I Kings 20

מלכים א׳ פרק כ׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Kings | Chapter: 20 of 22 | Day: 120 of 742

Date: June 11, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 20 marks a sudden and surprising shift in the portrayal of Ahab. Until now the narrative of Kings has cast him as Israel’s most wicked monarch, the patron of Baal worship and the husband of Jezebel, locked in bitter conflict with Eliyahu. Here, abruptly, the prophetic focus turns outward to a national emergency: Ben-hadad, king of Aram, marshals a vast coalition of thirty-two vassal kings and lays siege to Shomron (Samaria). The chapter recounts two military campaigns and two stunning Israelite victories, both delivered by the word of an anonymous prophet, and it closes with a sharp prophetic rebuke that seals Ahab’s fate. The effect is to show that even in the reign of so flawed a king, God fights for His people, not because they deserve it, but so that they will know that He is the Lord (vaydatem ki ani Hashem).

The opening campaign turns on Ben-hadad’s escalating arrogance. He first demands Ahab’s silver, gold, wives, and children, and Ahab submissively concedes (verses 3-4). But when Ben-hadad raises the stakes, demanding the right to plunder the houses of Israel at will, the elders and the people stiffen Ahab’s resolve to refuse (verses 7-9). The exchange of taunts that follows is among the most memorable in Tanakh: Ben-hadad boasts that the very dust of Shomron will not suffice to fill the hands of his troops, and Ahab retorts with the proverb, “Let not him who girds on his sword boast like him who ungirds it” (al yithallel chogeir kimfatei’ach), a warning not to celebrate victory before the battle is won. While Ben-hadad and his royal allies drink themselves drunk at Succoth, an unnamed prophet promises Ahab that God will deliver the great host into his hands. Through a tiny force, the 232 aides of the provincial governors backed by only 7,000 men, Israel routs the Arameans, and Ben-hadad flees on horseback.

The second campaign unfolds as a theological argument made flesh. The Aramean ministers rationalize their defeat by claiming that “their God is a God of mountains” (elohei harim) who could not prevail in the lowlands, and they counsel a rematch on the plain with a reconstituted professional army (verses 23-25). When the two forces meet at Aphek, the Israelites look like “two flocks of goats” beside the land-covering Aramean host. Precisely because the Arameans have reduced the God of Israel to a local mountain deity, God delivers them once more, and Israel strikes down a hundred thousand foot soldiers in a single day, while a falling wall kills twenty-seven thousand survivors at Aphek. The classical commentators dwell on these numbers and on the providential collapse of the wall as a manifestation that the God of Israel rules plain and mountain alike.

The chapter’s moral reversal comes in its final act. Ben-hadad’s ministers, trading on the reputation of the kings of Israel as merciful (malchei chesed), send their master out in sackcloth and ropes to plead for his life. Ahab, flattered to be called upon, embraces Ben-hadad as “my brother,” seats him in his chariot, and concludes a treaty, releasing the very enemy whom God had given into his hands. A disciple of the prophets then stages an elaborate prophetic enactment: he has himself struck and wounded, disguises himself, and traps Ahab into pronouncing judgment on himself through a parable about a guarded prisoner who escaped (verses 35-42). The verdict is devastating: because Ahab set free the man God had doomed to destruction (ish chermi), his life and his people will answer for Ben-hadad’s life and people. Ahab departs sar veza’eif, “dispirited and sullen,” foreshadowing the judgment that will overtake him. The chapter thus pairs miraculous deliverance with a lesson in the cost of misplaced mercy, and prepares the way for the vineyard of Navot in the chapter that follows.

פרק כ׳ · Chapter 20

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וּבֶן־הֲדַ֣ד מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָ֗ם קָבַץ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־חֵיל֔וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֛לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ וְס֣וּס וָרָ֑כֶב וַיַּ֗עַל וַיָּ֙צַר֙ עַל־שֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בָּֽהּ׃

English:

King Ben-hadad of Aram gathered his whole army; thirty-two kings accompanied him with horses and chariots. He advanced against Samaria, laid siege to it, and attacked it.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֶל־אַחְאָ֥ב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָעִֽירָה׃

English:

And he sent messengers to Ahab inside the city

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד כַּסְפְּךָ֥ וּֽזְהָבְךָ֖ לִי־ה֑וּא וְנָשֶׁ֧יךָ וּבָנֶ֛יךָ הַטּוֹבִ֖ים לִי־הֵֽם׃

English:

to say to him, “Thus said Ben-hadad: Your silver and gold are mine, and your beautiful wives and children are mine.”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֤עַן מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ֖ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לְךָ֥ אֲנִ֖י וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי׃

English:

The king of Israel replied, “As you say, my lord king: I and all I have are yours.”

