Discovery Box1 Kings 16:1--22:53 
Context16:1 Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord this message predicting Baasha’s downfall: 1 16:2 “I raised you up 2 from the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. Yet you followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps 3 and encouraged my people Israel to sin; their sins have made me angry. 4 16:3 So I am ready to burn up 5 Baasha and his family, and make your family 6 like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16:4 Dogs will eat the members of Baasha’s family 7 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.”
16:5 The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 8 16:6 Baasha passed away 9 and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah replaced him as king. 16:7 The prophet Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord the message predicting the downfall of Baasha and his family because of all the evil Baasha had done in the sight of the Lord. 10 His actions angered the Lord (including the way he had destroyed Jeroboam’s dynasty), so that his family ended up like Jeroboam’s. 11
16:8 In the twenty-sixth year of King Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha’s son Elah became king over Israel; he ruled in Tirzah for two years. 16:9 His servant Zimri, a commander of half of his chariot force, conspired against him. While Elah was drinking heavily 12 at the house of Arza, who supervised the palace in Tirzah, 16:10 Zimri came in and struck him dead. (This happened in the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah.) Zimri replaced Elah as king. 13 16:11 When he became king and occupied the throne, he killed Baasha’s entire family. He did not spare any male belonging to him; he killed his relatives and his friends. 14 16:12 Zimri destroyed Baasha’s entire family, just as the Lord had predicted to Baasha 15 through Jehu the prophet. 16:13 This happened because of all the sins which Baasha and his son Elah committed and which they made Israel commit. They angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. 16
16:14 The rest of the events of Elah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 17
16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri became king over Israel; he ruled for seven days in Tirzah. Zimri’s revolt took place while the army was deployed 18 in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. 16:16 While deployed there, the army received this report: 19 “Zimri has conspired against the king and assassinated him.” 20 So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day in the camp. 16:17 Omri and all Israel went up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. 16:18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the fortified area of the royal palace. He set the palace on fire and died in the flames. 21 16:19 This happened because of the sins he committed. He did evil in the sight of 22 the Lord and followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to continue sinning. 23
16:20 The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, including the details of his revolt, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 24
16:21 At that time the people of Israel were divided in their loyalties. Half the people supported Tibni son of Ginath and wanted to make him king; the other half supported Omri. 16:22 Omri’s supporters were stronger than those who supported Tibni son of Ginath. Tibni died; Omri became king.
16:23 In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 16:24 He purchased the hill of Samaria 25 from Shemer for two talents 26 of silver. He launched a construction project there 27 and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria. 16:25 Omri did more evil in the sight of 28 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:26 He followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat and encouraged Israel to sin; 29 they angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. 30
16:27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 31 16:28 Omri passed away 32 and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab replaced him as king. 33
16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri’s son Ahab became king over Israel. Ahab son of Omri ruled over Israel for twenty-two years in Samaria. 34 16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of 35 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:31 As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal. 36 16:32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. 16:33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he 37 did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
16:34 During Ahab’s reign, 38 Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. 39 Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; 40 Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, 41 just as the Lord had warned 42 through Joshua son of Nun. 43
17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve), 44 there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.” 45 17:2 The Lord told him: 46 17:3 “Leave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. 17:4 Drink from the stream; I have already told 47 the ravens to bring you food 48 there.” 17:5 So he did 49 as the Lord told him; he went and lived in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. 17:6 The ravens would bring him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he would drink from the stream.
17:7 After a while, 50 the stream dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 17:8 The Lord told him, 51 17:9 “Get up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already told 52 a widow who lives there to provide for you.” 17:10 So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he went through the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. He called out to her, “Please give me a cup 53 of water, so I can take a drink.” 17:11 As she went to get it, he called out to her, “Please bring me a piece of bread.” 54 17:12 She said, “As certainly as the Lord your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then I’m going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation.” 55 17:13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you planned. 56 But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son. 17:14 For this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the Lord makes it rain on the surface of the ground.’” 17:15 She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. 57 17:16 The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised 58 through Elijah.
