So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
1 KINGS 15:20KJVWhat does 1 Kings 15:20 mean?
1 Kings 15:20 describes how Benhadad, the king of Syria, agreed to help King Asa of Judah by attacking several northern cities in Israel. Benhadad sent his army commanders to strike key locations in the territory of Israel, including Ijon, Dan, Abelbethmaachah, Cinneroth, and all the land of Naphtali.
In this situation, King Asa of Judah had made an alliance with Benhadad to weaken his rival, King Baasha of Israel. By attacking these northern cities, Benhadad forced Baasha to stop building fortifications against Judah. The verse lists the specific places targeted, showing the seriousness and reach of Benhadad’s campaign.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 15:20
- "hearkened" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means to listen or obey. Here, it shows that Benhadad did not just hear Asa’s request but acted on it, signaling a decisive response.
- "smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This word often means to strike or attack, sometimes with the sense of inflicting a heavy blow. The use here emphasizes the forceful nature of Benhadad’s military action.
- "hosts" (חַיִל, chayil): This word can mean army or military force. It highlights that Benhadad sent organized, capable troops rather than just a small raiding party.
Why 1 Kings 15:20 matters
- This verse clarifies that Asa’s alliance with a foreign king had immediate and serious consequences for Israel, shifting the balance of power in the region.
- The mention of specific cities and the land of Naphtali shows the scale of the attack and the vulnerability of Israel’s northern border.
- Understanding this event helps explain why Baasha, king of Israel, was forced to abandon his plans against Judah, which is a key turning point in the story.