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּה־אָמַ֥ר בֶּן־הֲדַ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֤חְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כַּסְפְּךָ֧ וּֽזְהָבְךָ֛ וְנָשֶׁ֥יךָ וּבָנֶ֖יךָ לִ֥י תִתֵּֽן׃

English:

Then the messengers came again and said, “Thus said Ben-hadad: When I sent you the order to give me your silver and gold, and your wives and children,

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־כָּעֵ֣ת מָחָ֗ר אֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֶת־עֲבָדַי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחִפְּשׂוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣יתְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת בָּתֵּ֣י עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ וְהָיָה֙ כׇּל־מַחְמַ֣ד עֵינֶ֔יךָ יָשִׂ֥ימוּ בְיָדָ֖ם וְלָקָֽחוּ׃

English:

I meant that tomorrow at this time I will send my servants to you and they will search your house and the houses of your courtiers and seize everything youayou Several ancient versions read “they.” prize and take it away.”

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְכׇל־זִקְנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ דְּעוּ־נָ֣א וּרְא֔וּ כִּ֥י רָעָ֖ה זֶ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֨ח אֵלַ֜י לְנָשַׁ֤י וּלְבָנַי֙ וּלְכַסְפִּ֣י וְלִזְהָבִ֔י וְלֹ֥א מָנַ֖עְתִּי מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

English:

Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land, and he said, “See for yourselves how that man is bent on evil! For when he demanded my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו כׇּל־הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים וְכׇל־הָעָ֑ם אַל־תִּשְׁמַ֖ע וְל֥וֹא תֹאבֶֽה׃

English:

All the elders and all the people said, “Do not obey and do not submit!”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֜אמֶר לְמַלְאֲכֵ֣י בֶן־הֲדַ֗ד אִמְר֞וּ לַאדֹנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֨חְתָּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֤ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ אֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה וְהַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיְשִׁבֻ֖הוּ דָּבָֽר׃

English:

So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king: All that you first demanded of your servant I shall do, but this thing I cannot do.” The messengers went and reported this to him.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּה־יַעֲשׂ֥וּן לִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑פוּ אִם־יִשְׂפֹּק֙ עֲפַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֔וֹן לִשְׁעָלִ֕ים לְכׇל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽי׃

English:

Thereupon Ben-hadad sent him this message: “May the gods do thus to me and even more,bMay the gods do thus to me and even more See note at 19.2. if the dust of Samaria will provide even a handful for each of the men who are right behind me!”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֤עַן מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דַּבְּר֔וּ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל חֹגֵ֖ר כִּמְפַתֵּֽחַ׃

English:

The king of Israel replied, “Tell him: Let not him who girds on his sword boast like him who ungirds it!”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וְה֥וּא שֹׁתֶ֛ה ה֥וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֖ים בַּסֻּכּ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו֙ שִׂ֔ימוּ וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ עַל־הָעִֽיר׃

English:

On hearing this reply—while he and the other kings were drinking together at Succoth—Ben-hadadcBen-hadad Heb. “he.” commanded his followers, “Advance!” And they advanced against the city.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ נָבִ֣יא אֶחָ֗ד נִגַּשׁ֮ אֶל־אַחְאָ֣ב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲֽרָאִ֔יתָ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־הֶהָמ֥וֹן הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנִ֨י נֹתְנ֤וֹ בְיָֽדְךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְיָדַעְתָּ֖ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Then a certain prophet went up to King Ahab of Israel and said, “Thus said GOD: Do you see that great host? I will deliver it into your hands today, and you shall know that I am GOD.”

