1 Raja-raja 20:12-19

20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, ¹  he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. ²  He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.

The Lord Delivers Israel

20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? ³  Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” ⁴  He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab ⁵  asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”

20:15 So Ahab ⁶  assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. ⁷  20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily ⁸  in their quarters. ⁹  20:17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” ¹⁰  20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” ¹¹  20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them.

[20:12]  ¹ tn Heb “When he heard this word.”

[20:12]  ² tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.

[20:13]  ³ tn Heb “this great horde.”

[20:14]  ⁴ tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[20:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”

[20:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”

[20:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.

[20:17]  ¹⁰ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[20:18]  ¹¹ tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”