17:17 After this 59 the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe. 17:18 She asked Elijah, “Why, prophet, have you come 60 to me to confront me with 61 my sin and kill my son?” 17:19 He said to her, “Hand me your son.” He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him down on his bed. 17:20 Then he called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?” 17:21 He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, please let this boy’s breath return to him.” 17:22 The Lord answered Elijah’s prayer; the boy’s breath returned to him and he lived. 17:23 Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room to the house, and handed him to his mother. Elijah then said, “See, your son is alive!” 17:24 The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a prophet and that the Lord really does speak through you.” 62
18:1 Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the Lord told Elijah, 63 “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” 18:2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 64 18:3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord. 65 18:4 When Jezebel was killing 66 the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) 18:5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas 67 so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill 68 some of the animals.” 18:6 They divided up the land between them; Ahab went 69 one way and Obadiah went the other.
18:7 As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. 70 When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” 18:8 He replied, “Yes, 71 go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’” 72 18:9 Obadiah 73 said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution? 74 18:10 As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them 75 swear an oath that they could not find you. 18:11 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’ 76 18:12 But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. 77 If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. 78 That would not be fair, 79 because your servant has been a loyal follower of 80 the Lord from my youth. 18:13 Certainly my master is aware of what I did 81 when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. 18:14 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’ 82 but he will kill me.” 18:15 But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord who rules over all 83 lives (whom I serve), 84 I will make an appearance before him today.”
18:16 When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah. 85 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he 86 said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster 87 on Israel?” 18:18 Elijah 88 replied, “I have not brought disaster 89 on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals. 18:19 Now send out messengers 90 and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports. 91
18:20 Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel. 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? 92 If the Lord is the true God, 93 then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word. 18:22 Elijah said to them: 94 “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 18:23 Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire. 18:24 Then you 95 will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” 96 All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.” 97
18:25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.” 98 18:26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, 99 and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped 100 around on the altar they had made. 101 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” 102 18:28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, 103 mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood. 104 18:29 Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, 105 but there was no sound, no answer, and no response. 106
18:30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 107 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new 108 name.” 109 18:32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. 110 Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs 111 of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, 112 he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 18:35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, 113 Elijah the prophet approached the altar 114 and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove 115 today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God 116 and that you are winning back their allegiance.” 117 18:38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky. 118 It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. 18:39 When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God! 119 The Lord is the true God!” 18:40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed 120 them there.
18:41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.” 121 18:42 So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees. 18:43 He told his servant, “Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” 122 Seven times Elijah sent him to look. 123 18:44 The seventh time the servant 124 said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah 125 then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’” 126 18:45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward 127 Jezreel. 18:46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power; 128 he tucked his robe into his belt 129 and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 19:2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, 130 “May the gods judge me severely 131 if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!” 132
19:3 Elijah was afraid, 133 so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 19:4 while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub 134 and asked the Lord to take his life: 135 “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.” 136 19:5 He stretched out 137 and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messenger 138 touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 19:6 He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more. 139 19:7 The Lord’s angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.” 140 19:8 So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
19:9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 141 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 142 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 143 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 144 19:11 The Lord 145 said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, 146 but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 19:12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. 147 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden 148 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 149 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 150 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 151 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 152 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 19:16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 19:17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 19:18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” 153
19:19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. 19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah 154 said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 155 went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. 156 He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
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 157 and besieged and attacked it. 158 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 159 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.” 160 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders 161 of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. 162 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.” 163 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.’” 164 So the messengers went back and gave their report.
20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely 165 if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 166 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.” 167 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, 168 he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. 169 He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.
20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? 170 Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” 171 He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab 172 asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
20:15 So Ahab 173 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 174 20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 175 in their quarters. 176 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.” 177 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 178 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; 179 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 180 Syria.
