Ahab Dies at Ramoth‑Gilead
1 Kings 22:29-40
1 K.22.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויהושפט: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- רמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- גלעד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 18:28 (quotation): Direct parallel account in Chronicles: the narrative uses the same wording to report that the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth‑Gilead.
- 1 Kings 22:1 (structural): Sets the background for the joint expedition — the peace/affinity between Ahab and Jehoshaphat (through marriage) that makes the campaign for Ramoth‑Gilead possible.
- 1 Kings 22:4 (thematic): Jehoshaphat's demand to inquire of the LORD before joining Ahab relates directly to the decision to go up to Ramoth‑Gilead and frames the prophetic consultations that follow.
- 1 Kings 22:30 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: describes what happens at Ramoth‑Gilead (Ahab's disguise and wounding), the outcome of the expedition mentioned in 22:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
- The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
1 K.22.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- התחפש: VERB,hitpael,impv,2,m,sg
- ובא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- במלחמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- לבש: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- בגדיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ויתחפש: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויבוא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- במלחמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 18:29 (structural): Direct retelling of the same episode (Ahab and Jehoshaphat going to battle; Ahab disguises himself) in Chronicles, parallel narrative to 1 Kings 22.
- 1 Samuel 21:12-15 (thematic): David feigns madness and alters his behavior/appearance to escape danger—similar motif of a leader disguising himself to avoid harm.
- Esther 4:4-5; 5:1-2 (thematic): Esther conceals her identity and times her public appearance to gain access to the king and avert danger for her people—another instance of calculated concealment by a royal figure in a life-or-death context.
- 2 Kings 9:30-33 (thematic): Jehu's sudden confrontation and the violent death of King Joram at Jezreel—parallels the themes of royal confrontation in the field and a king's death in the context of battle/ambush.
Alternative generated candidates
- The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Disguise yourself and come into the battle; you, put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.
- The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Put on plain clothes and enter the battle; you, wear your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.
1 K.22.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שרי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הרכב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- ושנים: CONJ+NUM,m,pl,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לא: PART_NEG
- תלחמו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- קטן: ADJ,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- גדול: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבדו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 18:30 (quotation): Chronicler's retelling of the same battle repeats almost the same command to the Syrian chariot commanders not to fight small or great but only the king of Israel (direct verbal parallel).
- 1 Kings 22:34 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: although the Syrians were told to target the king alone, a random archer struck Ahab—this verse shows the outcome that fulfills the instruction's focus on the king.
- 2 Samuel 18:9-15 (thematic): In the battle where Absalom is singled out and killed while riding under a tree, commanders and soldiers focus on eliminating the royal figure—parallel theme of a king being the specific target in combat.
- 2 Kings 9:24-26 (thematic): Jehu's rapid assault on Joram and the targeted killing of a king amid battle exemplifies the motif of warriors singling out and executing a reigning monarch during hostilities.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, thirty-two, saying, "Do not fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel alone."
- And the king of Aram commanded the captains of his chariots, thirty-two in all, saying, "Do not fight with any small or great man; only target the king of Israel alone."
1 K.22.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כראות: VERB,qal,inf_abs
- שרי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הרכב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והמה: PRON,3,m,pl
- אמרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אך: PART
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ויסרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- להלחם: VERB,hitp,inf
- ויזעק: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהושפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chron.18.31 (verbal): Direct retelling of the same episode in Chronicles — the chariot commanders mistake Jehoshaphat for the king of Israel and surround him to fight; language and sequence closely parallel Kings.
- 1 Kgs.22.33 (structural): Immediate continuation in the same narrative: Ahab disguises himself, is mistaken for the king, and is struck down — completes the combat episode begun in v.32.
- 2 Chron.20.12-15 (thematic): Jehoshaphat again faces a lethal military threat and cries to the LORD; theme of a king's desperate appeal to God in battle and divine intervention echoes v.32’s 'and Jehoshaphat cried out.'
- Ps.18:6 (cf. 2 Sam.22:7) (thematic): Psalm (and its parallel in 2 Samuel 22) expresses the motif of crying out to God in distress and being delivered — thematically parallels Jehoshaphat’s cry in the face of imminent attack.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is only the king of Israel," and they turned aside to engage him; and Jehoshaphat cried out.
- When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, "It is the king of Israel," and they turned aside to fight him; then Jehoshaphat cried out.
