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1 Kings 20:31

Mercy and compassion

29 For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day.

30 The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.

Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

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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.

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BSB
Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
KJV
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.
WEB
His 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.”
ASV
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.
DARBY
And his servants said to 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; perhaps he will save thy life.
BLB
And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel, that they are merciful kings. Let us put, please, sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and we will go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
ÅB
Da sa hans tjenere til ham: Vi har hørt at kongene av Israels hus er milde konger; la oss legge sekk om våre lender og rep om våre hoder og gå ut til Israels konge! Kanskje han lar deg få leve!
OTB
Hans tjenestemenn sa til ham, "Se, vi har hørt at Israels konger er barmhjertige. La oss kle oss i sekkestrie med tau rundt hodene våre og gå ut til Israels konge. Kanskje han vil spare ditt liv."
B1930
Da sa hans tjenere til ham: Vi har hørt at kongene av Israels hus er milde konger; la oss legge sekk om våre lender og rep om våre hoder og gå ut til Israels konge! Kanskje han lar dig få leve!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 37:34

    Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 3:31

    Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 20:23

    Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 14:2

    So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 19:1–2

    On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 10:28

    Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 16:5

    in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.

    Read in context

  • Job 2:4

    “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.

    Read in context