20:22 The prophet 181 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. 182 Determine 183 what you must do, for in the spring 184 the king of Syria will attack 185 you.” 20:23 Now the advisers 186 of the king of Syria said to him: “Their God is a god of the mountains. That’s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. 20:24 So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders. 20:25 Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots. 187 Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.” He approved their plan and did as they advised. 188
20:26 In the spring 189 Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army 190 and marched to Aphek to fight Israel. 191 20:27 When the Israelites had mustered and had received their supplies, they marched out to face them in battle. When the Israelites deployed opposite them, they were like two small flocks 192 of goats, but the Syrians filled the land. 20:28 The prophet 193 visited the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Syrians said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,” I will hand over to you this entire huge army. 194 Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
20:29 The armies were deployed opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day. 20:30 The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. 195 Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room. 196 20:31 His advisers 197 said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. 198 Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads 199 and surrender 200 to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.” 20:32 So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant 201 Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab 202 replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 203 20:33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab 204 then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 20:34 Ben Hadad 205 said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets 206 in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” 207 Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” 208 So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.
20:35 One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, “Wound me!” 209 But the man refused to wound him. 20:36 So the prophet 210 said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. 20:37 He found another man and said, “Wound me!” So the man wounded him severely. 211 20:38 The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes. 20:39 When the king passed by, he called out to the king, “Your servant went out into the heat 212 of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner. 213 He told me, ‘Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason, 214 you will pay with your life or with a talent 215 of silver.’ 216 20:40 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him, “Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.” 217 20:41 The prophet 218 quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. 20:42 The prophet 219 then said to him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.’” 220 20:43 The king of Israel went home to Samaria 221 bitter and angry.
21:1 After this the following episode took place. 222 Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 223 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, 224 I will pay you silver for it.” 225 21:3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.” 226
21:4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, 227 “I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.” 228 He lay down on his bed, pouted, 229 and would not eat. 21:5 Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, “Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?” 21:6 He answered her, “While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’” 230 21:7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “You are the king of Israel! 231 Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. 232 I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
21:8 She wrote out orders, 233 signed Ahab’s name to them, 234 and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders 235 to the leaders 236 and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. 237 21:9 This is what she wrote: 238 “Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 21:10 Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
21:11 The men of the 239 city, the leaders 240 and the nobles who lived there, 241 followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them. 242 21:12 They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 21:13 The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him 243 outside the city and stoned him to death. 244 21:14 Then they reported to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 245
21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she 246 said to Ahab, “Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he’s dead.” 21:16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, 247 he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
21:17 The Lord told Elijah the Tishbite: 248 21:18 “Get up, go down and meet King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it. 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!”’”
21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, 249 “So, you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah 250 replied, “I have found you, because you are committed 251 to doing evil in the sight of 252 the Lord. 21:21 The Lord says, 253 ‘Look, I am ready to bring disaster 254 on you. I will destroy you 255 and cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. 256 21:22 I will make your dynasty 257 like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah because you angered me and made Israel sin.’ 258 21:23 The Lord says this about Jezebel, ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the outer wall 259 of Jezreel.’ 21:24 As for Ahab’s family, dogs will eat the ones 260 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.” 21:25 (There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed 261 to doing evil in the sight of 262 the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. 263 21:26 He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, 264 just like the Amorites 265 whom the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.)
21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 21:28 The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 266 21:29 “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse 267 before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.” 268
22:1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years. 269 22:2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit 270 the king of Israel. 22:3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.” 271 22:4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.” 272 22:5 Then Jehoshaphat added, 273 “First seek an oracle from the Lord.” 274 22:6 So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” 275 They said, “Attack! The sovereign one 276 will hand it over to the king.” 22:7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?” 22:8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. 277 But I despise 278 him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. 279 Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things.” 22:9 The king of Israel summoned an official and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
22:10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, 280 dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. 281 All the prophets were prophesying before them. 22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed.’” 22:12 All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 22:13 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. 282 Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success.” 283 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say.”
