God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 20:7
7Then the king of Israel called for all the leaders of the country. He said, “You can see how this man is looking for trouble. When he sent for my wives, children, silver, and gold, I didn’t refuse 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
5But Benhadad sent messengers back ⌞to Ahab⌟. They said, “Benhadad has sent this message to you: ‘Your silver, gold, wives, and children are mine. Give ⌞them to me⌟. 6At this time tomorrow I’m going to send my servants to search your palace and your servants’ houses. They will take anything that you consider valuable.’ ” Then the king of Israel called for all the leaders of the country. He said, “You can see how this man is looking for trouble. When he sent for my wives, children, silver, and gold, I didn’t refuse him.” 8All the leaders and all the people told him, “Don’t listen to him. Don’t agree ⌞to his demands⌟.” 9Ahab told Benhadad’s messengers, “Tell His Majesty, ‘I did everything your messengers told me the first time, but I can’t do this.’ ” The messengers left to take back his answer.
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 8:1Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to King Solomon in Jerusalem to take the ark of the Lord’s promise from the City of David (that is, Zion).
- 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. He asked, “Am I God? Can I kill someone and then bring him back to life? This man sends someone to me so that I can cure his skin disease! All of you should realize and understand that he’s trying to pick a fight with me.”
- 1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with every officer who commanded a regiment or battalion.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel—the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.
- Proverbs 11:14A nation will fall when there is no direction, but with many advisers there is victory.
- Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their wombs produce deception.”
- Psalms 7:14See how that person conceives evil, is pregnant with harm, and gives birth to lies.
- Psalms 36:4He invents trouble while lying on his bed and chooses to go the wrong direction. He does not reject evil.
- Psalms 62:3How long will all of you attack a person? How long will you try to murder him, as though he were a leaning wall or a sagging fence?
- Psalms 140:2They plan evil things in their hearts. They start fights every day.
- Proverbs 6:14He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind. He spreads conflict.
- Proverbs 11:27Whoever eagerly seeks good searches for good will, but whoever looks for evil finds it.
- Proverbs 24:2because their minds plot violence, and their lips talk trouble.
- Daniel 11:27The two kings will both plan to do evil. They will sit at the same table and tell lies. But they will not succeed, because the end must wait until the appointed time.
- Romans 3:13Their throats are open graves. Their tongues practice deception. Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes.
- 1 Kings 20:4The king of Israel answered, “As you say, Your Majesty. I and everything I have are yours.”
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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