1 Kings 20:20

1 Kings 20:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben–hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
• New International Version (NIV)and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And each one killed his man; so the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them; and Ben-Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the cavalry.

Context of 1 Kings 20:20

18So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.” 19The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city, and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry. 21Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a severe slaughter on Aram. 22The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider carefully what you should do, for in the spring the king of Aram will attack you.”

1 Kings 20:20 word by word

וַיַּכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אִישׁ֔וֹ וַיָּנֻ֣סוּ אֲרָ֔ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵ֖ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט בֶּן־הֲדַד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם עַל־ס֖וּס וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• his manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and the Syriansאֲרָם'ărâm · SyriaH758
• fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• pursuedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• them: and Ben–hadadבֶּן־הֲדַדben-hădad · Ben-hadadH1130
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• escapedמָלַטmâlaţ · to escapeH4422
• on an horseסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• with the horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571

Cross-references for 1 Kings 20:20

• 1 Kings 20:13A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this whole huge army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am the Lord.’”
• 1 Kings 19:10He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”
• 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king shouldn’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
• 2 Kings 6:12One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”
• 2 Chronicles 25:8But if you go with them, do it! Be strong for battle! But God will make you stumble before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to make one stumble.”
• Psalms 27:14Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.
• Proverbs 18:10The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.
• Proverbs 20:18Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.
• Isaiah 8:9Band together, peoples, and be broken; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for war, and be broken; prepare for war, and be broken.
• Joel 3:9Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for holy war; rouse the warriors; let all the men of war advance and attack!
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
• 1 Kings 20:26In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek to battle Israel.
• 2 Samuel 11:1In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
• 1 Chronicles 20:1In the spring when kings march out to war, Joab led the army and destroyed the Ammonites’ land. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.
• Psalms 115:2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
• Isaiah 26:11Lord, your hand is lifted up to take action, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame. Let fire consume your adversaries.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 20:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The Syrians fled - They were doubtless panic-struck.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 The proud Syrians were beaten, and the despised Israelites were conquerors. The orders of the proud, drunken king disordered his troops, and prevented them from attacking the Israelites. Those that are most secure, are commonly least courageous. Ahab slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. God often makes one wicked man a scourge to another.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-22Horses and chariots were important in ancient battles. Ahab's defeat of most of Ben-hadad's forces was crucial to prevent future attacks. However, God's prophet warned that the king of Aram would come back. in the spring: Late spring and early summer were common times for war in the ancient Near East. Armies could rely on good weather and grain from the early harvest.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2113-21. behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab--Though the king and people of Israel had highly offended Him, God had not utterly cast them off. He still cherished designs of mercy towards them, and here, though unasked, gave them a signal proof of His interest in them, by a prophet's animating announcement that the Lord would that day deliver the mighty hosts of the enemy into his hand by means of a small, feeble, inadequate band. Conformably to the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 20:20

• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Prophecy

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Syria
• Ahab
• Mark
• Samaria
• Benhadad
• 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