22:15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 284 22:16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in 285 the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?” 22:17 Micaiah 286 said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’” 22:18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?” 22:19 Micaiah 287 said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. 22:20 The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die 288 there?’ One said this and another that. 22:21 Then a spirit 289 stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ 22:22 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord 290 said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. 291 Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 22:23 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 22:24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 22:25 Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 22:26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 22:27 Say, ‘This is what the king says, “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water 292 until I safely return.”’” 293 22:28 Micaiah said, “If you really do safely return, then the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take note, 294 all you people.”
22:29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead. 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter 295 into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle. 22:31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers; 296 fight only the king of Israel.” 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 22:33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 22:34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random, 297 and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king 298 ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line, 299 because I’m wounded.” 22:35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot. 22:36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.” 22:37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him. 300 22:38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed); 301 dogs licked his blood, just as the Lord had said would happen. 302
22:39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 303 22:40 Ahab passed away. 304 His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.
22:41 In the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign over Israel, Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah. 22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. 305 His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 22:43 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved. 306 (22:44) 307 However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. 22:44 (22:45) Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
22:45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. 308 22:46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa. 309 22:47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 22:48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships 310 to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. 22:49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,” 311 but Jehoshaphat refused.
22:50 Jehoshaphat passed away 312 and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor 313 David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.
22:51 In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria. 314 He ruled for two years over Israel. 22:52 He did evil in the sight of 315 the Lord and followed in the footsteps 316 of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin. 317 22:53 He worshiped and bowed down to Baal, 318 angering the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done. 319
1 tn Heb “and the word of the
2 tn The Hebrew text has “because” at the beginning of the sentence. In the Hebrew text vv. 2-3 are one sentence comprised of a causal clause giving the reason for divine punishment (v. 2) and the main clause announcing the punishment (v. 3). The translation divides this sentence for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Heb “walked in the way of Jeroboam.”
4 tn Heb “angering me by their sins.”
5 tn The traditional view understands the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean “burn.” However, an alternate view takes בָּעַר (ba’ar) as a homonym meaning “sweep away” (HALOT 146 s.v. II בער). In this case one might translate, “I am ready to sweep away Baasha and his family.” Either metaphor emphasizes the thorough and destructive nature of the coming judgment.
6 tc The Old Greek, Syriac Peshitta, and some
7 tn Heb “the ones belonging to Baasha.”
8 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Baasha, and that which he did and his strength, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
9 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
10 tn Heb “and also through Jehu son of Hanani the word of the
11 tn Heb “angering him by the work of his hands, so that he was like the house of Jeroboam, and because of how he struck it down.”
12 tn Heb “while he was drinking and drunken.”
13 tn Heb “and he became king in his place.”
14 tn Heb “and he did not spare any belonging to him who urinate against a wall, [including] his kinsmen redeemers and his friends.”
15 tn Heb “according to the word of the
16 tn Heb “angering the
17 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Elah, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
18 tn Heb “Now the people were encamped.
19 tn Heb “and the people who were encamped heard.”
20 tn Heb “has conspired against and also has struck down the king.”
21 tn Heb “and he burned the house of the king over him with fire and he died.”
22 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
23 tn Heb “walking in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he did to make Israel sin.”
24 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Zimri, and his conspiracy which he conspired, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
25 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
26 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 150 pounds of silver.
27 tn Heb “he built up the hill.”
28 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
29 tn Heb “walked in all the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
30 tn Heb “angering the
31 tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his strength which he demonstrated, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
32 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
33 tc The Old Greek has eight additional verses here. Cf. 1 Kgs 22:41-44.
34 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
35 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
36 tn Heb “and he went and served Baal and bowed down to him.”
sn The Canaanites worshiped Baal as a storm and fertility god.
37 tn Heb “Ahab”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
38 tn Heb “in his days.”
39 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
40 tn Heb “with Abiram, his firstborn, he founded it.”
41 tn Heb “with Segub, his youngest, he set up its gates.”
42 tn Heb “according to the word of the
43 sn Warned through Joshua son of Nun. For the background to this statement, see Josh 6:26, where Joshua pronounces a curse on the one who dares to rebuild Jericho. Here that curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by God through Joshua.
44 tn Heb “before whom I stand.”
