¹ And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

² And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,

³ Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.

⁴ And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.

⁵ And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

⁶ Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.

⁷ Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.

⁸ And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.

⁹ Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

¹⁰ And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

¹¹ And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

¹² And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

¹³ And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

¹⁴ And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.

¹⁵ Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

¹⁶ And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

¹⁷ And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

¹⁸ And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

¹⁹ So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

²⁰ And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

²¹ And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

²² And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

²³ And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

²⁴ And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

²⁵ And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

²⁶ And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

²⁷ And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

²⁸ And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

²⁹ And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

³⁰ But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

³¹ And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

³² So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

³³ Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

³⁴ And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

³⁵ And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbor in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

³⁶ Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

³⁷ Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.

³⁸ So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

³⁹ And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

⁴⁰ And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

⁴¹ And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.

⁴² And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

⁴³ And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

---

¹ And Benhadad ^H1130 the king ^H4428 of Syria ^H758 gathered ^H6908 all his host ^H2428 together: ^H6908 and there were thirty ^H7970 and two ^H8147 kings ^H4428 with him, and horses, ^H5483 and chariots: ^H7393 and he went up ^H5927 and besieged ^H6696 Samaria, ^H8111 and warred ^H3898 against it.

² And he sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to Ahab ^H256 king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 into the city, ^H5892 and said ^H559 unto him, Thus saith ^H559 Benhadad, ^H1130

³ Thy silver ^H3701 and thy gold ^H2091 is mine; thy wives ^H802 also and thy children, ^H1121 even the goodliest, ^H2896 are mine.

⁴ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 My lord, ^H113 O king, ^H4428 according to thy saying, ^H1697 I am thine, and all that I have.

⁵ And the messengers ^H4397 came again, ^H7725 and said, ^H559 Thus speaketh ^H559 Benhadad, ^H1130 saying, ^H559 Although I have sent ^H7971 unto thee, saying, ^H559 Thou shalt deliver ^H5414 me thy silver, ^H3701 and thy gold, ^H2091 and thy wives, ^H802 and thy children; ^H1121

⁶ Yet I will send ^H7971 my servants ^H5650 unto thee to morrow ^H4279 about this time, ^H6256 and they shall search ^H2664 thine house, ^H1004 and the houses ^H1004 of thy servants; ^H5650 and it shall be, ^H1961 that whatsoever is pleasant ^H4261 in thine eyes, ^H5869 they shall put ^H7760 it in their hand, ^H3027 and take it away. ^H3947

⁷ Then the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 called ^H7121 all the elders ^H2205 of the land, ^H776 and said, ^H559 Mark, ^H3045 I pray you, and see ^H7200 how this man seeketh ^H1245 mischief: ^H7451 for he sent ^H7971 unto me for my wives, ^H802 and for my children, ^H1121 and for my silver, ^H3701 and for my gold; ^H2091 and I denied ^H4513 him not.

⁸ And all the elders ^H2205 and all the people ^H5971 said ^H559 unto him, Hearken ^H8085 not unto him, nor consent. ^H14

⁹ Wherefore he said ^H559 unto the messengers ^H4397 of Benhadad, ^H1130 Tell ^H559 my lord ^H113 the king, ^H4428 All that thou didst send ^H7971 for to thy servant ^H5650 at the first ^H7223 I will do: ^H6213 but this thing ^H1697 I may ^H3201 not do. ^H6213 And the messengers ^H4397 departed, ^H3212 and brought ^H7725 him word ^H1697 again. ^H7725

¹⁰ And Benhadad ^H1130 sent ^H7971 unto him, and said, ^H559 The gods ^H430 do so ^H6213 unto me, and more also, ^H3254 if the dust ^H6083 of Samaria ^H8111 shall suffice ^H5606 for handfuls ^H8168 for all the people ^H5971 that follow ^H7272 me.

¹¹ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 Tell ^H1696 him, Let not him that girdeth ^H2296 on his harness boast ^H1984 himself as he that putteth it off. ^H6605

¹² And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard ^H8085 this message, ^H1697 as he was drinking, ^H8354 he and the kings ^H4428 in the pavilions, ^H5521 that he said ^H559 unto his servants, ^H5650 Set ^H7760 yourselves in array. And they set ^H7760 themselves in array against the city. ^H5892

¹³ And, behold, there came ^H5066 a ^H259 prophet ^H5030 unto Ahab ^H256 king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 saying, ^H559 Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 Hast thou seen ^H7200 all this great ^H1419 multitude? ^H1995 behold, I will deliver ^H5414 it into thine hand ^H3027 this day; ^H3117 and thou shalt know ^H3045 that I am the LORD. ^H3068

¹⁴ And Ahab ^H256 said, ^H559 By whom? And he said, ^H559 Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 Even by the young men ^H5288 of the princes ^H8269 of the provinces. ^H4082 Then he said, ^H559 Who shall order ^H631 the battle? ^H4421 And he answered, ^H559 Thou.

