1 Kings 20:1–7; 1 Kings 20:18

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1 Kings 20:1–7

Ahab’s Wars with Syria

qBen-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. rThirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on sSamaria and fought against it. And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, Thus says Ben-hadad: Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine. And the king of Israel answered, As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have. The messengers came again and said, Thus says Ben-hadad: I sent to you, saying, Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children. Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.

Then the king of Israel called all the telders of the land and said, uMark, 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.


1 Kings 20:18

18 He said, If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.