1 K.22.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- כראות: VERB,qal,inf_abs
- שרי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הרכב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- וישובו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- מאחריו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 18:32 (quotation): Direct retelling of the same episode in Chronicles; the chariot commanders see it is not the king and turn back (virtually identical wording).
- 1 Kings 22:34 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: after the commanders turn back, an archer’s random shot fatally wounds the king—verse 33 sets up this outcome.
- 1 Samuel 31:4-5 (thematic): Another Israelite king (Saul) fatally wounded in battle and the response of his retainers; parallels the themes of a king’s death in combat and soldiers’ reactions.
- Judges 4:12-16 (thematic): Narrative of chariot warfare (Sisera) where chariot commanders and drivers determine the course of pursuit and defeat; thematically parallels the role of chariot officers and pursuit/retreat in battle scenes.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the captains of the chariots realized that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
- When the captains of the chariots perceived that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
1 K.22.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בקשת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- לתמו: PREP+ADV
- ויכה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בין: PREP
- הדבקים: VERB,qal,ptcp,_,m,pl,def
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- השרין: DET+NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לרכבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- הפך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- והוציאני: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg+PRON,1,sg
- מן: PREP
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- החליתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chr.18.33 (structural): Parallel retelling of Ahab’s death in Chronicles — virtually the same episode (the random arrow, Ahab wounded, request to his chariot‑driver).
- 1 Sam.31.4-5 (thematic): A king mortally wounded in battle who addresses a close attendant about his fate — similar motif of a wounded monarch issuing an urgent, personal command because he is 'sore wounded.'
- 1 Kgs.21.19 (allusion): Micaiah’s prophecy that Ahab would die in the place of Naboth’s blood anticipates the way Ahab is fatally struck in battle (links this wound to earlier prophetic judgment).
- 1 Kgs.22.38 (structural): Immediate narrative follow‑up that depicts the fulfillment of the prophecy and the consequences of Ahab’s wound (his chariot washed and dogs licking his blood), completing the death scene begun in v.34.
Alternative generated candidates
- A man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the gaps of his armor and his harness. He said to his chariot driver, "Turn your hand, carry me out of the army, for I am wounded."
- A man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. He said to his charioteer, "Turn your hand, carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded."
1 K.22.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותעלה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- המלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- והמלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מעמד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במרכבה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נכח: PREP
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בערב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- חיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרכב: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 18:33-34 (quotation): Direct retelling of the Ramoth‑Gilead episode; Chronicles repeats the same detail of the king being wounded and his blood being poured into the chariot.
- 1 Kings 22:28 (verbal): Micaiah’s prophecy that Ahab would ‘see it with your eyes and not return’ (i.e., will die) is fulfilled by the king’s death and the blood in the chariot.
- 1 Kings 22:33 (structural): Immediate narrative antecedent: the arrow strikes Ahab and he orders the chariot away — verse 35 continues and completes the account of his dying in the chariot.
- 1 Kings 21:19-24 (thematic): Elijah’s earlier pronouncement of divine judgment on Ahab for Naboth’s blood (doom for Ahab’s house and his death) provides the wider theological context that 1 Kgs 22:35 enacts.
Alternative generated candidates
- The battle grew hot that day; the king stood in his chariot facing Aram, and at evening he died. The blood of the wound poured into the hollow of the chariot.
- The fight grew fierce that day. The king stood in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening, and at dusk he died; the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.
1 K.22.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הרנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- במחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כבא: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- השמש: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- עירו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- ארצו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,ms
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 18:34 (quotation): Direct retelling of the same scene in Chronicles: a proclamation at sunset, 'Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.'
- 1 Kings 22:35 (verbal): Immediate context—describes the king's death and blood running into the chariot just before the proclamation in v.36, linking the cause of the rout to Ahab's death.
- 1 Kings 22:38 (structural): Follows the proclamation—records the burial and the fulfillment of earlier prophecies regarding Ahab's end (the aftermath of the battle that caused the dispersal).
- 1 Kings 21:19 (allusion): Elijah's prophecy that dogs would lick Ahab's blood anticipates the king's violent death in battle and the subsequent announcement and rout described in 22:36–38.
Alternative generated candidates
- As the sun was setting a herald passed through the camp, saying, "Every man to his city, and every man to his country!"