¹⁵ Then he numbered ^H6485 the young men ^H5288 of the princes ^H8269 of the provinces, ^H4082 and they were two ^H8147 hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 two: ^H8147 and after ^H310 them he numbered ^H6485 all the people, ^H5971 even all the children ^H1121 of Israel, ^H3478 being seven ^H7651 thousand. ^H505

¹⁶ And they went out ^H3318 at noon. ^H6672 But Benhadad ^H1130 was drinking ^H8354 himself drunk ^H7910 in the pavilions, ^H5521 he and the kings, ^H4428 the thirty ^H7970 and two ^H8147 kings ^H4428 that helped ^H5826 him.

¹⁷ And the young men ^H5288 of the princes ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082 went out ^H3318 first; ^H7223 and Benhadad ^H1130 sent out, ^H7971 and they told ^H5046 him, saying, ^H559 There are men ^H582 come out ^H3318 of Samaria. ^H8111

¹⁸ And he said, ^H559 Whether they be come out ^H3318 for peace, ^H7965 take ^H8610 them alive; ^H2416 or whether they be come out ^H3318 for war, ^H4421 take ^H8610 them alive. ^H2416

¹⁹ So these young men ^H5288 of the princes ^H8269 of the provinces ^H4082 came out ^H3318 of the city, ^H5892 and the army ^H2428 which followed ^H310 them.

²⁰ And they slew ^H5221 every one ^H376 his man: ^H376 and the Syrians ^H758 fled; ^H5127 and Israel ^H3478 pursued ^H7291 them: and Benhadad ^H1130 the king ^H4428 of Syria ^H758 escaped ^H4422 on an horse ^H5483 with the horsemen. ^H6571

²¹ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 went out, ^H3318 and smote ^H5221 the horses ^H5483 and chariots, ^H7393 and slew ^H5221 the Syrians ^H758 with a great ^H1419 slaughter. ^H4347

²² And the prophet ^H5030 came ^H5066 to the king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 and said ^H559 unto him, Go, ^H3212 strengthen ^H2388 thyself, and mark, ^H3045 and see ^H7200 what thou doest: ^H6213 for at the return ^H8666 of the year ^H8141 the king ^H4428 of Syria ^H758 will come up ^H5927 against thee.

²³ And the servants ^H5650 of the king ^H4428 of Syria ^H758 said ^H559 unto him, Their gods ^H430 are gods ^H430 of the hills; ^H2022 therefore they were stronger ^H2388 than we; but ^H199 let us fight ^H3898 against them in the plain, ^H4334 and surely ^H3808 we shall be stronger ^H2388 than they.

²⁴ And do ^H6213 this thing, ^H1697 Take ^H5493 the kings ^H4428 away, every man ^H376 out of his place, ^H4725 and put ^H7760 captains ^H6346 in their rooms:

²⁵ And number ^H4487 thee an army, ^H2428 like the army ^H2428 that thou hast lost, ^H5307 horse ^H5483 for horse, ^H5483 and chariot ^H7393 for chariot: ^H7393 and we will fight ^H3898 against ^H854 them in the plain, ^H4334 and surely we shall be stronger ^H2388 than they. And he hearkened ^H8085 unto their voice, ^H6963 and did so. ^H6213

²⁶ And it came to pass at the return ^H8666 of the year, ^H8141 that Benhadad ^H1130 numbered ^H6485 the Syrians, ^H758 and went up ^H5927 to Aphek, ^H663 to fight ^H4421 against Israel. ^H3478

²⁷ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 were numbered, ^H6485 and were all present, ^H3557 and went ^H3212 against ^H7125 them: and the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 pitched ^H2583 before them like two ^H8147 little flocks ^H2835 of kids; ^H5795 but the Syrians ^H758 filled ^H4390 the country. ^H776