45 tn Heb “except at the command of my word.”
46 tn Heb “and the word of the
47 tn Heb “commanded.”
48 tn Heb “to provide for you.”
49 tn Heb “So he went and did.”
50 tn Heb “And it came about at the end of days.”
51 tn Heb “And the word of the
52 tn Heb “Look, I have commanded.”
53 tn Heb “a little.”
54 tn The Hebrew text also includes the phrase “in your hand.”
55 tn Heb “Look, I am gathering two sticks and then I will go and make it for me and my son and we will eat it and we will die.”
56 tn Heb “according to your word.”
57 tn Heb “and she ate, she and he and her house [for] days.”
58 tn Heb “out, according to the word of the
59 tn Heb “after these things.”
60 tn Heb “What to me and to you, man of God, that you have come.”
61 tn Heb “to make me remember.”
62 tn Heb “you are a man of God and the word of the
sn This episode is especially significant in light of Ahab’s decision to promote Baal worship in Israel. In Canaanite mythology the drought that swept over the region (v. 1) would signal that Baal, a fertility god responsible for providing food for his subjects, had been defeated by the god of death and was imprisoned in the underworld. While Baal was overcome by death and unable to function like a king, Israel’s God demonstrated his sovereignty and superiority to death by providing food for a widow and restoring life to her son. And he did it all in Sidonian territory, Baal’s back yard, as it were. The episode demonstrates that Israel’s God, not Baal, is the true king who provides food and controls life and death. This polemic against Baalism reaches its climax in the next chapter, when the
63 tn Heb “the word of the
64 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
65 tn Heb “now Obadiah greatly feared the
66 tn Heb “cutting off.”
67 tn Heb “grass.”
68 tn Heb “to cut off.”
69 tn The Hebrew text has “alone” here and again in reference to Obadiah toward the end of the verse.
70 tn Heb “look, Elijah [came] to meet him.”
71 tn Heb “[It is] I.”
72 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
73 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Obadiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
74 tn Heb “to kill me.”
75 tn Heb “he makes the kingdom or the nation swear an oath.”
76 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
77 tn Heb “to [a place] which I do not know.”
78 tn Heb “and I will go to inform Ahab and he will not find you and he will kill me.”
79 tn The words “that would not be fair” are added to clarify the logic of Obadiah’s argument.
80 tn Heb “has feared the
81 tn Heb “Has it not been told to my master what I did…?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “Of course it has!”
82 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
83 tn Traditionally, “the
84 tn Heb “(before whom I stand).”
85 tn Heb “Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.”
86 tn Heb “Ahab.”
87 tn Or “trouble.”
88 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
89 tn Or “trouble.”
90 tn The word “messengers” is supplied in the translation both here and in v. 20 for clarification.
91 tn Heb “who eat at the table of Jezebel.”
92 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.
93 tn Heb “the God.”
94 tn Heb “to the people.”
95 tn Elijah now directly addresses the prophets.
96 tn Heb “the God.”
97 tn Heb “The matter [i.e., proposal] is good [i.e., acceptable].”
98 tc The last sentence of v. 25 is absent in the Syriac Peshitta.
99 tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.”
100 tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21).
101 tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew
102 sn Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets.
103 tn Or “as was their custom.”
104 tn Heb “until blood poured out on them.”
sn mutilated…covered with blood. This self-mutilation was a mourning rite designed to facilitate Baal’s return from the underworld.
105 tn Heb “when noon passed they prophesied until the offering up of the offering.”
106 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta include the following words here: “When it was time to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Tishbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations: ‘Stand aside for the time being, and I will offer my burnt offering.’ So they stood aside and departed.”
sn In 2 Kgs 4:31 the words “there was no sound and there was no response” are used to describe a dead boy. Similar words are used here to describe the god Baal as dead and therefore unresponsive.
107 sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people.
108 tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text.
109 sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10.
110 tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the
111 tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts.
112 tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
113 tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.”
114 tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
115 tn Heb “let it be known.”