- When the proclamation went through the camp at sunset, saying, "Each to his city, each to his country,"
1 K.22.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויבוא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויקברו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בשמרון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2Chr.18.34 (verbal): Parallel retelling of Ahab’s death and burial in Samaria in the Chronicles account; repeats the same sequence and wording as 1 Kgs 22:37.
- 1Kgs.22.36 (structural): Immediate context in the same narrative describing Ahab’s death and the washing of the chariot—directly precedes and leads into v.37’s burial notice.
- 2Kgs.10.36 (thematic): Summary notice that a king (Jehu) ‘slept with his fathers’ and was ‘buried in Samaria’—uses the same royal burial-in-the-capital motif applied to northern kings.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the king died; they brought him to Samaria and buried the king in Samaria.
- the king died. They brought him to Samaria and buried the king in Samaria.
1 K.22.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישטף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הרכב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- ברכת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וילקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הכלבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- דמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss3ms
- והזנות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
- רחצו: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,pl
- כדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 21:19 (quotation): Elijah's oracle that 'the dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel' — an earlier prophecy that the scene in 1 Kgs 22:38 (dogs licking blood) alludes to and fulfills.
- 2 Kings 9:33-37 (structural): Narrative account of Jezebel's death and the dogs' consumption of her body; explicitly identified there as fulfilment of Elijah's word, parallel to the dogs-licking motif in 1 Kgs 22:38.
- 1 Kings 22:36 (structural): Immediate context: report of Ahab's death in battle; 22:38 follows describing the treatment of his chariot and body (washing in Samaria, dogs licking blood).
- Psalm 22:16-17 (thematic): Uses the image of 'dogs' surrounding and mocking the afflicted one — reflects the motif of dogs as scavengers and symbols of shame present in 1 Kgs 22:38.
- Ezekiel 39:17-20 (thematic): Describes birds and beasts feeding on the flesh of the defeated as a visible sign of divine judgment — thematically parallel to the motif of enemy carcasses being consumed (dogs licking blood) in 1 Kgs 22:38.
Alternative generated candidates
- They washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood; the prostitutes bathed themselves in it, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.
- They washed the chariot beside the pool of Samaria; the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it—just as the word of the LORD had declared.
1 K.22.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- השן: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- הערים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- הלוא: PART
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- כתובים: VERB,pual,ptcp,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- למלכי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 14:20 (verbal): Uses the same royal concluding formula—'the rest of the acts' of a king are recorded 'in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel'—linking the narrative to the official annals.
- 1 Kings 22:41 (structural): A comparable end-of-reign summary for Jehoshaphat that employs the same structural formula directing readers to the chronicles of the kings of Judah/Israel for additional details.
- 2 Chronicles 20:34 (allusion): Chronicles often repeats the royal concluding formula (pointing to 'the book of the kings' or similar records), echoing the same historiographical practice found in 1 Kings 22:39.
Alternative generated candidates
- As for the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?
- As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities he built—are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
1 K.22.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישכב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- אבתיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3s
- וימלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחזיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 22:37 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the account of Ahab being struck in battle and dying, which 22:40 concludes with the royal death-succession formula.
- 2 Chr 18:34–35 (structural): Parallel account in Chronicles of the same battle and Ahab’s death; Chronicles also records the transfer of rule to Ahaziah.
- 1 Kgs 2:10 (verbal): Uses the same stock phrase “slept with his fathers” to mark the death of a king (David), showing the formulaic epitaphal language.
- 1 Kgs 16:10 (thematic): Another Israelite royal formula — “Elah slept with his fathers, and Zimri reigned in his stead” — paralleling the death-and-succession pattern in 1 Kgs 22:40.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ahab lay down with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
- Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Put on your robes and go into battle; I will disguise myself”—so the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.
The king of Aram commanded his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not engage the lesser or the greater; only fight the king of Israel alone.”
When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel,” and they turned to fight him; and Jehoshaphat cried out.
When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they drew back from him.
Someone drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the armor plates and the breastpiece. He said to his chariot driver, “Turn your hand, take me out of the camp—for I am wounded.”
The battle raged that day; the king stood in his chariot opposite the Arameans, and at evening he died. The blood of the wound poured into the floor of the chariot.
As the sun was setting, the cry went through the camp, “Every man to his city, every man to his country.”
The king died; they brought him to Samaria and buried the king in Samaria.
They washed his chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed themselves—just as the word of the LORD had spoken.
As for the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities he built—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Ahab slept with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.