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The Holy Bible

King James Version
with full narration by Alexander Scourby

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I Kings
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I Kings

20
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First Kings 20 records Ben-hadad king of Syria besieging Samaria with thirty-two allied kings and demanding Ahab's silver, gold, women, and children, then escalating his demands until Ahab refuses. A prophet delivers God's word that Ahab will defeat the vast Syrian host, and Israel's young men strike down the Syrians while Ben-hadad escapes, with a second victory the next year at Aphek after the Syrians arrogantly claim the Lord is only a god of the hills. When Ahab spares Ben-hadad and makes a treaty, a prophet condemns him: because he let the man God devoted to destruction go free, Ahab's life will pay for his, and Ahab returns to Samaria heavy and displeased.

🔍 Text
(1) And Benhadad the king of Syria 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 warred against it.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 15:18I Kings 15:20II Kings 8:7II Kings 8:8II Kings 8:9II Kings 8:10II Chronicles 16:2II Chronicles 16:3II Chronicles 16:4Jeremiah 49:27Amos 1:4I Kings 20:16

Related verses (shared words)

II Kings 6:24I Kings 10:26II Kings 7:6Exodus 16:18Numbers 11:32Judges 4:13

(2) And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

II Kings 19:9Isaiah 36:2Isaiah 36:3Isaiah 36:4Isaiah 36:5Isaiah 36:6Isaiah 36:7Isaiah 36:8Isaiah 36:9Isaiah 36:10Isaiah 36:11Isaiah 36:12

Related verses (shared words)

I Kings 20:9II Kings 8:27

(3) Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 15:9Isaiah 10:13Isaiah 10:14

Related verses (shared words)

Exodus 38:17

(4) And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Leviticus 26:36Deuteronomy 28:48Judges 15:11Judges 15:12Judges 15:13I Samuel 13:6I Samuel 13:7II Kings 18:14II Kings 18:15II Kings 18:16

(5) And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
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Related verses (shared words)

Exodus 38:17Ezekiel 7:19I Kings 20:9I Corinthians 14:2

(6) Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Samuel 13:19I Samuel 13:20I Samuel 13:21II Samuel 24:14II Kings 18:31II Kings 18:32Genesis 27:15Ezra 8:27Isaiah 44:9Jeremiah 25:34Lamentations 1:7Lamentations 1:10

Related verses (shared words)

Philippians 4:8Leviticus 11:42Exodus 8:21Numbers 13:2Exodus 10:6Jeremiah 19:13

(7) 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 8:1II Kings 5:7I Chronicles 13:1I Chronicles 28:1Proverbs 11:14Job 15:35Psalms 7:14Psalms 36:4Psalms 62:3Psalms 140:2Proverbs 6:14Proverbs 11:27

Related verses (shared words)

Exodus 38:17Proverbs 11:27

(8) And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
(9) Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, 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 word again.
Cross-references
Related verses (shared words)

Isaiah 57:9Judges 6:35I Samuel 11:9I Samuel 19:20I Samuel 19:21Luke 7:24

(10) And Benhadad 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 19:2Acts 23:12II Samuel 17:12II Samuel 17:13II Kings 19:23II Kings 19:24Isaiah 10:13Isaiah 10:14Isaiah 37:24Isaiah 37:25Exodus 11:8Judges 4:10

Related verses (shared words)

Judges 10:6II Kings 18:34Isaiah 36:19

(11) And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Samuel 14:6I Samuel 14:12I Samuel 14:13I Samuel 17:44I Samuel 17:45I Samuel 17:46I Samuel 17:47Proverbs 27:1Ecclesiastes 9:11Isaiah 10:15Isaiah 10:16Matthew 26:33

(12) And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:16I Kings 16:9I Samuel 25:36II Samuel 13:28Proverbs 31:4Proverbs 31:5Daniel 5:2Daniel 5:30Luke 21:34Ephesians 5:18Jeremiah 43:10

Related verses (shared words)

Judges 20:22I Chronicles 19:17II Chronicles 13:3Isaiah 8:9Jeremiah 50:14I Kings 20:16

(13) And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

II Kings 6:8II Kings 6:9II Kings 6:10II Kings 6:11II Kings 6:12II Kings 7:1II Kings 13:23Isaiah 7:1Isaiah 7:2Isaiah 7:3Isaiah 7:4Isaiah 7:5

Related verses (shared words)

Jeremiah 28:9Jeremiah 28:12II Kings 8:27

(14) And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 14:14Genesis 14:15Genesis 14:16Judges 7:16Judges 7:17Judges 7:18Judges 7:19Judges 7:20I Samuel 17:50I Corinthians 1:27I Corinthians 1:28I Corinthians 1:29

