servants. They will seize and carry away all that is precious to you.’” Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.” 8And the elders and the people all said, “Do not listen to him or consent to his terms.” 9So Ahab answered the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you demanded of your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers departed and relayed the message to Ben-hadad.
Read all of 1 Kings 201 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
- Then the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- summonedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Pleaseנָאnâ' · pleaseH4994
- take noteיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- and seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
- thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- is looking forבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- troubleרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- when he demandedשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- when he demandedאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- my wivesאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- my childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- my silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- and my goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- I did notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- denyמָנַעmâna‛ · to withholdH4513
- himמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
Cross-references for 1 Kings 20:7
- 1 Kings 8:1At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.
- 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”
- 1 Chronicles 13:1Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1Now David summoned all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials and mighty men—every mighty man of valor.
- Proverbs 11:14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
- Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
- Psalms 7:14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
- Psalms 36:4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
- Psalms 62:3How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
- Psalms 140:2who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
- Proverbs 6:14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
- Proverbs 11:27He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
- Proverbs 24:2for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
- Daniel 11:27And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.
- Romans 3:13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
- 1 Kings 20:4And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with 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
In the dictionaries
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
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