1 Kings 20:16

1 Kings 20:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they went out at noon. But Ben–hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
• New International Version (NIV)They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So they went out at noon. Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two kings helping him were getting drunk at the command post.

Context of 1 Kings 20:16

14But Ahab said, “By whom?” So he said, “The Lord says this: ‘By the young men of the leaders of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who will begin the battle?” And he said, “You will.” 15So he mustered the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, all the sons of Israel: seven thousand. They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two kings who were helping him. 17The young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.” 18Then he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well.”

1 Kings 20:16 word by word

וַיֵּצְא֖וּ בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם וּבֶן־הֲדַד֩ שֹׁתֶ֨ה שִׁכּ֜וֹר בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת ה֧וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֛ים שְׁלֹשִֽׁים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֖לֶךְ עֹזֵ֥ר אֹתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• They wentיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• at noonצֹ֫הַרtsôhar · middayH6672
• Ben-hadadבֶּן־הֲדַדben-hădad · Ben-hadadH1130
• was drinkingשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• himself drunkשִׁכֹּרshikkôr shikkôr · drunkenH7910
• temporaryסֻכָּהsûkkâh · boothH5521
• with the thirty-twoשְׁלֹשִׁיםshelôshîym shelôshîym · thirtyH7970
• with the thirty-twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• who were helpingעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826

Cross-references for 1 Kings 20:16

• 1 Samuel 2:3Do not go on boasting so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.
• 1 Samuel 14:11When the two of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have kept themselves hidden.”
• 1 Samuel 17:44The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals.”
• 2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s face each other in combat.”
• Proverbs 18:12Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 20:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16drinking himself drunk - Ben-hadad meant probably to mark his utter contempt of his foe. Compare the contempt of Belshazzar Daniel 5:1-4.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. 13-16Ahab's forces attacked around noon after a prophet promised them victory. The Jewish historian Josephus thought this prophet might have been Micaiah (see 1 Kings 22:8). The Israelites attacked during the hottest part of the day (see Joshua 8:14), catching the enemy off guard. Ben-hadad and the allied kings were still drinking, showing their lack of respect for Ahab's military strength.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 20:16

• Drunkenness
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• King
• Prophecy

In the dictionaries

• Ahab
• Eating
• Mark
• Pavilion
• Samaria
• Benhadad
• Drunkenness
• 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