Related verses (shared words)

I Samuel 29:4Deuteronomy 22:6I Kings 20:15I Kings 20:17I Kings 20:19Esther 1:3

(15) 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 7:7Judges 7:16I Samuel 14:6II Chronicles 14:11I Kings 19:18I Samuel 14:2II Kings 13:7Psalms 106:40Psalms 106:41Psalms 106:42Psalms 106:43

Related verses (shared words)

Numbers 1:44I Chronicles 23:3Numbers 7:2Numbers 2:32Numbers 3:22Numbers 3:39

(16) And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:11I Kings 20:12I Kings 16:7Proverbs 23:29Proverbs 23:30Proverbs 23:31Proverbs 23:32Ecclesiastes 10:16Ecclesiastes 10:17Hosea 4:11Isaiah 54:15

Related verses (shared words)

Judges 10:4Judges 12:9I Kings 20:12

(17) And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:14I Kings 20:15I Kings 20:19

Related verses (shared words)

Deuteronomy 22:6I Kings 20:14I Kings 20:15I Kings 20:19Esther 1:3Esther 1:16

(18) And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Samuel 2:3I Samuel 2:4I Samuel 14:11I Samuel 14:12I Samuel 17:44II Kings 14:8II Kings 14:9II Kings 14:10II Kings 14:11II Kings 14:12Proverbs 18:12

Related verses (shared words)

Romans 14:8I Corinthians 13:8Exodus 4:18Exodus 22:4II Samuel 12:22II Kings 10:14

(19) So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
Cross-references
Related verses (shared words)

Deuteronomy 22:6I Kings 20:14I Kings 20:15I Kings 20:17Mark 14:51Esther 1:3

(20) And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

II Samuel 2:16Ecclesiastes 9:11Leviticus 26:8Judges 7:20Judges 7:21Judges 7:22I Samuel 14:13I Samuel 14:14I Samuel 14:15II Kings 7:6II Kings 7:7Psalms 33:16

Related verses (shared words)

II Samuel 10:18I Chronicles 19:18Judges 7:25Judges 20:45II Samuel 8:5I Chronicles 18:5

(21) And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 3:28Judges 7:23Judges 7:24Judges 7:25I Samuel 14:20I Samuel 14:21I Samuel 14:22I Samuel 17:52II Kings 3:18II Kings 3:24

Related verses (shared words)

II Samuel 10:18I Chronicles 19:18Joshua 10:10I Samuel 17:35II Samuel 8:5I Chronicles 18:5

(22) And the prophet came 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 Syria will come up against thee.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:13I Kings 20:38I Kings 19:10I Kings 22:8II Kings 6:12II Chronicles 25:8II Chronicles 25:11Psalms 27:14Proverbs 18:10Proverbs 20:18Isaiah 8:9Joel 3:9

Related verses (shared words)

Song of Solomon 6:13Jeremiah 15:19Jeremiah 44:14Ezekiel 7:13Ezekiel 16:55Malachi 3:7

(23) And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:28I Kings 14:23I Samuel 4:8II Kings 19:12II Chronicles 32:13II Chronicles 32:14II Chronicles 32:15II Chronicles 32:16II Chronicles 32:17II Chronicles 32:18II Chronicles 32:19Psalms 50:21

Related verses (shared words)

Judges 10:6I Kings 20:25II Chronicles 28:23Exodus 20:23Exodus 34:15Exodus 34:16

(24) And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:1I Kings 20:16I Kings 22:31Proverbs 21:30

Related verses (shared words)

Deuteronomy 1:15I Chronicles 28:1

(25) 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 10:3

Related verses (shared words)

Isaiah 21:7Isaiah 43:17I Kings 20:23Revelation 9:16I Samuel 4:16I Samuel 17:21

(26) And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:30Joshua 13:4Joshua 19:30Judges 1:31I Samuel 4:1I Samuel 29:1II Kings 13:17

Related verses (shared words)

Song of Solomon 6:13Jeremiah 15:19Jeremiah 44:14Ezekiel 16:55Malachi 3:7

(27) And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 1:11Judges 7:8Deuteronomy 32:30Judges 6:5I Samuel 13:5I Samuel 13:6I Samuel 13:7I Samuel 13:8I Samuel 14:2II Chronicles 32:7II Chronicles 32:8Ecclesiastes 9:11

Related verses (shared words)

