Keraia
1 Kings 20

1 Kings 20:42

A Prophet Reproves Ahab · 1 Kings 20:35–43
Read 1 Kings 20

Translations

Modern
And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”
Traditional
And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
Literal
And he said to him, “Thus says YHWH, ‘Because you have sent away a man I had devoted to destruction, out of the hand your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’”
Latin
Qui ait ad eum: Hæc dicit Dominus: Quia dimisisti virum dignum morte de manu tua, erit anima tua pro anima ejus, et populus tuus pro populo ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”

Notes

1 Kings 20:42

devoted to destruction: See “Complete Dedication” Theme Note.

1 Kings 20:42–43

The Lord had told Ahab to execute Ben-hadad (see Joshua 6:17–21), but Ahab disobeyed. He might have seen the Aramean king as a prize of war (see 1 Samuel 15:1–23). Ahab, the king of Israel, would later regret this mistake. He faced Ben-hadad in another battle, which led to his own death (1 Kings 22:29–37). Instead of learning from the prophet’s warning, Ahab returned home angry and upset.

1 Kings 20:35–43

Ahab showed mercy to Ben-hadad, which displeased God. An unnamed prophet used symbolic actions to show this disapproval. God's prophets often used symbols to deliver his messages (Isaiah 20; Jeremiah 27:1–7; Ezekiel 4:1–3, 9–17; 5:1–4). By sparing an untrustworthy enemy, Ahab brought judgment on himself and his people instead of relying more on the Lord.

Glossary

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

Topics

Ahab: King of Israel: Prophecies Against Contingencies in Divine Government of Man Disobedience to God of Ahab, in Suffering the King of Assyria to Escape out of his Hands Predestination: General Scriptures Concerning Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: The Death of Ahab Self-Condemnation: Ahab Substitution: The Life of Ahab in Exchange for That of Ben-Hadad Syria: The Israelites: Craftily Drawn Into a League With Will: The Mental Faculty: Freedom of, Recognized by God