1 Kings 20:1

Ben-hadad Attacks Samaria · 1 Kings 20:1–12
Read 1 Kings 20

Translations

Modern
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.
Traditional
And Ben–hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
Literal
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered together all his forces, and thirty-two kings with him, and horse and chariot. And he went up and laid siege against Samaria and made war against it.
Latin
Porro Benadad rex Syriæ congregavit omnem exercitum suum, et triginta duos reges secum, et equos, et currus: et ascendens pugnabat contra Samariam, et obsidebat eam.

Original

Hebrew
English
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.

Notes

  • We do not know if this refers to Ben-hadad I or II.

  • Accompanied by thirty-two kings: Groups of kings often united in the ancient Near East. Shalmaneser III recorded Ben-hadad’s name as Hadad-ezer and noted he was in a twelve-king alliance against him at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BC.

Theme notes and profiles

Ahab Arameans Jezebel

People

Ben-hadad: King of Aram, contemporary of Asa and Baasha

Places

Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants Syria: Ancient region north of Israel, often in conflict

Glossary

Ahab (King) Kings, Books of First and Second Samaria Syria, Syrians

Topics

Ahab: King of Israel: Defeats Ben-Hadad Ancient Samaria: Samaria the Capital of Besieged by Benhadad Armies of Different Nations often Confederated Armies: March in Ranks: Samaria's Deliverances Ben-Hadad: A King of Syria, Who Reigned During the Time of Ahab, Son of Ben-Hadad I Chariot for War Chariots used in War by The: Syrians Confederacies of Kings God: Preserver: Ahab Israel: Israel, Also Called Samaria, Invaded By, but Defeats, Ben-Hadad, King of Syria Samaria: City of, Built by Omri: Besieged by Ben-Hadad Siege: Samaria Sieges: Samaria Syria: Benhadad King of, Besieged Samaria