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ בְּמִ֔י וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּנַעֲרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מִי־יֶאְסֹ֥ר הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָֽתָּה׃

English:

“Through whom?” asked Ahab. He answered, “Thus said GOD: Through the aides of the provincial governors.” He asked, “Who shall begin the battle?” And he answered, “You.”

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְקֹ֗ד אֶֽת־נַעֲרֵי֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֔וֹת וַיִּהְי֕וּ מָאתַ֖יִם שְׁנַ֣יִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ם פָּקַ֧ד אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֛ם כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִֽים׃

English:

So he mustered the aides of the provincial governors, 232 strong, and then he mustered all the troops—all the Israelites—7,000 strong.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצְא֖וּ בַּֽצׇּהֳרָ֑יִם וּבֶן־הֲדַד֩ שֹׁתֶ֨ה שִׁכּ֜וֹר בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת ה֧וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֛ים שְׁלֹשִֽׁים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֖לֶךְ עֹזֵ֥ר אֹתֽוֹ׃

English:

They marched out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk at Succoth together with the thirty-two kings allied with him.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצְא֗וּ נַעֲרֵ֛י שָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח בֶּן־הֲדַ֗ד וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנָשִׁ֕ים יָצְא֖וּ מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃

English:

The aides of the provincial governors rushed out first. Ben-hadad sent [scouts], who told him, “Some men have come out from Samaria.”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אִם־לְשָׁל֥וֹם יָצָ֖אוּ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֑ים וְאִ֧ם לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה יָצָ֖אוּ חַיִּ֥ים תִּפְשֽׂוּם׃

English:

He said, “If they have come out to surrender, take them alive; and if they have come out for battle, take them alive anyhow.”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָצְא֣וּ מִן־הָעִ֔יר נַעֲרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וְהַחַ֖יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

But the others—the aides of the provincial governors, with the army behind them—had already rushed out of the city,

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיַּכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אִישׁ֔וֹ וַיָּנֻ֣סֽוּ אֲרָ֔ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵ֖ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט בֶּן־הֲדַד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם עַל־ס֖וּס וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃

English:

and each of them struck down his opponent. The Arameans fled, and Israel pursued them; but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with other riders.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצֵא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַסּ֖וּס וְאֶת־הָרָ֑כֶב וְהִכָּ֥ה בַאֲרָ֖ם מַכָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

English:

The king of Israel came out and attacked the horses and chariots, and inflicted a great defeat on the Arameans.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ הַנָּבִיא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לֵ֣ךְ הִתְחַזַּ֔ק וְדַ֥ע וּרְאֵ֖ה אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה כִּ֚י לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה מֶ֥לֶךְ אֲרָ֖ם עֹלֶ֥ה עָלֶֽיךָ׃ {פ}

English:

Then the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, keep up your efforts, and consider well what you must do; for the king of Aram will attack you at the turn of the year.”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וְעַבְדֵ֨י מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָ֜ם אָמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָרִים֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן חָזְק֣וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְאוּלָ֗ם נִלָּחֵ֤ם אִתָּם֙ בַּמִּישׁ֔וֹר אִם־לֹ֥א נֶחֱזַ֖ק מֵהֶֽם׃

English:

Now the ministers of the king of Aram said to him, “Their God is a God of mountains; that is why they got the better of us. But if we fight them in the plain, we will surely get the better of them.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וְאֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה עֲשֵׂ֑ה הָסֵ֤ר הַמְּלָכִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִמְּקֹמ֔וֹ וְשִׂ֥ים פַּח֖וֹת תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃

English:

Do this: Remove all the kings from their posts and appoint governors in their place.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וְאַתָּ֣ה תִֽמְנֶֽה־לְךָ֣ ׀ חַ֡יִל כַּחַ֩יִל֩ הַנֹּפֵ֨ל מֵאוֹתָ֜ךְ וְס֥וּס כַּסּ֣וּס ׀ וְרֶ֣כֶב כָּרֶ֗כֶב וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֤ה אוֹתָם֙ בַּמִּישׁ֔וֹר אִם־לֹ֥א נֶחֱזַ֖ק מֵהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע לְקֹלָ֖ם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כֵּֽן׃ {פ}

English:

Then muster for yourself an army equal to the army you lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. And let us fight them in the plain, and we will surely get the better of them.” He took their advice and acted accordingly.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַֽיְהִי֙ לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד בֶּן־הֲדַ֖ד אֶת־אֲרָ֑ם וַיַּ֣עַל אֲפֵ֔קָה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and advanced on Aphek to fight Israel.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הׇתְפָּקְדוּ֙ וְכׇלְכְּל֔וּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לִקְרָאתָ֑ם וַיַּחֲנ֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל נֶגְדָּ֗ם כִּשְׁנֵי֙ חֲשִׂפֵ֣י עִזִּ֔ים וַאֲרָ֖ם מִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

English:

Now the Israelites had been mustered and provisioned, and they went out against them; but when the Israelites encamped against them, they looked like two flocksdflocks Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of goats, while the Arameans covered the land.

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַיִּגַּ֞שׁ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה יַ֠עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמְר֤וּ אֲרָם֙ אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָרִים֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־אֱלֹהֵ֥י עֲמָקִ֖ים ה֑וּא וְ֠נָתַתִּ֠י אֶת־כׇּל־הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּד֤וֹל הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וִידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Then the agent of God approached and spoke to the king of Israel, “Thus said GOD: Because the Arameans have said, ‘GOD is a God of mountains—but not a God of lowlands,’ I will deliver that great host into your hands; and you shall know that I am GOD.”

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַֽיַּחֲנ֧וּ אֵ֦לֶּה נֹֽכַח־אֵ֖לֶּה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַתִּקְרַב֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיַּכּ֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל אֶת־אֲרָ֛ם מֵאָה־אֶ֥לֶף רַגְלִ֖י בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃

English:

For seven days they were encamped opposite each other. On the seventh day, the battle was joined and the Israelites struck down 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַיָּנֻ֨סוּ הַנּוֹתָרִ֥ים ׀ אֲפֵ֘קָה֮ אֶל־הָעִיר֒ וַתִּפֹּל֙ הַחוֹמָ֔ה עַל־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ הַנּוֹתָרִ֑ים וּבֶן־הֲדַ֣ד נָ֔ס וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָעִ֖יר חֶ֥דֶר בְּחָֽדֶר׃

English:

The survivors fled to Aphek, inside the town, and the wall fell on the 27,000 survivors.Ben-hadad also fled and took refuge inside the town, in an inner chamber.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָיו֮ עֲבָדָיו֒ הִנֵּה־נָ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ כִּ֗י מַלְכֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־מַלְכֵ֥י חֶ֖סֶד הֵ֑ם נָשִׂ֣ימָה נָּא֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמׇתְנֵ֜ינוּ וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרֹאשֵׁ֗נוּ וְנֵצֵא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אוּלַ֖י יְחַיֶּ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

English:

His ministers said to him, “We have heard that the kings of the House of Israel are magnanimous kings. Let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and surrender to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

וַיַּחְגְּרוּ֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמׇתְנֵיהֶ֜ם וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ עַבְדְּךָ֧ בֶן־הֲדַ֛ד אָמַ֖ר תְּחִי־נָ֣א נַפְשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֛אמֶר הַעוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י אָחִ֥י הֽוּא׃

English:

So they girded sackcloth on their loins and wound ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘I beg you, spare my life.’” He replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”eHe is my brother I.e., I would accept him as my treaty partner.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ וַֽיְמַהֲר֜וּ וַיַּחְלְט֣וּ הֲמִמֶּ֗נּוּ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אָחִ֣יךָ בֶן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֖אמֶר בֹּ֣אוּ קָחֻ֑הוּ וַיֵּצֵ֤א אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ עַל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָֽה׃

English:

The men divined his meaning and quickly caught the word from him,fcaught the word from him Meaning of Heb. uncertain. saying, “Yes, Ben-hadad is your brother.”gyour brother I.e., willing to be your treaty partner. “Go, bring him,” he said. Ben-hadad came out to him, and he invited him into his chariot.

