Keraia
1 Kings 20

1 Kings 20:23

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad · 1 Kings 20:13–25
Read 1 Kings 20

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Literal
And the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills; upon thus they were stronger than we. But if we fight against them in the plain, will we not surely be stronger than they?
Latin
Servi vero regis Syriæ dixerunt ei: Dii montium sunt dii eorum, ideo superaverunt nos: sed melius est ut pugnemus contra eos in campestribus, et obtinebimus eos.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

1 Kings 20:23

The Arameans thought that Israel’s God had power only in the hills. This mistake gave the Lord an opportunity to show his true identity (1 Kings 20:28). Ben-hadad’s officers had a pagan way of thinking. They may have believed this error because of Israel’s history on Mount Sinai, where the Lord appeared to his people (Exodus 19:1–3, 16–18) or because Israel lived for a long time in the hill country of Canaan (see Joshua 10:40; 11:16; Judges 1:19).

But the Arameans did not know the truth: the Lord is the Creator and ruler of all the earth (Isaiah 40:28; 54:5). He is the only God, and only he can save (Isaiah 45:5, 22).

1 Kings 20:13–34

Two separate battles took place, one in Samaria (1 Kings 20:13–25) and another at Aphek (1 Kings 20:26–34). The writer shared similar details for both:

  1. advice before the battle (1 Kings 20:13–14, 23–25),

  2. conditions before the battle (1 Kings 20:15–16, 26–28),

  3. Israel's victory despite being outnumbered (1 Kings 20:17–21, 29–30), and

  4. advice after the battle (1 Kings 20:22, 31).

Places

Syria: Ancient region north of Israel, often in conflict

Glossary

Ahab (King) Ben-Hadad Gilead (Place) Kings, Books of First and Second Samaria

Topics

Chariots for War: Advantageously Manoeuvred in a Flat Country Idolatry: Led the Heathen to Consider Their Gods to Have but a Local Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Captivity, Famine, and Judgments Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: Destruction of Ben-Hadad's Army Superstition: The Belief of the Syrians Concerning the Help of the Gods Syria: Inhabitants of a Warlike People Syria: The Israelites: Forewarned of Invasion By, at the Return of the Year Valleys: The Heathen Supposed That Certain Deities Presided Over