Christian Standard Bible
1 Kings 20:7
7Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “Recognize that this one is only looking for trouble, for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.”
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 then returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent messengers to you, saying, “You are to give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.” 6But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will lay their hands on and take away whatever is precious to you.’” Then the king of Israel called for all the elders of the land and said, “Recognize that this one is only looking for trouble, for he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I didn’t turn him down.” 8All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen or agree.” 9So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers left and took word back to him.
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
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 8:1At that time Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the tribal heads and the ancestral leaders of the Israelites before him at Jerusalem in order to bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the city of David, that is Zion.
- 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 man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
- 1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1David assembled all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials, the fighting men, and all the best soldiers.
- Proverbs 11:14Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.
- Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb prepares deception.
- Psalms 7:14See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.
- Psalms 36:4Even on his bed he makes malicious plans. He sets himself on a path that is not good, and he does not reject evil.
- Psalms 62:3How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
- Psalms 140:2who plan evil in their hearts. They stir up wars all day long.
- Proverbs 6:14He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble.
- Proverbs 11:27The one who searches for what is good seeks favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.
- Proverbs 24:2for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.
- Daniel 11:27The two kings, whose hearts are 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 3:13Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
- 1 Kings 20:4Then the king of Israel answered, “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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