Genesis 43:11Proverbs 6:10Proverbs 24:33

(28) And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:13I Kings 20:22I Kings 13:1I Kings 17:18II Chronicles 20:14II Chronicles 20:15II Chronicles 20:16II Chronicles 20:17II Chronicles 20:18II Chronicles 20:19II Chronicles 20:20I Kings 20:23

(29) And they pitched 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 Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 6:15I Samuel 17:16Psalms 10:16II Samuel 10:18II Chronicles 13:17II Chronicles 20:23II Chronicles 20:24II Chronicles 20:25II Chronicles 28:6Isaiah 37:36

Related verses (shared words)

I Chronicles 19:18I Samuel 4:2II Samuel 8:5II Samuel 10:18I Chronicles 18:5I Samuel 4:1

(30) But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 18:25Isaiah 24:18Jeremiah 48:44Amos 2:14Amos 2:15Amos 5:19Amos 9:3Luke 13:4I Kings 20:10I Kings 20:20Daniel 4:37I Kings 22:25

Related verses (shared words)

Genesis 14:10II Chronicles 2:10I Samuel 19:10I Samuel 31:7II Samuel 10:14II Kings 7:7

(31) And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:23II Kings 5:13Proverbs 20:28Isaiah 16:5Ephesians 1:7Ephesians 1:8I Kings 21:27I Kings 21:28I Kings 21:29Genesis 37:34II Samuel 3:31II Samuel 14:2

Related verses (shared words)

I Kings 20:32Lamentations 2:10

(32) So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:3I Kings 20:4I Kings 20:5I Kings 20:6Job 12:17Job 12:18Job 40:11Job 40:12Isaiah 2:11Isaiah 2:12Isaiah 10:12Daniel 5:20

Related verses (shared words)

I Kings 20:31Lamentations 2:10Ezekiel 23:15Romans 14:8Galatians 2:20

(33) Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 25:13Luke 16:8II Kings 10:15Acts 8:31

Related verses (shared words)

Isaiah 21:7Romans 14:8I Corinthians 13:8Deuteronomy 24:8

(34) And Benhadad 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. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 15:20II Chronicles 16:4I Kings 20:42I Kings 22:31II Chronicles 18:30Isaiah 8:12Isaiah 26:10

Related verses (shared words)

Leviticus 26:42II Kings 23:3Genesis 17:7Genesis 17:13Genesis 17:19Deuteronomy 29:1

(35) And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:38I Samuel 10:12II Kings 2:3II Kings 2:5II Kings 2:7II Kings 2:15II Kings 4:1II Kings 4:38Amos 7:14I Kings 13:1I Kings 13:2I Kings 13:17

Related verses (shared words)

Exodus 12:23I Samuel 23:2I Samuel 26:8II Kings 6:21II Kings 6:22Isaiah 19:22

(36) Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 13:21I Kings 13:22I Kings 13:23I Kings 13:24I Kings 13:26I Samuel 15:22I Samuel 15:23

Related verses (shared words)

I Kings 13:24II Samuel 23:20I Chronicles 11:22Genesis 12:4Mark 1:42Luke 1:23

(37) Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:35Exodus 21:12

(38) So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 14:2I Kings 22:30II Samuel 14:2Matthew 6:16

Related verses (shared words)

Jeremiah 28:9Jeremiah 28:12

(39) 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 9:7Judges 9:8Judges 9:9Judges 9:10Judges 9:11Judges 9:12Judges 9:13Judges 9:14Judges 9:15Judges 9:16Judges 9:17Judges 9:18

Related verses (shared words)

I Samuel 9:4Deuteronomy 2:8Ruth 4:1II Samuel 18:30I Kings 22:32II Kings 4:8

(40) 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.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

II Samuel 12:5II Samuel 12:6II Samuel 12:7Job 15:6Matthew 21:41Matthew 21:42Matthew 21:43Matthew 25:24Matthew 25:25Matthew 25:26Matthew 25:27Luke 19:22

Related verses (shared words)

Isaiah 22:16

(41) And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:38II Samuel 13:19Job 2:8Jeremiah 6:26

(42) And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 20:34I Kings 22:31I Kings 22:32I Kings 22:33I Kings 22:34I Kings 22:35I Kings 22:36I Kings 22:37I Samuel 15:9I Samuel 15:10I Samuel 15:11II Kings 6:24

(43) And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
Cross-references
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I Kings 21:4I Kings 22:8Esther 5:13Esther 6:12Esther 6:13Job 5:2Proverbs 19:3

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I Kings • Ch. 20
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