1 Kings 20 5

1 Kings 20:5 kjv

And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

1 Kings 20:5 nkjv

Then the messengers came back and said, "Thus speaks Ben-Hadad, saying, 'Indeed I have sent to you, saying, "You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children";

1 Kings 20:5 niv

The messengers came again and said, "This is what Ben-Hadad says: 'I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children.

1 Kings 20:5 esv

The messengers came again and said, "Thus says Ben-hadad: 'I sent to you, saying, "Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children."

1 Kings 20:5 nlt

Soon Ben-hadad's messengers returned again and said, "This is what Ben-hadad says: 'I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children.

1 Kings 20 verses

1 Kings 20 5 Meaning

The verse presents Ben-Hadad's intensified ultimatum to King Ahab. It's a direct restatement and clarification of his earlier demand (v. 3), but now explicitly detailing that not only Ahab's material wealth (silver and gold) but also his most intimate and vital possessions – his wives and children – must be surrendered to the Aramean king. This demand signifies absolute and humiliating subjugation, stripping Ahab of his personal dignity, dynastic future, and national sovereignty.

1 Kings 20 5 Context

First Kings Chapter 20 opens with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, assembling a massive army and besieging Samaria, the capital of Israel. In an attempt to avoid utter destruction, King Ahab sends an envoy to negotiate. The initial demand from Ben-Hadad in verse 3 appears to be tribute: "Your silver and your gold are mine; your fairest wives and children also are mine." Ahab, somewhat reluctantly, agrees to this initial, severe but perhaps not unheard-of, demand, stating in verse 4, "It is as you say, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have."

Verse 5, the subject of this analysis, then immediately follows. It marks an escalation. Ben-Hadad, upon receiving Ahab's acquiescence, does not merely accept it. Instead, he sends messengers again, not to confirm receipt of the agreement, but to reiterate and make absolutely clear the exact nature and extent of his claim: it is not merely about owning these things in principle, but about their physical surrender to him. This clarification signifies that Ben-Hadad intends to completely seize Ahab's wealth, family, and control, signifying a total, humiliating takeover rather than just the imposition of a vassal relationship or a tribute payment. This increased insolence and excessive demand prove to be Ben-Hadad's downfall, as it is at this point that Ahab consults with the elders and, seeing the unreasonableness, decides to refuse Ben-Hadad's updated terms (v. 7).

Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East, kings frequently exacted tribute and spoils from defeated nations. Taking a king's wives and children was the ultimate act of humiliation, power transfer, and dynastic annihilation. Wives were often absorbed into the conqueror's harem or given to his officers, effectively wiping out the defeated king's lineage and ensuring no future claims to the throne could arise. Children, particularly sons, could be enslaved or killed to prevent succession. This demand was not simply about acquiring property but about asserting absolute domination, eradicating the defeated entity's future, and making a powerful statement of victory and control. This blatant display of pagan kingly power and pride also subtly serves as a polemic against such hubris, as the narrative will show Ben-Hadad's subsequent defeat by a numerically inferior Israelite force, demonstrating the true sovereignty of God over human might and schemes.

