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.

And the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478} answered {H6030} and said {H559}, My lord {H113}, O king {H4428}, according to thy saying {H1697}, I am thine, and all that I have.

The king of Isra'el answered, "Just as you say, my lord, king; I am yours, along with everything I own."

And the king of Israel replied, β€œJust as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”

And the king of Israel answered and said, It is according to thy saying, my lord, O king; I am thine, and all that I have.

Commentary

1 Kings 20:4 captures a pivotal moment of capitulation in the conflict between King Ahab of Israel and King Ben-hadad of Aram (Syria). In response to Ben-hadad's initial, seemingly moderate demands, Ahab expresses complete submission, stating, "My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have."

Context

This verse is set during a period of ongoing tension and conflict between the Northern Kingdom of Israel, ruled by King Ahab, and the powerful Aramean kingdom, led by King Ben-hadad. Ben-hadad had besieged Samaria, Israel's capital. His initial message, conveyed in 1 Kings 20:3, was a demand for Ahab's silver, gold, wives, and children. Ahab, facing a seemingly overwhelming military force and seeking to avert a full-scale assault on Samaria and its people, chose immediate appeasement over resistance. This quick agreement sets the stage for Ben-hadad's subsequent, more outrageous demands, revealing his true intentions.

Key Themes

  • Submission and Appeasement: Ahab's immediate surrender highlights his desperation and willingness to concede everything to avoid war. He believes giving in will save his city and people.
  • Vulnerability of Leadership: The verse reveals Ahab's perceived weakness and lack of strategic foresight in the face of a superior force. His quick agreement suggests a leader unprepared for such a challenge.
  • The Nature of Negotiations: This initial concession demonstrates a common pitfall in negotiations – giving too much too soon, which can embolden the aggressor to ask for more, as Ben-hadad indeed does later in the chapter.
  • Foreshadowing Divine Intervention: While Ahab acts out of human fear, the narrative of 1 Kings 20 ultimately shows that God has a plan for Israel, often intervening when human leaders are at their weakest (see 1 Kings 20:13).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I am thine" (Hebrew: אֲנִי לָךְ, 'ani lach) is a succinct and powerful declaration of absolute surrender. It signifies not just ownership of possessions, but personal servitude and complete subservience. Ahab is essentially saying, "I belong to you, and everything I possess is at your disposal." This goes beyond a simple tribute; it's an acknowledgement of Ben-hadad's lordship over him.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today:

  • Wisdom in Conflict: While peace is desirable, this account cautions against hasty concessions that might embolden adversaries or compromise core values. Not all demands are equal, and some appeasement can lead to greater exploitation.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Ahab's fear led him to immediate surrender, yet God later demonstrates His power to deliver Israel, even when their king is weak. This reminds us to trust in the Lord's sovereignty even in overwhelming circumstances, rather than relying solely on human strategies or fear.
  • Discerning True Intentions: Ben-hadad's escalating demands reveal his true oppressive intentions, teaching us to carefully discern the motives behind others' requests or agreements.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:48

    Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

  • Judges 15:11

    Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? what [is] this [that] thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.

  • Judges 15:13

    And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

  • 2 Kings 18:14

    And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

  • 2 Kings 18:16

    At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

  • Leviticus 26:36

    And upon them that are left [alive] of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

  • 1 Samuel 13:6

    When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
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