Bible Strands
1 Kings 20:7
Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king of Israel addresses the assembled elders of the land immediately after receiving a threat to seize his family and treasury. He calls them to observe the Aramean king’s escalating demands as proof of hostile intent.
The words — The Hebrew imperative דְּעוּ (de'u) literally means "know" or "take note," urging the elders to recognize the pattern of aggression. It follows the king’s summons (וַיִּקְרָא, va-yikra) to establish a factual basis for their response.
The thread — This assembly of the king with the land’s elders echoes earlier national councils in 1 Kings 8:1 and 1 Chronicles 13:1, while the king’s reaction to hostile demands parallels the panic recorded in 2 Kings 5:7. The narrative uses the same political structure to frame both covenant-era gatherings and crisis responses.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to note how a ruler uses documented concessions to justify resistance rather than compliance. It demands a clear-eyed assessment of escalating threats before a collective decision is made.
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
King James Version
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 5:7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”
- 1 Kings 8:1 At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.
- 1 Chronicles 13:1 Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
- 1 Chronicles 28:1 Now David summoned all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials and mighty men—every mighty man of valor.
- Job 15:35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
- Psalms 7:14 Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
- Psalms 36:4 Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
- Psalms 62:3 How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
- Psalms 140:2 who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
- Proverbs 6:14 With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.