Bible Strands

1 Kings 20:34

Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Ben-hadad speaks to Ahab immediately after the Syrian king's servants test him with a sign of hope and Ahab invites him into his chariot. The exchange occurs during a diplomatic negotiation following a military standoff.

The words — The Hebrew verb לָֽקַח־ (la.kach-) means "he took," describing how Ben-hadad’s father previously seized territory. This verb anchors the proposed restitution of the cities mentioned in the treaty terms.

The thread — The treaty’s promise echoes the territorial disputes recorded in 1 Kings 15:20, while the subsequent failure to enforce divine judgment appears in 1 Kings 20:42. Isaiah 26:10 later notes that grace shown to the wicked often fails to produce righteousness.

Why it lands — The text records Ahab’s acceptance of a political settlement and his release of a defeated enemy without waiting for prophetic instruction. A reader must confront the practical cost of prioritizing immediate peace over commanded obedience.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidאֵלָ֡יו'e.La/vto/ himהֶעָרִ֣יםhe./'a.Rimthe/ citiesאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whichלָֽקַח־la.kach-he tookאָבִי֩'a.V/ifather/ myמֵאֵ֨תme./'Etfrom/ withאָבִ֜יךָ'a.Vi./khafather/ yourאָשִׁ֗יב'a.ShivI will returnוְ֠חוּצוֹתVe./chu.tzotand/ streetsתָּשִׂ֨יםta.Simyou will makeלְךָ֤le./Khafor/ yourselfבְדַמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ve./da.Me.sekin/ Damascusכַּאֲשֶׁר־ka./'a.Sher-just/ asשָׂ֤םsamhe madeאָבִי֙'a.V/ifather/ myבְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹןbe./Sho.me.Ronin/ Samariaוַאֲנִ֖יva./'a.Niand/ Iבַּבְּרִ֣יתba./be.Ritwith the/ covenantאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ'a.sha.le.Che./kaI will let go/ youוַיִּכְרָת־va/i.yikh.rot-and/ he madeל֥וֹl/oto/ himבְרִ֖יתve.Rita covenantוַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃ סVa/y.sha.le.Che./huand/ he let go/ him

King James Version

And Ben–hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

Cross-references

Places named

DamascusSamaria