1 Kings 20:34

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.

Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

35 Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.

36 Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.

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 said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.
KJV
And Ben-hadad 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.
WEB
Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” “I”, said Ahab, “will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
ASV
And [Ben-hadad] 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. And I, [said Ahab], will let thee go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.
DARBY
And [Ben-Hadad] said to him, The cities that my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thyself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And I [said Ahab] will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
BLB
And he said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father, I will restore, and you may set up streets for yourself in Damascus as my father set up in Samaria. And I will send you away by the covenant.” And he made with him a covenant and sent him away.
ÅB
Og Benhadad sa til ham: De byer som min far tok fra din far, vil jeg gi tilbake, og du kan gjøre deg gater i Damaskus, slik som min far gjorde i Samaria. Og jeg [sa Akab] vil på det vilkår gi deg fri. Så inngikk han et forbund med ham og gav ham fri.
OTB
Ben-Hadad sa, "Jeg vil gi tilbake byene min far tok fra din far. Du kan sette opp markedsområder for deg selv i Damaskus, som min far gjorde i Samaria." Ahab sa, "På grunnlag av denne avtalen vil jeg la deg gå." Så inngikk han en traktat med ham og lot ham gå.
B1930
Og Benhadad sa til ham: De byer som min far tok fra din far, vil jeg gi tilbake, og du kan gjøre dig gater i Damaskus, likesom min far gjorde i Samaria. Og jeg [sa Akab] vil på det vilkår gi dig fri. Så inngikk han et forbund med ham og gav ham fri.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 15:20

    And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole land of Naphtali, including the region of Chinnereth.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 26:10

    Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 20:42

    And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 8:12

    “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 16:4

    And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 22:31

    Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 18:30

    Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”

    Read in context