1 Kings 20 מְלָכִים א

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

¹וּבֶן־הֲדַ֣ד מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֗ם קָבַץ֙ אֶת־כָּל־חֵיל֔וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֛לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ וְס֣וּס וָרָ֑כֶב וַיַּ֗עַל וַיָּ֨צַר֙ עַל־שֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בָּֽהּ׃

uven-hadad melekh-aram kavatz et-kal-chelo usheloshim ushenayim melekh itto vesus varakhev vayya'al vayyatzar al-shomron vayyillachem bah

And Ben-hadad the king of Aram gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

²וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֶל־אַחְאָ֥ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָעִֽירָה׃

vayyishlach mal'akhim el-ach'av melekh-yisra'el ha'ira

And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city,

³וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד כַּסְפְּךָ֥ וּֽזְהָבְךָ֖ לִֽי־ה֑וּא וְנָשֶׁ֧יךָ וּבָנֶ֛יךָ הַטּוֹבִ֖ים לִי־הֵֽם׃

vayyomer lo ko amar ben-hadad kaspekha uzehavkha li-hu venashekha uvanekha hattovim li-hem

and said unto him: ‘Thus saith Ben-hadad: Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.’

⁴וַיַּ֤עַן מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ֖ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לְךָ֥ אֲנִ֖י וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי׃

vayya'an melekh-yisra'el vayyomer kidvarkha adoni hammelekh lekha ani vekhal-asher-li

And the king of Israel answered and said: ‘It is according to thy saying, my lord, O king: I am thine, and all that I have.’

⁵וַיָּשֻׁ֨בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר בֶּן־הֲדַ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֤חְתִּי אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כַּסְפְּךָ֧ וּזְהָבְךָ֛ וְנָשֶׁ֥יךָ וּבָנֶ֖יךָ לִ֥י תִתֵּֽן׃

vayyashuvu hammal'akhim vayyomru ko-amar ben-hadad lemor ki-shalachti elekha lemor kaspekha uzehavkha venashekha uvanekha li titten

And the messengers came again, and said: ‘Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying: I sent indeed unto thee, saying: Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

⁶כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־כָּעֵ֣ת מָחָ֗ר אֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֶת־עֲבָדַי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחִפְּשׂוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣יתְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת בָּתֵּ֣י עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ וְהָיָה֙ כָּל־מַחְמַ֣ד עֵינֶ֔יךָ יָשִׂ֥ימוּ בְיָדָ֖ם וְלָקָֽחוּ׃

ki im-ka'et machar eshlach et-avaday elekha vechippesu et-betkha ve'et batte avadekha vehaya kal-machmad enekha yasimu veyadam velakachu

but I will send my servants unto thee tomorrow about this time, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.’

⁷וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְכָל־זִקְנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ דְּעֽוּ־נָ֣א וּרְא֔וּ כִּ֥י רָעָ֖ה זֶ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֨ח אֵלַ֜י לְנָשַׁ֤י וּלְבָנַי֙ וּלְכַסְפִּ֣י וְלִזְהָבִ֔י וְלֹ֥א מָנַ֖עְתִּי מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

vayyikra melekh-yisra'el lekhal-zikne ha'aretz vayyomer de'u-na ureu ki ra'a ze mevakkesh ki-shalach elay lenashay ulevanay ulekhaspi velizhavi velo mana'ti mimmennu

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.’

⁸וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו כָּל־הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים וְכָל־הָעָ֑ם אַל־תִּשְׁמַ֖ע וְל֥וֹא תֹאבֶֽה׃

vayyomru elav kal-hazzekenim vekhal-ha'am al-tishma' velo tove

And all the elders and all the people said unto him: ‘Hearken thou not, neither consent.’

