Discovery Box1 Kings 20:14-22 
Context20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” 1 He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab 2 asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
20:15 So Ahab 3 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 4 20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 5 in their quarters. 6 20:17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 7 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 8 20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20:20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; 9 the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 20:21 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated 10 Syria.
20:22 The prophet 11 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. 12 Determine 13 what you must do, for in the spring 14 the king of Syria will attack 15 you.”
1 tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
5 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
6 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
7 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
8 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
9 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
10 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
11 tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).
12 tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”
13 tn Heb “know and see.”
14 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
15 tn Heb “go up against.”
