1 kings 20:7 - Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 kings 20:7" mean?
This verse from 1 Kings 20:7 describes a situation where the King of Israel (Ahab) is facing demands from Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria). Let's break down what's happening and what the verse means:
"Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land..." Ahab is in a precarious position. He calls together the elders, who represent the leaders and respected members of the community, to consult with them. This implies he needs their support and advice. He's not acting alone.
"...and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief..." Ahab is trying to persuade the elders that Ben-Hadad is acting with malicious intent. He's framing Ben-Hadad's demands as unreasonable and aimed at causing trouble. The word "mischief" here goes beyond mere playful teasing; it suggests harm, trouble, and wickedness.
"...for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”" This is the heart of Ahab's complaint. Ben-Hadad has demanded:
Wives and Children: Demanding someone's wives and children was a sign of complete domination and subjugation. It wasn't just about taking possessions; it was about controlling the dynasty and lineage, and essentially claiming ownership over the king's family. It was a massive insult to the king's authority and honor.
Silver and Gold: This represents wealth and economic control. Demanding all the king's silver and gold would cripple the nation's economy and make it dependent on the conqueror.
"I didn't deny him." This is the key. Ahab already ceded to Ben-Hadad's initial demands. This likely refers to an earlier agreement or treaty where Ahab surrendered some of his resources. Now, Ben-Hadad is escalating his demands, proving that he is not negotiating in good faith, but rather seeking total domination.
In Summary:
Ahab is telling the elders that Ben-Hadad is not just seeking reparations or tribute, but rather attempting to completely control Israel. He's trying to rally the elders to his side by highlighting the unreasonable and escalating nature of Ben-Hadad's demands, especially the demand for his family. Ahab's claim that he initially complied with Ben-Hadad's earlier demands underscores the fact that appeasement didn't work and only emboldened the aggressor. He's effectively saying, "I tried to appease him, but now he wants everything!" This is a plea for support to resist further demands.
The verse sets the stage for the ensuing conflict, illustrating the political maneuvering and the desperate situation that Ahab and Israel find themselves in. It reveals Ahab's attempt to garner support by portraying Ben-Hadad as an insatiable aggressor.
1 kings 20:7 - Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”
What does "1 kings 20:7" mean?
This verse from 1 Kings 20:7 describes a situation where the King of Israel (Ahab) is facing demands from Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria). Let's break down what's happening and what the verse means:
"Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land..." Ahab is in a precarious position. He calls together the elders, who represent the leaders and respected members of the community, to consult with them. This implies he needs their support and advice. He's not acting alone.
"...and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief..." Ahab is trying to persuade the elders that Ben-Hadad is acting with malicious intent. He's framing Ben-Hadad's demands as unreasonable and aimed at causing trouble. The word "mischief" here goes beyond mere playful teasing; it suggests harm, trouble, and wickedness.
"...for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”" This is the heart of Ahab's complaint. Ben-Hadad has demanded:
Wives and Children: Demanding someone's wives and children was a sign of complete domination and subjugation. It wasn't just about taking possessions; it was about controlling the dynasty and lineage, and essentially claiming ownership over the king's family. It was a massive insult to the king's authority and honor.
Silver and Gold: This represents wealth and economic control. Demanding all the king's silver and gold would cripple the nation's economy and make it dependent on the conqueror.
"I didn't deny him." This is the key. Ahab already ceded to Ben-Hadad's initial demands. This likely refers to an earlier agreement or treaty where Ahab surrendered some of his resources. Now, Ben-Hadad is escalating his demands, proving that he is not negotiating in good faith, but rather seeking total domination.
In Summary:
Ahab is telling the elders that Ben-Hadad is not just seeking reparations or tribute, but rather attempting to completely control Israel. He's trying to rally the elders to his side by highlighting the unreasonable and escalating nature of Ben-Hadad's demands, especially the demand for his family. Ahab's claim that he initially complied with Ben-Hadad's earlier demands underscores the fact that appeasement didn't work and only emboldened the aggressor. He's effectively saying, "I tried to appease him, but now he wants everything!" This is a plea for support to resist further demands.
The verse sets the stage for the ensuing conflict, illustrating the political maneuvering and the desperate situation that Ahab and Israel find themselves in. It reveals Ahab's attempt to garner support by portraying Ben-Hadad as an insatiable aggressor.