⁹וַיֹּ֜אמֶר לְמַלְאֲכֵ֣י בֶן־הֲדַ֗ד אִמְר֞וּ לַֽאדֹנִ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֨חְתָּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֤ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ אֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה וְהַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיְשִׁבֻ֖הוּ דָּבָֽר׃

vayyomer lemal'akhe ven-hadad imru ladoni hammelekh kol asher-shalachta el-avdekha varishona e'ese vehaddavar hazze lo ukhal la'asot vayyelkhu hammal'akhim vayshivuhu davar

Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad: ‘Tell my lord the king: All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do.’ And the messengers departed, and brought him back word.

¹⁰וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֥וּן לִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑פוּ אִם־יִשְׂפֹּק֙ עֲפַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֔וֹן לִשְׁעָלִ֕ים לְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽי׃

vayyishlach elav ben-hadad vayyomer ko-ya'asun li elohim vekho yosifu im-yispok afar shomron lish'alim lekhal-ha'am asher beraglay

And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said: ‘The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.’

¹¹וַיַּ֤עַן מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דַּבְּר֔וּ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל חֹגֵ֖ר כִּמְפַתֵּֽחַ׃

vayya'an melekh-yisra'el vayyomer dabberu al-yithallel choger kimfatteach

And the king of Israel answered and said: ‘Tell him: Let not him that girdeth on his armour boast himself as he that putteth it off.’

¹²וַיְהִ֗י כִּשְׁמֹ֨עַ֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וְה֥וּא שֹׁתֶ֛ה ה֥וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֖ים בַּסֻּכּ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו֙ שִׂ֔ימוּ וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ עַל־הָעִֽיר׃

vayhi kishmoa et-haddavar hazze vehu shote hu vehammelakhim bassukkot vayyomer el-avadav simu vayyasimu al-ha'ir

And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the booths, that he said unto his servants: ‘Set yourselves in array.’ And they set themselves in array against the city.

¹³וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ נָבִ֣יא אֶחָ֗ד נִגַּשׁ֮ אֶל־אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הְֽרָאִ֔יתָ אֵ֛ת כָּל־הֶהָמ֥וֹן הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנִ֨י נֹתְנ֤וֹ בְיָֽדְךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְיָדַעְתָּ֖ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

vehinne navi echad niggash el-ach'av melekh-yisra'el vayyomer ko amar ADONAI hera'ita et kal-hehamon haggadol hazze hinni notno veyadkha hayyom veyada'ta ki-ani ADONAI

And, behold, a prophet came near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said: ‘Thus saith the LORD: Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.’ .

¹⁴וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ בְּמִ֔י וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּנַעֲרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מִֽי־יֶאְסֹ֥ר הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָֽתָּה׃

vayyomer ach'av bemi vayyomer ko-amar ADONAI bena'are sare hammedinot vayyomer mi-ye'sor hammilchama vayyomer atta

And Ahab said: ‘By whom?’ And he said: ‘Thus saith the LORD: By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’ Then he said: ‘Who shall begin the battle?’ And he answered: ‘Thou.’

¹⁵וַיִּפְקֹ֗ד אֶֽת־נַעֲרֵי֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֔וֹת וַיִּהְי֕וּ מָאתַ֖יִם שְׁנַ֣יִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ם פָּקַ֧ד אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֛ם כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִֽים׃

vayyifkod et-na'are sare hammedinot vayyihyu matayim shenayim usheloshim ve'acharehem pakad et-kal-ha'am kal-bene yisra'el shiv'at alafim

Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

¹⁶וַיֵּצְא֖וּ בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם וּבֶן־הֲדַד֩ שֹׁתֶ֨ה שִׁכּ֜וֹר בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת ה֧וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֛ים שְׁלֹשִֽׁים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֖לֶךְ עֹזֵ֥ר אֹתֽוֹ׃

vayyetzu batzahorayim uven-hadad shote shikkor bassukkot hu vehammelakhim sheloshim-ushenayim melekh ozer oto

And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

¹⁷וַיֵּצְא֗וּ נַעֲרֵ֛י שָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח בֶּן־הֲדַ֗ד וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנָשִׁ֕ים יָצְא֖וּ מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃

vayyetzu na'are sare hammedinot barishona vayyishlach ben-hadad vayyaggidu lo lemor anashim yatzu mishomron

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying: ‘There are men come out from Samaria.’

