1 Kings 20 34

1 Kings 20:34 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.

1 Kings 20:34 nkjv

So Ben-Hadad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Then Ahab said, "I will send you away with this treaty." So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

1 Kings 20:34 niv

"I will return the cities my father took from your father," Ben-Hadad offered. "You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Ahab said, "On the basis of a treaty I will set you free." So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.

1 Kings 20:34 esv

And Ben-hadad said to him, "The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." And Ahab said, "I will let you go on these terms." So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

1 Kings 20:34 nlt

Ben-hadad told him, "I will give back the towns my father took from your father, and you may establish places of trade in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Then Ahab said, "I will release you under these conditions." So they made a new treaty, and Ben-hadad was set free.

1 Kings 20 verses

1 Kings 20 34 Meaning

First Kings 20:34 details the terms of a treaty established between King Ben-Hadad of Aram and King Ahab of Israel following Ahab's military victory. Ben-Hadad offers to restore cities taken by his father and grant Ahab trade privileges in Damascus. In exchange, Ahab agrees to release Ben-Hadad, formalizing the agreement. This moment highlights Ahab's political opportunism, prioritizing economic and territorial gains over what later revelation shows to be divine instruction concerning the enemy.

1 Kings 20 34 Context

First Kings chapter 20 describes two distinct military campaigns between King Ahab of Israel and King Ben-Hadad of Aram. In both instances, Ahab, despite his unfaithfulness to God, miraculously defeats the significantly larger Aramean forces. The first battle involves Ben-Hadad besieging Samaria, but through prophetic instruction, Ahab achieves a decisive victory (vv. 1-21). The second campaign, a year later, takes place at Aphek, where again, God grants Israel victory over Aram (vv. 22-30), fulfilling a previous prophecy. After this second defeat, Ben-Hadad humble himself before Ahab (vv. 31-33), and verse 34 details the specific conditions of the peace treaty offered by Ben-Hadad and accepted by Ahab. This act of releasing Ben-Hadad, however, later draws divine condemnation upon Ahab from an unnamed prophet, revealing that God intended for Ben-Hadad's complete destruction. The historical backdrop involves the perennial conflict between Israel and its powerful northern neighbor, Aram, and the practice of vassal treaties in the ancient Near East, which often included territorial concessions, tribute, and trade rights.

1 Kings 20 34 Word analysis

• And Ben-Hadad said to him: Ben-Hadad (בֶּן-הֲדַד, ben-Hadad), meaning "son of Hadad" (Hadad being a major Aramean storm-god), is depicted in a state of desperation and submission, a drastic shift from his initial arrogance. His address to Ahab signifies his recognition of Ahab's temporary dominance.
• 'The cities which my father took from your father I will restore,': The "cities" (עָרִים, arim) refers to Israelite towns previously captured by the Arameans. "Restore" (אֲשִׁיב, ashiv) implies a full return or giving back, a significant territorial concession that reclaims lost Israeli land. This highlights a tangible benefit for Ahab, appealing to national interests.
• and you may set up bazaars for yourself in Damascus,': "Bazaars" (חוּצוֹת, chutzot), literally "outskirts," "open places," or "streets," here refers to dedicated commercial districts or trading posts. For a foreign king to establish these within the capital of a defeated sovereign (Damascus - דַּמֶּשֶׂק, Dammeseq - the capital of Aram) was a profound humiliation for Ben-Hadad and a great economic advantage for Ahab, granting Israel direct trade access and potentially significant revenue. This mirrors previous arrangements where the dominant power had trade concessions in the conquered territory.
• as my father did in Samaria.': This clause signifies that Ben-Hadad's father, during a period of Aramean dominance, had similar trade privileges (or tribute collection points) within Samaria (שׁוֹמְרוֹן, Shomron), Israel's capital. This establishes a reciprocal (though reversed in status) relationship and shows the standard practice of the time for the victorious power to extract such benefits.
• Then Ahab said, 'I will release you with this treaty.': Ahab (אַחְאָב, Ach'av), known for his unfaithfulness and political pragmatism, agrees to Ben-Hadad's terms. "Release you" (אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ, ashallakhkha) means to send away or dismiss. The word "treaty" (בְּרִית, berit) implies a solemn covenant or binding agreement. In this context, it is a human covenant made for political and economic gain.
• So he made a treaty with him and released him.: This confirms the completion of the formal agreement. Ahab's swift acceptance reveals his priorities – securing immediate, tangible gains rather than waiting for potential divine direction or enacting full judgment on God's enemy.

Words-group analysis:

• "The cities...Samaria.": This phrase establishes the specific material concessions. The recovery of lost territory and the acquisition of lucrative trade rights in the capital of a rival kingdom represented significant political and economic victories for Israel, appealing directly to Ahab's worldly ambition and disregard for divine mandate concerning enemy kings.
• "I will release you with this treaty.": This highlights the immediate outcome of Ben-Hadad's propositions and Ahab's willing consent. The "treaty" is the mechanism for Ben-Hadad's release, making the terms legally binding according to ancient Near Eastern custom, yet fatally flawed from a divine perspective as later revealed.

1 Kings 20 34 Bonus section

The Hebrew word berit (בְּרִית) used for "treaty" or "covenant" carries significant weight. While it can refer to secular agreements between humans, it is predominantly used in the Bible for God's covenantal relationships with His people (e.g., Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic covenants). Here, its use highlights the solemnity of the agreement, but it implicitly contrasts with the divine covenants Ahab so often violated. Ahab makes a binding human covenant while neglecting the greater covenant obligations with the God who gave him the victory. The act of setting up "bazaars" (חוּצוֹת, chutzot) not only denotes trade but also asserts Israeli presence and control deep within Aramean territory, symbolizing a power shift. However, this outwardly successful maneuver masks a deeper spiritual failure to fully carry out divine will. This mercy shown to an enemy stands in stark contrast to the 'cherem' (utter destruction) principle sometimes applied to certain adversaries of God's people in the Old Testament, illustrating Ahab's divergence from divine justice and war ethics as understood by the prophets.

1 Kings 20 34 Commentary

1 Kings 20:34 marks a pivotal moment of human decision-making that runs contrary to divine will. After a miraculous victory orchestrated by God, Ahab has a defeated King Ben-Hadad entirely at his mercy. Instead of pursuing complete victory or judging the enemy king as implied by the later prophetic rebuke (1 Kgs 20:42), Ahab opts for a pragmatic political alliance. The terms of the treaty—restoration of cities and establishment of lucrative trade "bazaars" in Damascus—are highly beneficial to Israel economically and politically. Ahab, focused on earthly gain and power, secures what appears to be a favorable peace agreement.

However, this decision demonstrates Ahab's chronic spiritual shortsightedness and disobedience. His release of Ben-Hadad is portrayed as an act against God's implicit purpose for the conflict. Like Saul's disobedience in sparing Agag (1 Sam 15), Ahab's compromise with a divinely condemned enemy underscores a lack of trust and obedience to the God who granted him victory. He prioritizes an advantageous political and commercial deal over adherence to divine instruction regarding foreign adversaries. This immediate worldly triumph sets the stage for Ahab's future downfall and serves as a powerful reminder that "friendship with the world is hostility toward God" (Jam 4:4), especially when it involves compromising divine directives. The narrative condemns a kingship that valued convenience and profit over the true fear and obedience of the Lord.