116 tn Heb “the God.”
117 tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”
118 tn The words “from the sky” are added for stylistic reasons.
119 tn Heb “the God” (the phrase occurs twice in this verse).
120 tn Or “slaughtered.”
121 tn Heb “for [there is] the sound of the roar of the rain.”
122 sn So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Several times in this chapter those addressed by Elijah obey his orders. In vv. 20 and 42 Ahab does as instructed, in vv. 26 and 28 the prophets follow Elijah’s advice, and in vv. 30, 34, 40 and 43 the people and servants do as they are told. By juxtaposing Elijah’s commands with accounts of those commands being obeyed, the narrator emphasizes the authority of the
123 tn Heb “He said, ‘Return,’ seven times.”
124 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
125 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
126 tn Heb “so that the rain won’t restrain you.”
127 tn Heb “rode and went to.”
128 tn Heb “and the hand of the
129 tn Heb “and girded up his loins.” The idea is that of gathering up the robes and tucking them into the sash or belt so that they do not get in the way of the legs when running (or working or fighting).
130 tn Heb “saying.”
131 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
132 tn Heb “I do not make your life like the life of one of them.”
133 tc The MT has “and he saw,” but some medieval Hebrew
134 tn Or “broom tree” (also in v. 5).
135 tn Heb “and asked with respect to his life to die.”
136 tn Heb “fathers.”
137 tn Or “lay down.”
138 tn Heb “Look, a messenger.”
139 tn Heb “and again lay down”
140 tn Heb “for the journey is too great for you.”
141 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
142 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
143 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
144 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
145 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
146 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
147 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
148 tn Heb “look.”
149 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
150 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
151 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
152 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
153 tn Heb “I have kept in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and all the mouths that have not kissed him.”
154 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
155 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
156 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”
157 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
158 tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”
159 tn Heb “to the city.”
160 tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.”
161 tn Heb “elders.”
162 tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.”
163 tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.”
164 tn Heb “all which you sent to your servant in the beginning I will do, but this thing I am unable to do.”
165 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
166 tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”
167 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.”
168 tn Heb “When he heard this word.”
169 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
170 tn Heb “this great horde.”
171 tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
172 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
173 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
174 tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
175 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
176 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
177 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
178 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
179 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
180 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
181 tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).
182 tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”
183 tn Heb “know and see.”
184 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
185 tn Heb “go up against.”
186 tn Or “servants.”
187 tn Heb “And you, you muster an army like the one that fell from you, horse like horse and chariot like chariot.”
188 tn Heb “he listened to their voice and did so.”
189 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
190 tn Heb “mustered Aram.”
191 tn Heb “and went up to Aphek for battle with Israel.”
192 tn The noun translated “small flocks” occurs only here. The common interpretation derives the word from the verbal root חשׂף, “to strip off; to make bare.” In this case the noun refers to something “stripped off” or “made bare.” HALOT 359 s.v. II חשׂף derives the noun from a proposed homonymic verbal root (which occurs only in Ps 29:9) meaning “cause a premature birth.” In this case the derived noun could refer to goats that are undersized because they are born prematurely.
193 tn Heb “the man of God.”
194 tn Heb “I will place all this great horde in your hand.”
195 tn Heb “and the remaining ones fled to Aphek to the city and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men, the ones who remained.”
196 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, [into] an inner room in an inner room.”
197 tn Or “servants.”
198 tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.
199 sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.
200 tn Heb “go out.”
201 sn Your servant. By referring to Ben Hadad as Ahab’s servant, they are suggesting that Ahab make him a subject in a vassal treaty arrangement.
202 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
203 sn He is my brother. Ahab’s response indicates that he wants to make a parity treaty and treat Ben Hadad as an equal partner.
204 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
205 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
206 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.
207 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
208 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.”
209 tn Heb “Now a man from the sons of the prophets said to his companion by the word of the
210 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
211 tn Heb “and the man wounded him, wounding and bruising.”
212 tn Heb “middle.”
213 tn Heb “man” (also a second time later in this verse).