¹⁸וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אִם־לְשָׁל֥וֹם יָצָ֖אוּ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֑ים וְאִ֧ם לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה יָצָ֖אוּ חַיִּ֥ים תִּפְשֽׂוּם׃

vayyomer im-leshalom yatzau tifsum chayyim ve'im lemilchama yatzau chayyim tifsum

And he said: ‘Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.’

¹⁹וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ יָצְא֣וּ מִן־הָעִ֔יר נַעֲרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וְהַחַ֖יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃

ve'elle yatzu min-ha'ir na'are sare hammedinot vehachayil asher acharehem

So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.

²⁰וַיַּכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אִישׁ֔וֹ וַיָּנֻ֣סוּ אֲרָ֔ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵ֖ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט בֶּן־הֲדַד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם עַל־ס֖וּס וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃

vayyakku ish isho vayyanusu aram vayyirdefem yisra'el vayyimmalet ben-hadad melekh aram al-sus ufarashim

And they slew every one his man; and the Arameans fled, and Israel pursued them; and Ben-hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.

²¹וַיֵּצֵא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַסּ֖וּס וְאֶת־הָרָ֑כֶב וְהִכָּ֥ה בַאֲרָ֖ם מַכָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

vayyetze melekh yisra'el vayyakh et-hassus ve'et-harakhev vehikka va'aram makka gedola

And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Arameans with a great slaughter.

²²וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ הַנָּבִיא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לֵ֣ךְ הִתְחַזַּ֔ק וְדַ֥ע וּרְאֵ֖ה אֵ֣ת אֲשֶֽׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה כִּ֚י לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה מֶ֥לֶךְ אֲרָ֖ם עֹלֶ֥ה עָלֶֽיךָ׃

vayyiggash hannavi el-melekh yisra'el vayyomer lo lekh hitchazzak veda' ure'e et asher-ta'ase ki litshuvat hashana melekh aram ole alekha

And the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said unto him: ‘Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest; for at the return of the year the king of Aram will come up against thee.’

²³וְעַבְדֵ֨י מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֜ם אָמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָרִים֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן חָזְק֣וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְאוּלָ֗ם נִלָּחֵ֤ם אִתָּם֙ בַּמִּישׁ֔וֹר אִם־לֹ֥א נֶחֱזַ֖ק מֵהֶֽם׃

ve'avde melekh-aram amru elav elohe harim elohehem al-ken chazku mimmennu veulam nillachem ittam bammishor im-lo nechezak mehem

And the servants of the king of Aram said unto him: ‘Their God is a God of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

²⁴וְאֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה עֲשֵׂ֑ה הָסֵ֤ר הַמְּלָכִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִמְּקֹמ֔וֹ וְשִׂ֥ים פַּח֖וֹת תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃

ve'et-haddavar hazze ase haser hammelakhim ish mimmekomo vesim pachot tachtehem

And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put governors in their room:

²⁵וְאַתָּ֣ה תִֽמְנֶה־לְךָ֣ ׀ חַ֡יִל כַּחַיִל֩ הַנֹּפֵ֨ל מֵאוֹתָ֜ךְ וְס֣וּס כַּסּ֣וּס ׀ וְרֶ֣כֶב כָּרֶ֗כֶב וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֤ה אוֹתָם֙ בַּמִּישׁ֔וֹר אִם־לֹ֥א נֶחֱזַ֖ק מֵהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע לְקֹלָ֖ם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כֵּֽן׃

ve'atta timne-lekha chayil kachayil hannofel meotakh vesus kassus verekhev karekhev venillachama otam bammishor im-lo nechezak mehem vayyishma' lekolam vayya'as ken

and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.’ And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

