SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:34
Y le dijo Ben-adad : Las ciudades que mi padre tomó al tuyo, yo las restituiré; y haz plazas en Damasco para ti, como mi padre las hizo en Samaria; y yo me partiré de ti confederado. Y el rey de Israel hizo con él alianza, y lo envió.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:34
Verse 34. Thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus] It appears that it was customary for foreigners to have a place assigned to them, particularly in maritime towns, where they might deposit and vend their merchandise. This was the very origin of European settlements in Asiatic countries: "The people gave an inch to those strangers; and in consequence they took an ell." Under the pretense of strengthening the place where they kept their wares, to prevent depredations, they built forts, and soon gave laws to their entertainers. In vain did the natives wish them away; they had got power, and would retain it; and at last subjected these countries to their own dominion.
It was customary also, in the time of the crusades, to give those nations which were engaged in them streets, churches, and post dues, in those places which they assisted to conquer. The Genoese and Venetians had each a street in Accon, or St. Jean d'Acre, in which they had their own jurisdiction; with oven, mill, bagnio, weights, and measures. - See William of Tyre, and Harmer's Observations.
He made a covenant with him] According to the words recited above, putting him under no kind of disabilities whatsoever.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 31-43 - This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves befor God; Have we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from a apprehension of the mercy of God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most haughty in prosperity often ar most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will thus affect a man in bot these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab, success is il bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophe designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punishe for sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sore punishment should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enem and God's, when God said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy an displeased, not truly penitent, or seeking to undo what he had don amiss; every way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. Alas! man that hear the glad tidings of Christ, are busy and there till the da of salvation is gone __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 אליו 413 הערים 5892 אשׁר 834 לקח 3947 אבי 1 מאת 853 אביך 1 אשׁיב 7725 וחוצות 2351 תשׂים 7760 לך בדמשׂק 1834 כאשׁר 834 שׂם 7760 אבי 1 בשׁמרון 8111 ואני 589 בברית 1285 אשׁלחך 7971 ויכרת 3772 לו ברית 1285 וישׁלחהו׃ 7971