214 tn Heb “if being missed, he is missed.” The emphatic infinitive absolute before the finite verbal form lends solemnity to the warning.
215 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 75 pounds of silver.
216 tn Heb “your life will be in place of his life, or a unit of silver you will pay.”
217 tn Heb “so [i.e., in accordance with his testimony] is your judgment, you have determined [it].”
218 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
219 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
220 tn Heb “Because you sent away the man of my destruction [i.e., that I determined should be destroyed] from [my/your?] hand, your life will be in place of his life, and your people in place of his people.”
221 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
222 tn Heb “after these things.” The words “the following episode took place” are added for stylistic reasons.
223 sn King Ahab of Samaria. Samaria, as the capital of the northern kingdom, here stands for the nation of Israel.
map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
224 tn Heb “if it is good in your eyes.”
225 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it will be mine as a garden of herbs.”
226 tn Heb “Far be it from me, by the
227 tn Heb “on account of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite spoke to him.”
228 tn Heb “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.”
229 tn Heb “turned away his face.”
230 tn Heb “While I was talking…, I said…, he said….” Ahab’s explanation is one lengthy sentence in the Hebrew text, which is divided in the English translation for stylistic reasons.
231 tn Heb “You, now, you are exercising kingship over Israel.”
232 tn Heb “so your heart [i.e., disposition] might be well.”
233 tn Heb “scrolls.”
234 tn Heb “in the name of Ahab.”
235 tn Heb “scrolls.”
236 tn Heb “elders.”
237 tn Heb “to the nobles who were in his city, the ones who lived with Naboth.”
238 tn Heb “she wrote on the scrolls, saying.”
239 tn Heb “his.”
240 tn Heb “elders.”
241 tn Heb “and the nobles who were living in his city.”
242 tn Heb “did as Jezebel sent to them, just as was written in the scrolls which she sent to them.”
243 tn Heb “led him.”
244 tn Heb “and they stoned him with stones and he died.”
245 tn Heb “Naboth was stoned and he died.” So also in v. 15.
246 tn Heb “Jezebel”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“she”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
247 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words here: “he tore his garments and put on sackcloth. After these things.”
248 tn Heb “the word of the
249 tn Heb “and Ahab said to Elijah.” The narrative is elliptical and streamlined. The words “when Elijah arrived” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
250 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
251 tn Heb “you have sold yourself.”
252 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
253 tn The introductory formula “the
254 sn Disaster. There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word translated “disaster” (רָעָה, ra’ah) is similar to the word translated “evil” (v. 20, הָרַע, hara’). Ahab’s sins would receive an appropriate punishment.
255 tn Heb “I will burn after you.” Some take the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean here “sweep away.” See the discussion of this verb in the notes at 14:10 and 16:3.
256 tn Heb “and I will cut off from Ahab those who urinate against a wall, [including both those who are] restrained and let free [or “abandoned”] in Israel.” The precise meaning of the idiomatic phrase עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (’atsur vÿ’azuv, translated here “weak and incapacitated”) is uncertain. For various options see HALOT 871 s.v. עצר and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 107. The two terms are usually taken as polar opposites (“slaves and freemen” or “minors and adults”), but Cogan and Tadmor, on the basis of contextual considerations (note the usage with אֶפֶס (’efes), “nothing but”) in Deut 32:36 and 2 Kgs 14:26, argue convincingly that the terms are synonyms, meaning “restrained and abandoned,” and refer to incapable or incapacitated individuals.
257 tn Heb “house.”
258 tn Heb “because of the provocation by which you angered [me], and you caused Israel to sin.”
259 tc A few Hebrew
260 tn “Dogs will eat the ones who belonging to Ahab who die in the city.”
261 tn Heb “who sold himself.”
262 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
263 tn Heb “like Ahab…whom his wife Jezebel incited.”
264 tn The Hebrew word used here, גִלּוּלִים (gillulim) is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless things”) and הֲבָלִים (havalim, “vanities” or “empty winds”).
