Discovery Box1 Kings 20:16-22 
Context20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 1 in their quarters. 2 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.” 3 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 4 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; 5 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 6 Syria.
20:22 The prophet 7 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. 8 Determine 9 what you must do, for in the spring 10 the king of Syria will attack 11 you.”
1 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
2 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
3 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
4 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
5 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
6 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
7 tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).
8 tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”
9 tn Heb “know and see.”
10 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
11 tn Heb “go up against.”
