1 N ow Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army, and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.

Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and war-wagons. And he went up against Samaria in battle.

2 T hen he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad,

Then he sent men with news to the city of Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says.

3 ‘ Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.’”

’Your silver and gold are mine. Your most beautiful wives and children are mine also.’”

4 T he king of Israel replied, “It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.”

The king of Israel answered, “It is as you say, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.”

5 T hen the messengers returned and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad, ‘Surely, I sent to you saying, “You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children,”

Then the men returned and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says. ‘I sent word to you saying, “You must give me your silver and gold and your wives and children.”

6 b ut about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will take in their hand and carry away.’”

But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time. They will look through your house and the houses of your servants. And they will take away all that is of worth to you.’”

7 T hen the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and see how this man is looking for trouble; for he sent to me for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”

Then the king of Israel called all the leaders of the land. He said to them, “Look and see how this man is looking for trouble. He sent to me for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold. And I did not say no to him.”

8 A ll the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”

Then all the leaders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or agree.”

9 S o he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again.

So Ahab said to Benhadad’s men, “Tell my lord the king, ‘I will do all that you first asked of your servant, but this I cannot do.’” The men left and returned again with news for him.

10 B en-hadad sent to him and said, “May the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”

Ben-hadad sent word to him saying, “May the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough to fill the hands of all the people who follow me.”

11 T hen the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘ Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’”

The king of Israel answered and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who dresses in battle-clothes talk with pride like him who takes them off.’”

12 W hen Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking with the kings in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, “Station yourselves.” So they stationed themselves against the city. Ahab Victorious

When Ben-hadad heard these words, he was drinking with the kings in the tents. He said to his servants, “Go to your places.” So they went to their place of battle against the city.

13 N ow behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’”

Then a man who spoke for God came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says. ‘Have you seen all these many people? See, I will give them to you today. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

14 A hab said, “By whom?” So he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” And he answered, “You.”

Ahab said, “By whom?” So he told him, “The Lord says, ‘By the young servants of the leaders of the lands you rule.’” Then Ahab said, “Who will start the battle?” And he answered, “You.”

15 T hen he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, even all the sons of Israel, 7, 000.

Then Ahab called together the young servants of the leaders of the nations, 232 men. And he called together all the people of Israel, 7, 000 men.

16 T hey went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two kings who helped him.

They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the tents with the thirty-two kings who helped him.

17 T he young men of the rulers of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

The young servants of the leaders of the lands went out first. Ben-hadad sent men out to get news, and they told him, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

18 T hen he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

Then he said, “If they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive.”

19 S o these went out from the city, the young men of the rulers of the provinces, and the army which followed them.

So the young servants of the leaders of the lands went out from the city, and the army which followed them.

20 T hey killed each his man; and the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.

Each one killed his man. The Syrians ran away, and Israel went after them. And Ben-hadad king of Syria got away on a horse with horsemen.

21 T he king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans with a great slaughter.

The king of Israel went out and destroyed the horses and war-wagons. He killed many of the Syrians.

22 T hen the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.”

Then the man who spoke for God came to the king of Israel, and said to him, “Go and make yourself strong. Look and see what you have to do. For the first of next year the king of Syria will come to fight against you.” The Syrians Lose Again

23 N ow the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “ Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.

Now the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Israel’s gods are gods of the mountains. So they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and for sure we will be stronger than they.

24 D o this thing: remove the kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,

And do this. Take each of the kings from his place, and put captains in their places.

25 a nd muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so. Another Aramean War

Gather together an army like the army you lost, horse for horse, and war-wagon for war-wagon. Then we will fight against Israel in the plain. For sure we will be stronger than they.” And Ben-hadad listened to them and did so.

26 A t the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

When the new year came, Benhadad called together the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

27 T he sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the country.

The people of Israel were called together and given what they needed, and went to meet them. The people of Israel gathered in front of them like two little flocks of goats. But the Syrians filled the country.

28 T hen a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “ The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’”

Then a man who spoke for God came to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says. ‘The Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys.” So I will give all these many people to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

29 S o they camped one over against the other seven days. And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel killed of the Arameans 100, 000 foot soldiers in one day.

So they stayed beside each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle was fought. And the people of Israel killed 100, 000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day.

30 B ut the rest fled to Aphek into the city, and the wall fell on 27, 000 men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city into an inner chamber.

But the rest ran away into the city of Aphek. And the wall fell on 27, 000 men who were left. Ben-hadad ran away and came to a room in the city.

31 H is servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your life.”

His servants said to him, “Now see, we have heard that the kings of the family of Israel are kings who show kindness. Let us dress in cloth made from hair and put ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. It might be that he will save your life.”

32 S o they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “ Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

So they dressed in cloth made from hair and put ropes on their heads, and went to the king of Israel. They said to him, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘I beg you, let me live.’” Ahab said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 N ow the men took this as an omen, and quickly catching his word said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he took him up into the chariot.

Now the men were watching for something special to happen. They were quick to catch his word, and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then Ahab said, “Go and bring him.” So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab took him up into the war-wagon.

34 B en-hadad said to him, “ The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

Ben-hadad said to him, “I will return to you the cities which my father took from your father. And you will make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “I will let you go with this agreement.” So he made an agreement with him and let him go. A Man of God Speaks

35 N ow a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another by the word of the Lord, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him.

Now a certain son of the men who spoke for God said to another by the word of the Lord, “Hit me.” But the man would not hit him.

36 T hen he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” And as soon as he had departed from him a lion found him and killed him.

Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, as soon as you have left me, a lion will kill you.” And as soon as he had left him, a lion found him and killed him.

37 T hen he found another man and said, “Please strike me.” And the man struck him, wounding him.

Then he found another man and said, “Hit me.” And the man hit him, and hurt him.

38 S o the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.

So the man of God left, and waited for the king by the way. He tied a cloth over his eyes so no one would know him.

39 A s the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’

As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out to the battle. A soldier turned and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Keep this man. If he is missing for any reason, you will pay for his life with your own. Or else you must pay a man’s weight in silver.’

40 W hile your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”

But while your servant was doing things here and there, the man got away.” The king of Israel said to him, “So you must be punished. You yourself have decided it.”

41 T hen he hastily took the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him that he was of the prophets.

In a hurry the man took the cloth away from his eyes. And the king of Israel saw that he was one of the men who speak for God.

42 H e said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’”

The man said to him, “This is what the Lord says. ‘You have let the man go whom I had given to be destroyed. So you will pay for his life with your own. And your people will pay for his people.’”

43 S o the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.

So the king of Israel went home sad and angry, and came to Samaria.