1 Kings 20:7

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

5Soon Ben-hadad’s messengers returned again and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children. 6But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take away everything you consider valuable!’” 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.” 8“Don’t give in to any more demands,” all the elders and the people advised. 9So Ahab told the messengers from Ben-hadad, “Say this to my lord the king: ‘I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.’” So the messengers returned to Ben-hadad with that response.

1 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 8:1Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.
• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”
• 1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.
• 1 Chronicles 28:1David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom.
• Proverbs 11:14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.
• Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb produces deceit.”
• Psalms 7:14The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies.
• Psalms 36:4They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil.
• Psalms 62:3So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence.
• Psalms 140:2those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.
• Proverbs 6:14Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.
• Proverbs 11:27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
• Proverbs 24:2For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.
• Daniel 11:27Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time.
• Romans 3:13“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.”
• 1 Kings 20:4“All right, my lord the king,” Israel’s king replied. “All that I have is 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

• Government

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Ahab
• Mark
• Samaria
• Benhadad
• Deny
• 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