²⁸ And there came ^H5066 a man ^H376 of God, ^H430 and spake ^H559 unto the king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 and said, ^H559 Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 Because the Syrians ^H758 have said, ^H559 The LORD ^H3068 is God ^H430 of the hills, ^H2022 but he is not God ^H430 of the valleys, ^H6010 therefore will I deliver ^H5414 all this great ^H1419 multitude ^H1995 into thine hand, ^H3027 and ye shall know ^H3045 that I am the LORD. ^H3068

²⁹ And they pitched ^H2583 one ^H428 over against ^H5227 the other ^H428 seven ^H7651 days. ^H3117 And so it was, that in the seventh ^H7637 day ^H3117 the battle ^H4421 was joined: ^H7126 and the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 slew ^H5221 of the Syrians ^H758 an hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 footmen ^H7273 in one ^H259 day. ^H3117

³⁰ But the rest ^H3498 fled ^H5127 to Aphek, ^H663 into the city; ^H5892 and there a wall ^H2346 fell ^H5307 upon twenty ^H6242 and seven ^H7651 thousand ^H505 of the men ^H376 that were left. ^H3498 And Benhadad ^H1130 fled, ^H5127 and came ^H935 into the city, ^H5892 into an inner ^H2315 chamber. ^H2315

³¹ And his servants ^H5650 said ^H559 unto him, Behold now, we have heard ^H8085 that the kings ^H4428 of the house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478 are merciful ^H2617 kings: ^H4428 let us, I pray thee, put ^H7760 sackcloth ^H8242 on our loins, ^H4975 and ropes ^H2256 upon our heads, ^H7218 and go out ^H3318 to the king ^H4428 of Israel: ^H3478 peradventure he will save ^H2421 thy life. ^H5315

³² So they girded ^H2296 sackcloth ^H8242 on their loins, ^H4975 and put ropes ^H2256 on their heads, ^H7218 and came ^H935 to the king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 and said, ^H559 Thy servant ^H5650 Benhadad ^H1130 saith, ^H559 I pray thee, let me live. ^{H2421 H5315} And he said, ^H559 Is he yet alive? ^H2416 he is my brother. ^H251

³³ Now the men ^H582 did diligently observe ^H5172 whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily ^H4116 catch ^H2480 it: and they said, ^H559 Thy brother ^H251 Benhadad. ^H1130 Then he said, ^H559 Go ^H935 ye, bring ^H3947 him. Then Benhadad ^H1130 came forth ^H3318 to him; and he caused him to come up ^H5927 into the chariot. ^H4818

³⁴ And Benhadad said ^H559 unto him, The cities, ^H5892 which my father ^H1 took ^H3947 from thy father, ^H1 I will restore; ^H7725 and thou shalt make ^H7760 streets ^H2351 for thee in Damascus, ^H1834 as my father ^H1 made ^H7760 in Samaria. ^H8111 Then said Ahab, I will send thee away ^H7971 with this covenant. ^H1285 So he made ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 with him, and sent him away. ^H7971

³⁵ And a certain ^H259 man ^H376 of the sons ^H1121 of the prophets ^H5030 said ^H559 unto his neighbour ^H7453 in the word ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 Smite ^H5221 me, I pray thee. And the man ^H376 refused ^H3985 to smite ^H5221 him.

³⁶ Then said ^H559 he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed ^H8085 the voice ^H6963 of the LORD, ^H3068 behold, as soon as thou art departed ^H1980 from me, a lion ^H738 shall slay ^H5221 thee. And as soon as he was departed ^H3212 from him, ^H681 a lion ^H738 found ^H4672 him, and slew ^H5221 him.

³⁷ Then he found ^H4672 another ^H312 man, ^H376 and said, ^H559 Smite ^H5221 me, I pray thee. And the man ^H376 smote ^H5221 him, so that in smiting ^H5221 he wounded ^H6481 him.

³⁸ So the prophet ^H5030 departed, ^H3212 and waited ^H5975 for the king ^H4428 by the way, ^H1870 and disguised ^H2664 himself with ashes ^H666 upon his face. ^H5869

³⁹ And as the king ^H4428 passed by, ^H5674 he cried ^H6817 unto the king: ^H4428 and he said, ^H559 Thy servant ^H5650 went out ^H3318 into the midst ^H7130 of the battle; ^H4421 and, behold, a man ^H376 turned aside, ^H5493 and brought ^H935 a man ^H376 unto me, and said, ^H559 Keep ^H8104 this man: ^H376 if by any means ^H6485 he be missing, ^H6485 then shall thy life ^H5315 be for his life, ^H5315 or else thou shalt pay ^H8254 a talent ^H3603 of silver. ^H3701

⁴⁰ And as thy servant ^H5650 was busy ^H6213 here and there, he was gone. ^H369 And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559 unto him, So shall thy judgment ^H4941 be; thyself hast decided ^H2782 it.

