1 Kings 20:18 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.”

1 Kings 20:18

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And they went out at noon. But Benhadad {was} drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

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1 Kings 20:1

"And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and {there were} thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it."

1 Kings 20:2

"And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,"

1 Kings 20:3

"Thy silver and thy gold {is} mine; thy wives also and thy children, {even} the goodliest, {are} mine."

1 Kings 20:4

"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I {am} thine, and all that I have."

1 Kings 20:5

"And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;"

1 Kings 20:6

"Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, {that} whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put {it} in their hand, and take {it} away. {pleasant: Heb. desirable}"

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