New English Translation
1 Kings 20:7
7The king of Israel summoned all the leaders of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist 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 again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 6But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.” The king of Israel summoned all the leaders of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 8All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.” 9So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’” So the messengers went back and gave their report.
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 convened in Jerusalem Israel’s elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, so they could witness the transferal of 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 said, “Am I God? Can I kill or restore life? Why does he ask me to cure a man of his skin disease? Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me!”
- 1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1David assembled in Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.
- Proverbs 11:14When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors.
- Job 15:35They conceive trouble and bring forth evil; their belly prepares deception.”
- Psalms 7:14See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies –
- Psalms 36:4He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.
- Psalms 62:3How long will you threaten a man? All of you are murderers, as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence.
- Psalms 140:2who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict.
- Proverbs 6:14he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times.
- Proverbs 11:27The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil – it will come to him.
- Proverbs 24:2for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.
- Daniel 11:27These two kings, their minds filled with evil intentions, will trade lies with one another at the same table. But it will not succeed, for there is still an end at the appointed time.
- Romans 3:13“Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.”
- 1 Kings 20:4The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”
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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