⁴¹ And he hasted, ^H4116 and took the ashes ^H666 away ^H5493 from his face; ^H5869 and the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 discerned ^H5234 him that he was of the prophets. ^H5030

⁴² And he said ^H559 unto him, Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 Because thou hast let go ^H7971 out of thy hand ^H3027 a man ^H376 whom I appointed to utter destruction, ^H2764 therefore thy life ^H5315 shall go for his life, ^H5315 and thy people ^H5971 for his people. ^H5971

⁴³ And the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 went ^H3212 to his house ^H1004 heavy ^H5620 and displeased, ^H2198 and came ^H935 to Samaria. ^H8111

---

¹ And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

² And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,

³ Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.

⁴ And the king of Israel answered and said, It is according to thy saying, my lord, O king; I am thine, and all that I have.

⁵ And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, I sent indeed unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

⁶ but I will send my servants unto thee to-morrow about this time, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.

⁷ Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.

⁸ And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken thou not, neither consent.

⁹ Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

¹⁰ And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

¹¹ And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on `his armor' boast himself as he that putteth it off.

¹² And it came to pass, when `Ben-hadad' heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set `yourselves in array'. And they set `themselves in array' against the city.

¹³ And, behold, a prophet came near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.

¹⁴ And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.

¹⁵ Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

¹⁶ And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

¹⁷ And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria.

¹⁸ And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.

¹⁹ So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.

²⁰ And they slew every one his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

²¹ And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

²² And the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

²³ And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

²⁴ And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;

²⁵ and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

²⁶ And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

²⁷ And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

²⁸ And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

²⁹ And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

³⁰ But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

³¹ And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

³² So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and `put' ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

³³ Now the men observed diligently, and hasted to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

³⁴ And `Ben-hadad' said unto him, The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And I, `said Ahab', will let thee go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.

³⁵ And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his fellow by the word of Jehovah, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

³⁶ Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of Jehovah, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

³⁷ Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.

³⁸ So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

³⁹ And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king; and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

⁴⁰ And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

⁴¹ And he hasted, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.

⁴² And he said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

⁴³ And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

---

¹ And Ben-Hadad king of Aram hath gathered all his force, and thirty and two kings `are' with him, and horse and chariot, and he goeth up and layeth siege against Samaria, and fighteth with it,

² and sendeth messengers unto Ahab king of Israel, to the city,

³ and saith to him, `Thus said Ben-Hadad, `Thy silver and thy gold are mine, and thy wives and thy sons -- the best -- are mine.'

⁴ And the king of Israel answereth and saith, `According to thy word, my lord, O king: I `am' thine, and all that I have.'

⁵ And the messengers turn back and say, `Thus spake Ben-Hadad, saying, Surely I sent unto thee, saying, Thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy sons, to me thou dost give;

⁶ for if, at this time to-morrow, I send my servants unto thee then they have searched thy house, and the houses of thy servants, and it hath been, every desirable thing of thine eyes they place in their hand, and have taken away.'

⁷ And the king of Israel calleth to all the elders of the land, and saith, `Know, I pray you, and see that evil this `one' is seeking, for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my sons, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I withheld not from him.'

⁸ And all the elders and all the people say unto him, `Do not hearken, nor consent.'

⁹ And he saith to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, `Say to my lord the king, All that thou didst send for unto thy servant at the first I do, and this thing I am not able to do;' and the messengers go and take him back word.

¹⁰ And Ben-Hadad sendeth unto him, and saith, `Thus do the gods to me, and thus do they add, if the dust of Samaria suffice for handfuls for all the people who `are' at my feet.'

¹¹ And the king of Israel answereth and saith, `Speak ye: let not him who is girding on boast himself as him who is loosing `his armour'.'

¹² And it cometh to pass at the hearing of this word -- and he is drinking, he and the kings, in the booths -- that he saith unto his servants, `Set yourselves;' and they set themselves against the city.

