Key Verse Spotlight
1 Kings 20:31 — Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing—and how to apply it today
King James Version
" And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. "
1 Kings 20:31
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
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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."
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