20:1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria 1 and besieged and attacked it. 2 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 3 20:3 He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’” 20:4 The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”
20:5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 20:6 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.” 4 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders 5 of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. 6 Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 20:8 All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.” 7 20:9 So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’” 8 So the messengers went back and gave their report.
20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely 9 if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 10 20:11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.” 11 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, 12 he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. 13 He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.
1 map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.
2 tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”
3 tn Heb “to the city.”
4 tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.”
5 tn Heb “elders.”
6 tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.”
7 tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.”
8 tn Heb “all which you sent to your servant in the beginning I will do, but this thing I am unable to do.”
9 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
10 tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”
11 sn The point of the saying is that someone who is still preparing for a battle should not boast as if he has already won the battle. A modern parallel would be, “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
12 tn Heb “When he heard this word.”
13 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.