¹³ And lo, a certain prophet hath come nigh unto Ahab king of Israel, and saith, `Thus said Jehovah, `Hast thou seen all this great multitude? lo, I am giving it into thy hand to-day, and thou hast known that I `am' Jehovah.'

¹⁴ And Ahab saith, `By whom?' and he saith, `Thus said Jehovah, By the young men of the heads of the provinces;' and he saith, `Who doth direct the battle?' and he saith, `Thou.'

¹⁵ And he inspecteth the young men of the heads of the provinces, and they are two hundred, two and thirty, and after them he hath inspecteth the whole of the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand,

¹⁶ and they go out at noon, and Ben-Hadad is drinking -- drunk in the booths, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings, helping him.

¹⁷ And the young men of the heads of the provinces go out at the first, and Ben-Hadad sendeth, and they declare to him, saying, `Men have come out of Samaria.'

¹⁸ And he saith, `If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.'

¹⁹ And these have gone out of the city -- the young men of the heads of the provinces -- and the force that `is' after them,

²⁰ and smite each his man, and Aram fleeth, and Israel pursueth them, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram escapeth on a horse, and the horsemen;

²¹ and the king of Israel goeth out, and smiteth the horses, and the charioteers, and hath smitten among the Aramaeans a great smiting.

²² And the prophet cometh nigh unto the king of Israel, and saith to him, `Go, strengthen thyself, and know and see that which thou dost, for at the turn of the year the king of Aram is coming up against thee.'

²³ And the servants of the king of Aram said unto him, `Gods of hills `are' their gods, therefore they were stronger than we; and yet, we fight with them in the plain -- are we not stronger than they?

²⁴ `And this thing do thou: turn aside the kings each out of his place, and set captains in their stead;

²⁵ and thou, number to thee a force as the force that is fallen from thee, and horse for horse, and chariot for chariot, and we fight with them in the plain; are we not stronger than they?' and he hearkeneth to their voice, and doth so.

²⁶ And it cometh to pass at the turn of the year, that Ben-Hadad inspecteth the Aramaeans, and goeth up to Aphek, to battle with Israel,

²⁷ and the sons of Israel have been inspected, and supported, and go to meet them, and the sons of Israel encamp before them, like two flocks of goats, and the Aramaeans have filled the land.

²⁸ And there cometh nigh a man of God, and speaketh unto the king of Israel, and saith, `Thus said Jehovah, Because that the Aramaeans have said, God of hills `is' Jehovah, and He `is' not God of valleys -- I have given the whole of this great multitude into thy hand, and ye have known that I `am' Jehovah.'

²⁹ And they encamp one over-against another seven days, and it cometh to pass on the seventh day, that the battle draweth near, and the sons of Israel smite Aram -- a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

³⁰ And those left flee to Aphek, unto the city, and the wall falleth on twenty and seven chief men who are left, and Ben-Hadad hath fled, and cometh in unto the city, into the innermost part.

³¹ And his servants say unto him, `Lo, we pray thee, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel -- that they are kind kings; let us put, we pray thee, sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our heads, and we go out unto the king of Israel; it may be he doth keep thee alive.'

³² And they gird sackcloth on their loins, and ropes `are' on their heads, and they come in unto the king of Israel, and say, `Thy servant Ben-Hadad hath said, Let me live, I pray thee;' and he saith, `Is he yet alive? he `is' my brother.'

³³ And the men observe diligently, and hasten, and catch it from him, and say, `Thy brother Ben-Hadad;' and he saith, `Go ye in, bring him;' and Ben-Hadad cometh out unto him, and he causeth him to come up on the chariot.

³⁴ And he saith unto him, `The cities that my father took from thy father, I give back, and streets thou dost make for thee in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria;' -- `and I, with a covenant, send thee away;' and he maketh with him a covenant, and sendeth him away.

³⁵ And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour by the word of Jehovah, `Smite me, I pray thee;' and the man refuseth to smite him,

³⁶ and he saith to him, `Because that thou hast not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, lo, thou art going from me, and the lion hath smitten thee;' and he goeth from him, and the lion findeth him, and smiteth him.

³⁷ And he findeth another man, and saith, `Smite me, I pray thee;' and the man smiteth him, smiting and wounding,

³⁸ and the prophet goeth and standeth for the king on the way, and disguiseth himself with ashes on his eyes.