265 tn Heb “He acted very abominably by walking after the disgusting idols, according to all which the Amorites had done.”
266 tn Heb “the word of the
267 tn Or “humbles himself.” The expression occurs a second time later in this verse.
268 tn Heb “I will not bring the disaster during his days, [but] in the days of his son I will bring the disaster on his house.”
269 tn Heb “and they lived three years without war between Aram and Israel.”
270 tn The word “visit” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
271 tn Heb “Do you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we hesitate to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course, you must know!”
272 tn Heb “Like me, like you; like my people, like your people; like my horses; like your horses.”
273 tn Heb “and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel.”
274 tn Heb “the word of the
275 tn Heb “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead for war or should I refrain?”
276 tn Though Jehoshaphat requested an oracle from “the
277 tn Heb “to seek the
278 tn Or “hate.”
279 tn The words “his name is” are supplied for stylistic reasons.
280 tn Heb “were sitting, a man on his throne.”
281 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
282 tn Heb “the words of the prophets are [with] one mouth good for the king.”
283 tn Heb “let your words be like the word of each of them and speak good.”
284 sn “Attack! You will succeed; the
285 tn Or “swear an oath by.”
286 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
287 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
288 tn Heb “and fall.”
289 tn Heb “the spirit.” The significance of the article prefixed to רוּחַ (ruakh) is uncertain, but it could contain a clue as to this spirit’s identity, especially when interpreted in light of v. 24. It is certainly possible, and probably even likely, that the article is used in a generic or dramatic sense and should be translated, “a spirit.” In the latter case it would show that this spirit was vivid and definite in the mind of Micaiah the storyteller. However, if one insists that the article indicates a well-known or universally known spirit, the following context provides a likely referent. Verse 24 tells how Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and then asked sarcastically, “Which way did the spirit from the
290 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
291 tn The Hebrew text has two imperfects connected by וְגַם (vÿgam). These verbs could be translated as specific futures, “you will deceive and also you will prevail,” in which case the
292 tn Heb “the bread of affliction and the water of affliction.”
293 tn Heb “come in peace.” So also in v. 28.
294 tn Heb “Listen.”
295 tn The Hebrew verbal forms could be imperatives (“Disguise yourself and enter”), but this would make no sense in light of the immediately following context. The forms are better interpreted as infinitives absolute functioning as cohortatives. See IBHS 594 §35.5.2a. Some prefer to emend the forms to imperfects.
296 tn Heb “small or great.”
297 tn Heb “now a man drew a bow in his innocence” (i.e., with no specific target in mind, or at least without realizing his target was the king of Israel).
298 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
299 tn Heb “camp.”
300 tn Heb “and the king died and he came to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.”
301 tn Heb “now the prostitutes bathed.”
302 tn Heb “according to the word of the
303 tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the house of ivory which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
304 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
305 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
306 tn Heb “he walked in all the way of Asa his father and did not turn from it, doing what is right in the eyes of the
307 sn Beginning with 22:43b, the verse numbers through 22:53 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), because 22:43b in the English Bible = 22:44 in the Hebrew text. The remaining verses in the chapter differ by one, with 22:44-53 ET = 22:45-54 HT.
308 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoshaphat, and his strength that he demonstrated and how he fought, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
309 tn Heb “and the rest of the male cultic prostitutes who were left in the days of Asa his father, he burned from the land.” Some understand the verb בִּעֵר (bi’er) to mean “sweep away” here rather than “burn.” See the note at 1 Kgs 14:10.
sn Despite Asa’s opposition to these male cultic prostitutes (see 1 Kgs 15:12) some of them had managed to remain in the land. Jehoshaphat finished what his father had started.
310 tn Heb “a fleet of Tarshish [ships].” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
311 tn Heb “Let my servants go with your servants in the fleet.”
312 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
313 tn Heb “with his fathers in the city of his father.”
314 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
315 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
316 tn Or “way.”
317 tn Heb “and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat who made Israel sin.”
318 tn Heb “he served Baal and bowed down to him.”
319 tn Heb “according to all which his father had done.”