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֡יו הֶעָרִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־לָֽקַח־אָבִי֩ מֵאֵ֨ת אָבִ֜יךָ אָשִׁ֗יב וְ֠חֻצ֠וֹת תָּשִׂ֨ים לְךָ֤ בְדַמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֤ם אָבִי֙ בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַאֲנִ֖י בַּבְּרִ֣ית אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיִּכְרׇת־ל֥וֹ בְרִ֖ית וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃ {ס}        

English:

Ben-hadad said to him, “I will give back the towns that my father took from your father, and you may set up bazaars for yourself in Damascus as my father did in Samaria.” “And I, for my part,” [said Ahab,] “will let you go home under these terms.” So he made a treaty with him and dismissed him.

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וְאִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד מִבְּנֵ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים אָמַ֧ר אֶל־רֵעֵ֛הוּ בִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה הַכֵּ֣ינִי נָ֑א וַיְמָאֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ לְהַכֹּתֽוֹ׃

English:

A certain man, a disciple of the prophets, said to another, at the word of GOD, “Strike me”; but the man refused to strike him.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־שָׁמַ֙עְתָּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְּךָ֤ הוֹלֵךְ֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וְהִכְּךָ֖ הָאַרְיֵ֑ה וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ מֵֽאֶצְל֔וֹ וַיִּמְצָאֵ֥הוּ הָאַרְיֵ֖ה וַיַּכֵּֽהוּ׃

English:

He said to him, “Because you have not obeyed GOD, a lion will strike you dead as soon as you leave me.” And when he left, a lion came upon him and killed him.

פסוק ל״ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

וַיִּמְצָא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הַכֵּ֣ינִי נָ֑א וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ הָאִ֖ישׁ הַכֵּ֥ה וּפָצֹֽעַ׃

English:

Then he met another man and said, “Come, strike me.” So the man struck him and wounded him.

פסוק ל״ח · Verse 38

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֥שׂ בָּאֲפֵ֖ר עַל־עֵינָֽיו׃

English:

Then the prophet, disguised by a cloth over his eyes, went and waited for the king by the road.

פסוק ל״ט · Verse 39

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עֹבֵ֔ר וְה֖וּא צָעַ֣ק אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר עַבְדְּךָ֣ ׀ יָצָ֣א בְקֶרֶב־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְהִנֵּֽה־אִ֨ישׁ סָ֜ר וַיָּבֵ֧א אֵלַ֣י אִ֗ישׁ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁמֹר֙ אֶת־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה אִם־הִפָּקֵד֙ יִפָּקֵ֔ד וְהָיְתָ֤ה נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ א֥וֹ כִכַּר־כֶּ֖סֶף תִּשְׁקֽוֹל׃

English:

As the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the thick of the battle. Suddenly someone came over and brought a man to me, saying, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing, it will be your life for his, or you will have to pay a talent of silver.‘

פסוק מ׳ · Verse 40

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י עַבְדְּךָ֗ עֹשֵׂ֥ה הֵ֛נָּה וָהֵ֖נָּה וְה֣וּא אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֧יו מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כֵּ֥ן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֖ךָ אַתָּ֥ה חָרָֽצְתָּ׃

English:

While your servant was busy here and there, he got away.” The king of Israel responded, “You have your verdict; you pronounced it yourself.”

פסוק מ״א · Verse 41

Hebrew:

וַיְמַהֵ֕ר וַיָּ֙סַר֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲפֵ֔ר (מעל) [מֵעֲלֵ֖י] עֵינָ֑יו וַיַּכֵּ֤ר אֹתוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י מֵהַנְּבִיאִ֖ים הֽוּא׃

English:

Quickly he removed the cloth from his eyes, and the king recognized him as one of the prophets.

פסוק מ״ב · Verse 42

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה יַ֛עַן שִׁלַּ֥חְתָּ אֶת־אִישׁ־חֶרְמִ֖י מִיָּ֑ד וְהָיְתָ֤ה נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ וְעַמְּךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת עַמּֽוֹ׃

English:

He said to him, “Thus said GOD: Because you have set free the man whom I doomed, your life shall be forfeit for his life and your people for his people.”

פסוק מ״ג · Verse 43

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַל־בֵּית֖וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֑ף וַיָּבֹ֖א שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃ {פ}

English:

Dispirited and sullen, the king of Israel left for home and came to Samaria.

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