New International Version
1 Kings 20:7
7The 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.”
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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold.”
Context of 1 Kings 20:7
5The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. 6But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’ ” 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.” 8The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.” 9So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’ ” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.
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 King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David.
- 2 Kings 5:7As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”
- 1 Chronicles 13:1David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.
- Proverbs 11:14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
- Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.”
- Psalms 7:14Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
- Psalms 36:4Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.
- Psalms 62:3How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
- Psalms 140:2who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.
- Proverbs 6:14who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
- Proverbs 11:27Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
- Proverbs 24:2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.
- Daniel 11:27The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.
- Romans 3:13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
- 1 Kings 20:4The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all 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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