1 Kings 20 1

1 Kings 20:1 kjv

And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

1 Kings 20:1 nkjv

Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it.

1 Kings 20:1 niv

Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it.

1 Kings 20:1 esv

Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it.

1 Kings 20:1 nlt

About that time King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it.

1 Kings 20 verses

1 Kings 20 1 Meaning

1 Kings 20:1 describes the commencement of a significant military conflict, detailing the aggression of Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria), against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Ben-Hadad mustered an immense and formidable coalition force, comprising "all his army," specifically noted as including thirty-two vassal kings, alongside a strong complement of horses and chariots. This vast army ascended to Samaria, the capital city of Israel, laying siege to it and initiating combat, signaling a direct and serious threat to Israel's sovereignty and very existence.

1 Kings 20 1 Context

1 Kings 20:1 initiates the first of two military narratives (1 Kings 20 and 1 Kings 22) involving Ahab, king of Israel, and Ben-Hadad, king of Aram. This verse immediately follows chapters dominated by the prophet Elijah and the spiritual conflict against Baal worship during Ahab's reign. The seemingly overwhelming military threat from Aram highlights a critical tension: despite Israel's rampant apostasy under Ahab, God is still at work, demonstrating His sovereignty over nations and His capacity to protect His people, even through imperfect leaders. This context sets the stage for a demonstration of Yahweh's power against both the immense physical might of Aram and the spiritual pretensions of their deity, Hadad, ultimately revealing that the Lord, not the pagan gods or military alliances, determines the fate of kings and nations. Historically, Aram-Damascus was a dominant regional power, frequently engaging in conflict with Israel. The coalition of 32 kings underscores Ben-Hadad's preeminence and the severity of the threat he posed, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East where such alliances were common for regional dominance. The polemic is clear: the boasted strength of pagan kings and their patron gods stands in direct contrast to the living God of Israel, who often defeats human armies not by Israel's strength, but by His own.

1 Kings 20 1 Word analysis

• And Ben-Hadad (וּבֶן־הֲדַד - ū-ḇen-haḏaḏ): "Ben" means "son of." "Hadad" was a prominent Aramean storm, rain, and fertility deity, analogous to Baal. This name signifies his identity and authority linked directly to a powerful pagan god, often presented in opposition to Yahweh in biblical narratives. His name points to the theological clash inherent in the coming conflict.
• king of Aram (מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם - meleḵ ’ărām): "Aram" refers to Syria. Ben-Hadad represents the dominant foreign power, a long-standing adversary of Israel, emphasizing the external threat posed to God's covenant people.
• gathered (קִבֵּץ - qibbēṣ): The Hebrew verb here means "to assemble" or "to collect." Its usage conveys an intentional and thorough mobilization, indicating a significant, pre-meditated military campaign rather than a minor skirmish.
• all his army together (אֶת־כָּל־חֵילוֹ - ’eṯ-kāl-ḥêlô): "His entire military force." The phrase emphasizes the totality and magnitude of the forces amassed, leaving no reserve, highlighting the seriousness and scale of the invasion. It speaks of overwhelming human might.
• and thirty-two kings (וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁנַיִם מְלָכִים - ūšəlōšîm ūšnayi melaḵîm): This specific detail is crucial. It reveals that Ben-Hadad was not merely a monarch leading his own army but the head of a formidable confederacy of vassal states or allied rulers. This coalition underscored his supreme power and wide influence in the region, amplifying the perceived impossibility of Israel's victory.
• and horses (וְסוּסִים - wə-sūsîm): Horses signify cavalry, which was a vital component of ancient warfare, providing speed, shock value, and reconnaissance capabilities. Their mention highlights the advanced and diverse military capacity of Ben-Hadad's forces.
• and chariots (וָרֶכֶב - wā-reḵeḇ): War chariots were the most technologically advanced and destructive weapon in the ancient world, equivalent to modern tanks. Their presence indicates an elite, cutting-edge military force, reinforcing the impression of overwhelming strength and the formidable challenge posed to Israel.
• and he went up (וַיַּעַל - wayya‘al): The verb literally means "to go up." Samaria was built on a hill (1 Kgs 16:24), so this denotes the physical ascent towards the elevated city, but also carries the connotation of aggression and hostile approach against a fortified position.
• and besieged Samaria (וַיָּצַר עַל־שֹׁמְרוֹן - wayyāṣar ‘al-šōmərôn): "To lay siege to." This term describes the military tactic of surrounding a city, cutting off supplies, and attacking its fortifications, a common and highly destructive method of warfare aimed at forcing surrender.
• and fought against it (וַיִּלָּחֶם בָּהּ - wayyillāḥem bāh): "And he waged war against it." This indicates that the siege was not merely an encirclement but actively involved military engagement and direct assault, signifying the immediate and violent nature of the threat to Israel's capital.

1 Kings 20 1 Bonus section

The mention of Hadad in Ben-Hadad's name carries a significant theological undertone for the original Israelite audience. Hadad was a revered storm and war god among the Arameans, making Ben-Hadad's name akin to "son of the divine war-storm." This name implies a divine blessing or protection for the king's military endeavors. The subsequent narrative, however, presents a direct theological confrontation between this boasted pagan divine endorsement and the reality of Yahweh's supremacy. This serves as a strong polemic, demonstrating that even a king who claims divine backing from his national god is ultimately subject to the power of the one true God, Yahweh, the God of Israel. This contrast is a consistent theme throughout Kings, affirming Yahweh's sole claim to true power.

1 Kings 20 1 Commentary

1 Kings 20:1 introduces an immediate and overwhelming threat to the kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, represents the apex of human military might in the ancient Near East, mobilizing a vast, multi-national army with the latest military technology (chariots). The meticulous enumeration of forces—"all his army," "thirty-two kings," "horses and chariots"—is not mere detail but a narrative device to magnify the colossal power facing Ahab. This creates a seemingly insurmountable challenge, setting the stage for God's demonstration of power, not dependent on Israel's spiritual merit, but on His own sovereignty. The conflict becomes a crucible through which the Lord will reveal His authority over pagan nations and their deities. It serves as a reminder that though kings plot and armies gather, it is the Lord who ultimately controls the course of history and the outcome of battles.