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1 Kings 20:18

16 They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.

17 And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”

19 Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them,

20 and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

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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
“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
KJV
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
WEB
He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
ASV
And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
DARBY
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
BLB
And he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. And if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
ÅB
Da sa han: Enten de har draget ut i fredelig øyemed, eller de har draget ut til strid, så grip dem levende!
OTB
Han sa: "Hvis de har kommet for fred, ta dem levende; og hvis de har kommet for krig, ta dem levende."
B1930
Da sa han: Enten de har draget ut i fredelig øiemed, eller de har draget ut til strid, så grip dem levende!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 14:8–12

    Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 18:12

    Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 17:44

    “Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 2:3–4

    Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 14:11–12

    So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!”

    Read in context