1 Kings 20:7

Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land [Bähr remarks that this expression, compared with "the elders of the city" ( 1 Kings 21:8 , etc.), suggests either that these nobles, as the highest officials, had their residences at the court, or upon the approach of Ben-hadad had betaken themselves thither with their treasures. Rawlinson builds on this slender basis the conclusion that the council of elders which, he says, belonged to the undivided kingdom, had been continued among the ten tribes, had an important place in the government, and held regular sittings at the capital] and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man [or fellow . The זֶה expresses either hatred or contempt. Cf. 1 Kings 22:27 ; Luke 23:2 , Luke 23:18 , etc.] seeketh mischief [the purport of Ahab's address is not, "Ben-hadad is not satisfied with my treasures; he wants yours also" (Bähr), for there is no reference whatsoever to their property, but, "See how he is determined on our ruin. Nothing short of our destruction will suffice him. He is bent on provoking an encounter, that he may plunder the city at pleasure." The salient word is the רָעָה ]: far he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children [ LXX . περι τῶν υἱῶν μου . This shows clearly that "the most eminent young men "cannot be meant in Luke 23:3 ] , and for my silver and for my gold: and I dented him not. [What these words mean depends on what Luke 23:4 (where see note) means. It is difficult to conceive that any monarch could gravely proclaim his own shame to his counsellors; could confess, that is, that he had consented to surrender his children and concubines without a struggle.]