²⁶וַֽיְהִי֙ לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד בֶּן־הֲדַ֖ד אֶת־אֲרָ֑ם וַיַּ֣עַל אֲפֵ֔קָה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

vayhi litshuvat hashana vayyifkod ben-hadad et-aram vayya'al afeka lammilchama im-yisra'el

And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

²⁷וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָתְפָּקְדוּ֙ וְכָלְכְּל֔וּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לִקְרָאתָ֑ם וַיַּחֲנ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל נֶגְדָּ֗ם כִּשְׁנֵי֙ חֲשִׂפֵ֣י עִזִּ֔ים וַאֲרָ֖ם מִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

uvene yisra'el hatpakdu vekhalkelu vayyelkhu likratam vayyachanu vene-yisra'el negdam kishne chasife izzim va'aram milu et-ha'aretz

And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them; and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Arameans filled the country.

²⁸וַיִּגַּ֞שׁ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיֹּאמֶר֮ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה יַ֠עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמְר֤וּ אֲרָם֙ אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָרִים֙ יְהוָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־אֱלֹהֵ֥י עֲמָקִ֖ים ה֑וּא וְ֠נָתַתִּי אֶת־כָּל־הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּ֤דוֹל הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

vayyiggash ish ha'elohim vayyomer el-melekh yisra'el vayyomer ko-amar ADONAI ya'an asher amru aram elohe harim ADONAI velo-elohe amakim hu venatatti et-kal-hehamon haggadol hazze beyadekha vida'tem ki-ani ADONAI

And a man of God came near and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said: ‘Thus saith the LORD: Because the Arameans have said: The LORD is a God of the hills, but he is not a God of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.’

²⁹וַֽיַּחֲנ֧וּ אֵ֦לֶּה נֹ֥כַח אֵ֖לֶּה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַתִּקְרַב֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיַּכּ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל אֶת־אֲרָ֛ם מֵאָה־אֶ֥לֶף רַגְלִ֖י בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃

vayyachanu elle nokhach elle shiv'at yamim vayhi bayyom hashevi'i vattikrav hammilchama vayyakku vene-yisra'el et-aram me'a-elef ragli beyom echad

And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Arameans a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

³⁰וַיָּנֻ֨סוּ הַנּוֹתָרִ֥ים ׀ אֲפֵקָה֮ אֶל־הָעִיר֒ וַתִּפֹּל֙ הַחוֹמָ֔ה עַל־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ הַנּוֹתָרִ֑ים וּבֶן־הֲדַ֣ד נָ֔ס וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָעִ֖יר חֶ֥דֶר בְּחָֽדֶר׃

vayyanusu hannotarim afeka el-ha'ir vattippol hachoma al-esrim veshiv'a elef ish hannotarim uven-hadad nas vayyavo el-ha'ir cheder bechader

But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

³¹וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָיו֮ עֲבָדָיו֒ הִנֵּֽה־נָ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ כִּ֗י מַלְכֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־מַלְכֵ֥י חֶ֖סֶד הֵ֑ם נָשִׂ֣ימָה נָּא֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמָתְנֵ֜ינוּ וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרֹאשֵׁ֗נוּ וְנֵצֵא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אוּלַ֖י יְחַיֶּ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

vayyomru elav avadav hinne-na shama'nu ki malkhe bet yisra'el ki-malkhe chesed hem nasima na sakkim bematnenu vachavalim beroshenu venetze el-melekh yisra'el ulay yechayye et-nafshekha

And his servants said unto him: ‘Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings; let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; peradventure he will save thy life.’

