1 Kings 13:18

13:18 The old prophet then said, ¹  “I too am a prophet like you. An angel told me with the Lord’s authority, ²  ‘Bring him back with you to your house so he can eat and drink.’” ³  But he was lying to him. ⁴ 

1 Kings 18:21

18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? ⁵  If the Lord is the true God, ⁶  then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word.

1 Kings 20:34

20:34 Ben Hadad ⁷  said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets ⁸  in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” ⁹  Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” ¹⁰  So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.

1 Kings 21:19

21:19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Haven’t you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?”’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood they will also lick up your blood – yes, yours!”’”

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¹ tn Heb “and he said to him.”

² tn Heb “by the word of the Lord.”

³ tn Heb “eat food and drink water.”

⁴ tn Or “deceiving him.”

sn He was lying to him. The motives and actions of the old prophet are difficult to understand. The old man’s response to the prophet’s death (see vv. 26-32) suggests he did not trick him with malicious intent. The old prophet probably wanted the honor of entertaining such a celebrity, or perhaps simply desired some social interaction with a fellow prophet.

⁵ tn Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?” (see HALOT 762 s.v. סְעִפִּים). In context this idiomatic expression refers to indecision rather than physical disability.

⁶ tn Heb “the God.”

⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn Heb “streets,” but this must refer to streets set up with stalls for merchants to sell their goods. See HALOT 299 s.v. חוּץ.

⁹ map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.

¹⁰ tn Heb “I will send you away with a treaty.” The words “Ahab then said” are supplied in the translation. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate that the speaker has changed from Ben Hadad to Ahab. Some suggest adding “and he said” before “I will send you away.” Others prefer to maintain Ben Hadad as the speaker and change the statement to, “Please send me away with a treaty.”