1 Kings 20 5 Word Analysis

• Again (Hebrew: וַיָּשֻׁבוּ, vayashuvu - lit. "and they returned"): This opening word signals the repetition of the messenger's visit, emphasizing Ben-Hadad's persistent and escalating demands. It highlights that the previous interaction did not settle the matter but merely laid groundwork for a more explicit, harsh ultimatum.
• the messengers (Hebrew: הַמַּלְאָכִים, hakkemalakim): These are diplomatic envoys or representatives of the king. Their repeated arrival underscores the urgency and seriousness of Ben-Hadad's communication.
• came again: Reinforces the repetition and insistence of Ben-Hadad, indicating he is pushing for an absolute surrender, not just acknowledging the first agreement.
• and said, “Thus says Ben-Hadad: (Hebrew: וַיְדַבְּרוּ לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר בֶּן־הֲדַד, vaydabberu lemor koh amar Ben-Hadad): This is a standard formal announcement for royal decrees or prophetic messages. It signifies an authoritative declaration that leaves no room for debate or negotiation. "Ben-Hadad" (בן־הדד, Ben-Hadad) literally means "son of Hadad," Hadad being a major Aramean storm and fertility god, paralleling Baal. The title inherently carried a theological and political weight, portraying the speaker as backed by divine power (of a false god).
• ‘I sent to you, saying: (Hebrew: כִּי שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר, ki shalahti eleykha lemor): This clause emphasizes that Ben-Hadad is clarifying and reinforcing his original demand from verse 3, rather than introducing an entirely new one. He views Ahab's previous assent (v. 4) as merely agreement to a principle, and now he is specifying the actionable implementation.
• “You shall deliver to me: (Hebrew: תִּתֵּן לִּי, titten-li - "you shall give to me"): This is a direct command, an imperative, signaling no option for refusal. It denotes immediate, concrete surrender of specified items and individuals, shifting from theoretical ownership (v. 3) to physical possession by Ben-Hadad.
• your silver and your gold, (Hebrew: כַּסְפְּךָ וּזְהָבֶךָ, kaspekha uzevaviekha): This refers to all of Ahab's royal treasury, personal wealth, and any valuable resources. Silver and gold were primary forms of currency, stored wealth, and national power indicators. Their confiscation implied not just tribute but utter financial ruin and dependence.
• your wives (Hebrew: וְנָשֶׁיךָ, ve'nasheykha): A profoundly humiliating demand. In ancient monarchies, a king's wives were integral to his prestige, comfort, and sometimes political alliances. To surrender them was to violate his innermost sanctum, destroy his personal honor, and demonstrate ultimate weakness. They were often taken into the conqueror's harem or distributed among his soldiers.
• and your children!”’ (Hebrew: וּבָנֶיךָ, uvaneikha): The most severe part of the demand. Giving up children, especially male heirs, ensured the termination of the king's dynasty. It erased any future claim to the throne and devastated the king's legacy. This specific demand goes beyond economic and personal tribute to complete and utter annihilation of Ahab's lineage and sovereignty.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Again the messengers came again": This repetition underlines Ben-Hadad's relentless and uncompromising posture. He isn't negotiating but tightening his grip, making his initial, vaguely worded demand explicit and enforceable. It creates immediate dramatic tension as Ahab faces an impossible choice.
• "Thus says Ben-Hadad: 'I sent to you, saying...'": This phrase functions as a forceful confirmation. It communicates that this isn't a new thought but a clear interpretation and enforcement of what Ben-Hadad meant when he first spoke. It underscores the king's absolute authority and lack of concern for Ahab's consent or interpretation.
• "You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children!": This composite phrase encompasses the totality of surrender. It represents all a person or a kingdom could possess and hold dear: material wealth, personal intimacy, and future lineage. This complete demand makes it a zero-sum game, removing any possibility of partial compliance or preserving dignity for Ahab and Israel.

1 Kings 20 5 Bonus Section

• The specified demand in 1 Kgs 20:5 goes beyond a typical Ancient Near Eastern tribute system, which usually involved specific payments of wealth, rather than the outright confiscation of all royal possessions and family members without terms of ongoing vassalage. This highlights Ben-Hadad's unprecedented aggression and hubris.
• The phrase "your wives and your children" also served as a deeply humiliating gesture that questioned Ahab's masculinity and his ability to protect his household and ensure his legacy. Such a demand could emotionally break a ruler and incite rebellion from his populace, recognizing the futility of submission.
• From a theological perspective, Ben-Hadad's "taking" foreshadows his ultimate "giving" – he will eventually be given into Ahab's hand by God (1 Kgs 20:13, 28). This divine reversal underscores that true sovereignty rests with God, not with the powerful kings of the nations.
• This verse illustrates a common theme in the Bible where pride and overconfidence precede a fall (e.g., Prov 16:18, Isa 14:12-15). Ben-Hadad's arrogance, articulated so clearly in this demand, sets him on a collision course with divine judgment.

1 Kings 20 5 Commentary

First Kings 20:5 is a pivotal moment in the conflict between Ben-Hadad of Aram and Ahab of Israel. It crystallizes the arrogance and excessive nature of Ben-Hadad's demands. While Ben-Hadad's initial message in verse 3 might have seemed broad and punitive, Ahab's acceptance in verse 4 seems to have emboldened the Aramean king. Verse 5 is Ben-Hadad's sharp and cutting response to Ahab's capitulation: a specific, non-negotiable reiteration that clarifies his intent to take full possession of everything Ahab values.

This verse escalates the conflict beyond mere political tribute to one of total personal degradation and dynastic termination. For a king, his silver and gold represented national power and resources. His wives symbolized his status and the continuation of his royal line through his children, particularly his sons, who were his heirs. To demand all these signified not just subjugation, but the absolute annihilation of Ahab's house and Israel's independence. Such demands were meant to crush the spirit and remove any future threat. Ben-Hadad's excessive hubris in these specific and total demands ultimately triggers Ahab's defiance, as the elders and Ahab realize this constitutes an unbearable and irrecoverable surrender. This act of overreach on Ben-Hadad's part serves as a backdrop for God's subsequent intervention, showcasing divine power against an arrogant, pagan adversary and revealing that even in times of Israel's disobedience (Ahab's reign was marred by idolatry), God's covenant with His people might lead to their unexpected deliverance. The verse thus sets the stage for a dramatic display of God's sovereignty over military might and political arrogance.