1 Kings 20:12

¹⁰ Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”

¹¹ And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”

Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city.

¹³ Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

¹⁴ “By whom?” Ahab asked. And the prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young officers of the district governors.’” “Who will start the battle?” asked Ahab. “You will,” answered the prophet.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city.
KJV: And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad 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.
WEB: When 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.
ASV: And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] 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.
DARBY: And it came to pass when he heard this word, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the tents, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves. And they set themselves against the city.
BLB: And it came to pass at the hearing of this word—and he was drinking, he and the kings, in the booths—that he said to his servants, “Set yourselves.” And they set themselves against the city.

ÅB: Da Benhadad hørte dette svar, mens han selv og kongene satt og drakk i løvhyttene, sa han til sine menn: Still dere opp! Og de stilte seg opp imot byen.
OTB: Da Ben-Hadad hørte dette svaret, drakk han og de andre kongene i teltene sine. Han beordret sine menn: "Gjør klar til angrep!" Så gjorde de seg klare til å angripe byen.
B1930: Da Benhadad hørte dette svar, mens han selv og kongene satt og drakk i løvhyttene, sa han til sine menn: Still eder op! Og de stilte sig op imot byen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Kings 16:9
However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him.
Read in context
1 Kings 20:16
They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
Read in context
Proverbs 31:4–5
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Read in context
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Read in context
Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Read in context
Jeremiah 43:10
Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones that I have embedded, and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.
Read in context
Daniel 5:30
That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain,
Read in context
1 Samuel 25:36
When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
Read in context