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Today's Bible Reading :: 1 Kings 18 - 20 (ESV)

1 Kings 18Listen to the passage

1 Kings 19Listen to the passage

1 Kings 20Listen to the passage

1 Kings 18

Elijah Confronts Ahab

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:1 - After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:2 - So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:3 - And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:4 - and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:5 - And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:6 - So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:7 - And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:8 - And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:9 - And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:10 - As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:11 - And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:12 - And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:13 - Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:14 - And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:15 - And Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:16 - So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:17 - When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:18 - And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:19 - Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

The Prophets of Baal Defeated

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:20 - So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:21 - And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:22 - Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:23 - Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:24 - And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:25 - Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:26 - And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:27 - And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:28 - And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:29 - And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:30 - Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:31 - Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:32

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:32 - and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs[fn] of seed.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:33

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:33 - And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:34

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:34 - And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:35

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:35 - And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:36

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:36 - And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:37

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:37 - Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:38

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:38 - Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:39

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:39 - And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:40

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:40 - And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

The Lord Sends Rain

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:41

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:41 - And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:42

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:42 - So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:43

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:43 - And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:44

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:44 - And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:45

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:45 - And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 18:46

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 18:46 - And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
ESV Footnotes
A seah was about 7.7 quarts or 7.3 liters

1 Kings 19

Elijah Flees Jezebel

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:1 - Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:2 - Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:3 - Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:4 - But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:5 - And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:6 - And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:7 - And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:8 - And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:9 - There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:10 - He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:11 - And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:12 - And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:13 - And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:14 - He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:15 - And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:16 - And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:17 - And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:18 - Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The Call of Elisha

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:19 - So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:20 - And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 19:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 19:21 - And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
ESV Footnotes
Or a sound, a thin silence

1 Kings 20

Ahab’s Wars with Syria

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:1 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:2 - And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:3 - ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:4 - And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:5 - 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:6 - Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:7 - Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:8 - And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:9 - So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:10 - Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:11 - And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:12 - When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:13 - And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:14 - And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:15 - Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:16 - And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:17 - The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:18 - He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:19 - So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:20 - And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:21 - And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:22 - Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:23 - And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:24 - And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:25 - and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:26

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:26 - In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:27

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:27 - And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:28

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:28 - And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:29

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:29 - And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:30

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:30 - And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:31

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:31 - And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:32

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:32 - So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:33

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:33 - Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:34

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:34 - 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.

A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad’s Release

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:35

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:35 - And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:36

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:36 - Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:37

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:37 - Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:38

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:38 - So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:39

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:39 - And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent[fn] of silver.’

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:40

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:40 - And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:41

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:41 - Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:42

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:42 - And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction,[fn] therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Ki 20:43

Unchecked Copy Box1Ki 20:43 - And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria.
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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