³²וַיַּחְגְּרוּ֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֜ם וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ עַבְדְּךָ֧ בֶן־הֲדַ֛ד אָמַ֖ר תְּחִֽי־נָ֣א נַפְשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֛אמֶר הַעוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י אָחִ֥י הֽוּא׃

vayyachgeru sakkim bematnehem vachavalim berashehem vayyavou el-melekh yisra'el vayyomru avdekha ven-hadad amar techi-na nafshi vayyomer ha'odennu chay achi hu

So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said: ‘Thy servant Ben-hadad saith: I pray thee, let me live.’ And he said: ‘Is he yet alive? he is my brother.’

³³וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ וַֽיְמַהֲר֜וּ וַיַּחְלְט֣וּ הֲמִמֶּ֗נּוּ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אָחִ֣יךָ בֶן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֖אמֶר בֹּ֣אוּ קָחֻ֑הוּ וַיֵּצֵ֤א אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ עַל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָֽה׃

veha'anashim yenachashu vaymaharu vayyachletu hamimmennu vayyomru achikha ven-hadad vayyomer bou kachuhu vayyetze elav ben-hadad vayya'alehu al-hammerkava

Now the men took it for a sign, and hastened to catch it from him; and they said: ‘Thy brother Ben-hadad.’ Then he said: ‘Go ye, bring him.’ Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into his chariot.

³⁴וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֡יו הֶעָרִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־לָֽקַח־אָבִי֩ מֵאֵ֨ת אָבִ֜יךָ אָשִׁ֗יב וְ֠חוּצוֹת תָּשִׂ֨ים לְךָ֤ בְדַמֶּ֨שֶׂק֙ כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֤ם אָבִי֙ בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַאֲנִ֖י בַּבְּרִ֣ית אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיִּכְרָת־ל֥וֹ בְרִ֖ית וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃

vayyomer elav he'arim asher-lakach-avi me'et avikha ashiv vechutzot tasim lekha vedammesek ka'asher-sam avi beshomron va'ani babberit ashallechekka vayyikhrat-lo verit vayshallechehu

And [Ben-hadad] said unto him: ‘The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.’ 'And I, said Ahab, will let thee go with this covenant.’ So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.

³⁵וְאִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד מִבְּנֵ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים אָמַ֧ר אֶל־רֵעֵ֛הוּ בִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה הַכֵּ֣ינִי נָ֑א וַיְמָאֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ לְהַכֹּתֽוֹ׃

ve'ish echad mibbene hannevi'im amar el-re'ehu bidvar ADONAI hakkeni na vayma'en ha'ish lehakkoto

And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his fellow by the word of the LORD: ‘Smite me, I pray thee.’ And the man refused to smite him.

³⁶וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־שָׁמַ֨עְתָּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֔ה הִנְּךָ֤ הוֹלֵךְ֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וְהִכְּךָ֖ הָאַרְיֵ֑ה וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ֙ מֵֽאֶצְל֔וֹ וַיִּמְצָאֵ֥הוּ הָאַרְיֵ֖ה וַיַּכֵּֽהוּ׃

vayyomer lo ya'an asher lo-shama'ta bekol ADONAI hinnekha holekh me'itti vehikkekha ha'arye vayyelekh me'etzlo vayyimtza'ehu ha'arye vayyakkehu

Then said he unto him: ‘Because thou hast not heartened to the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee.’ And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him; and slew him.

³⁷וַיִּמְצָא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הַכֵּ֣ינִי נָ֑א וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ הָאִ֖ישׁ הַכֵּ֥ה וּפָצֹֽעַ׃

vayyimtza ish acher vayyomer hakkeni na vayyakkehu ha'ish hakke ufatzoa

Then he found another man, and said: ‘Smite me, I pray thee.’ And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.

³⁸וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֥שׂ בָּאֲפֵ֖ר עַל־עֵינָֽיו׃

vayyelekh hannavi vayya'amod lammelekh al-haddarekh vayyitchappes ba'afer al-enav

So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

³⁹וַיְהִ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ עֹבֵ֔ר וְה֖וּא צָעַ֣ק אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר עַבְדְּךָ֣ ׀ יָצָ֣א בְקֶֽרֶב־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְהִנֵּֽה־אִ֨ישׁ סָ֜ר וַיָּבֵ֧א אֵלַ֣י אִ֗ישׁ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שְׁמֹר֙ אֶת־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה אִם־הִפָּקֵד֙ יִפָּקֵ֔ד וְהָיְתָ֤ה נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ א֥וֹ כִכַּר־כֶּ֖סֶף תִּשְׁקֽוֹל׃

vayhi hammelekh over vehu tza'ak el-hammelekh vayyomer avdekha yatza vekerev-hammilchama vehinne-ish sar vayyave elay ish vayyomer shemor et-ha'ish hazze im-hippaked yippaked vehayta nafshekha tachat nafsho o khikkar-kesef tishkol

And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king; and he said: ‘Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said: Keep this man; if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

⁴⁰וַיְהִ֣י עַבְדְּךָ֗ עֹשֵׂ֥ה הֵ֛נָּה וָהֵ֖נָּה וְה֣וּא אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֧יו מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כֵּ֥ן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֖ךָ אַתָּ֥ה חָרָֽצְתָּ׃

vayhi avdekha ose henna vahenna vehu enennu vayyomer elav melekh-yisra'el ken mishpatekha atta charatzta

And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.’ And the king of Israel said unto him: ‘So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.’

⁴¹וַיְמַהֵ֕ר וַיָּ֨סַר֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲפֵ֔ר מעל [מֵעֲלֵ֖י] עֵינָ֑יו וַיַּכֵּ֤ר אֹתוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י מֵֽהַנְּבִאִ֖ים הֽוּא׃

vaymaher vayyasar et-ha'afer me'ale enav vayyakker oto melekh yisra'el ki mehannevi'im hu

And he hastened, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.

⁴²וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה יַ֛עַן שִׁלַּ֥חְתָּ אֶת־אִישׁ־חֶרְמִ֖י מִיָּ֑ד וְהָיְתָ֤ה נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ וְעַמְּךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת עַמּֽוֹ׃

vayyomer elav ko amar ADONAI ya'an shillachta et-ish-chermi miyyad vehayta nafshekha tachat nafsho ve'ammekha tachat ammo

And he said unto him: ‘Thus saith the LORD: Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.’

⁴³וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַל־בֵּית֖וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֑ף וַיָּבֹ֖א שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃

vayyelekh melekh-yisra'el al-beto sar veza'ef vayyavo shomrona

And the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.

World Messianic Bible (English numbering)

¹Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

²He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says,

³‘Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’”

⁴The king of Israel answered, “It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.”

⁵The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children;

⁶but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. Whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.”’”

⁷Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”

⁸All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen, and don’t consent.”

⁹Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” The messengers departed and brought him back the message.

¹⁰Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”

¹¹The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’”

¹²When Ben Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, “Prepare to attack!” So they prepared to attack the city.

¹³Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “The LORD says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

¹⁴Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “The LORD says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”

¹⁵Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

¹⁶They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.

¹⁷The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”

¹⁸He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

¹⁹So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.

²⁰They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

²¹The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.

²²The prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and plan what you must do, for at the return of the year, the king of Syria will come up against you.”

²³The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let’s fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.

²⁴Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place.

²⁵Muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.” He listened to their voice and did so.

²⁶At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

²⁷The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats, but the Syrians filled the country.

²⁸A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “The LORD says, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’”

²⁹They encamped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day.

³⁰But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner room.

³¹His servants said to him, “See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life.”

³²So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” He said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

³³Now the men observed diligently and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

³⁴Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” “I”, said Ahab, “will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

³⁵A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the LORD’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him.

³⁶Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the LORD’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.

³⁷Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him and wounded him.

³⁸So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

³⁹As the king passed by, he cried to the king, and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’

⁴⁰As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be. You yourself have decided it.”

⁴¹He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.

⁴²He said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.’”

⁴³The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.

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Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.

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1 Kings 20 מְלָכִים א

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

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