³⁹ And it cometh to pass -- the king is passing by -- that he hath cried unto the king, and saith, `Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and lo, a man hath turned aside and bringeth in unto me a man, and saith, Keep this man; if he be at all missing, then hath thy life been for his life, or a talent of silver thou dost weigh out;

⁴⁰ and it cometh to pass, thy servant is working hither and thither, and he is not!' and the king of Israel saith unto him, Right `is' thy judgment; thou hast determined `it'.'

⁴¹ And he hasteth and turneth aside the ashes from off his eyes, and the king of Israel discerneth him, that he `is' of the prophets,

⁴² and he saith unto him, `Thus said Jehovah, Because thou hast sent away the man I devoted, out of `thy' hand, even thy life hath been for his life, and thy people for his people;'

⁴³ and the king of Israel goeth unto his house, sulky and wroth, and cometh in to Samaria.

---

¹ And Ben-Hadad king of Syria assembled all his host; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

² And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben-Hadad:

³ Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, the goodliest, are mine.

⁴ And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.

⁵ And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben-Hadad saying: I sent to thee indeed, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

⁶ but to-morrow about this time I will send my servants to thee, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thy sight, they shall put in their hand and take away.

⁷ And the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this [man] seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.

⁸ And all the elders and all the people said to him, Hearken not, nor consent.

⁹ And he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do; but this thing I cannot do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

¹⁰ And Ben-Hadad sent to him and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me!

¹¹ And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on boast himself as he that putteth off!

¹² And it came to pass when he heard this word, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the tents, that he said to his servants, Set yourselves. And they set themselves against the city.

¹³ And behold, a prophet drew near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah: Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.

¹⁴ And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah: By the servants of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he said, Thou.

¹⁵ And he numbered the servants of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he numbered all the people, all the children of Israel, seven thousand.

¹⁶ And they went out at noon; and Ben-Hadad drank himself drunk in the tents, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings that helped him.

¹⁷ And the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-Hadad sent out, and they told him saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

¹⁸ And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

¹⁹ And these servants of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army that followed them.

²⁰ And they slew every one his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them; and Ben-Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen.

²¹ And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

²² And the prophet drew near to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen thyself, and understand, and see what thou shalt do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

²³ And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods of the mountains; therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them on the plateau, shall we not be stronger than they?

²⁴ And do this: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put governors in their stead;

²⁵ and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them on the plateau: shall we not be stronger than they? And he hearkened to their voice, and did so.

²⁶ And it came to pass, at the return of the year, that Ben-Hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

²⁷ And the children of Israel were numbered and victualled, and they went against them; and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats; but the Syrians filled the land.

²⁸ And the man of God drew near, and spoke to the king of Israel and said, Thus saith Jehovah: Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the mountains, but he is not a god of the valleys, I will give all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

²⁹ And they encamped one over against the other seven days; and it came to pass that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel smote of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

³⁰ And the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men of them that were left. And Ben-Hadad fled, and came into the city, [from] chamber to chamber.

³¹ And his servants said to him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save thy life.

³² And they girded sackcloth on their loins, and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-Hadad says, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

³³ And the men took it as a good omen, and hastened to catch what came from him, and they said, Thy brother Ben-Hadad. ... And he said, Go, bring him. And Ben-Hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

³⁴ And [Ben-Hadad] said to him, The cities that my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thyself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And I [said Ahab] will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

³⁵ And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another by the word of Jehovah, Smite me, I pray thee. But the man refused to smite him.

³⁶ Then said he to him, Because thou hast not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, behold, when thou departest from me, the lion will slay thee. And when he had departed from him, the lion found him and slew him.

³⁷ Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him violently, and wounded [him].

³⁸ And the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with a sash over his eyes.

³⁹ And as the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me and said, Keep this man; if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

⁴⁰ And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him, So [is] thy judgment: thyself hast decided [it].

⁴¹ Then he hastily took the sash away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him, that he was of the prophets.

⁴² And he said to him, Thus saith Jehovah: Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man that I had devoted to destruction, thy life shall be for his life, and thy people for his people.

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

---

¹ Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.

² He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben Hadad,

³ Your silver and your gold is mine; your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.

⁴ The king of Israel answered, It is according to your saying, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.

⁵ The messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben Hadad, saying, I sent indeed to you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;

⁶ but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.

⁷ Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Please notice how this man seeks mischief: for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn't deny him.

⁸ All the elders and all the people said to him, Don't you listen, neither consent.

⁹ Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you did send for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. The messengers departed, and brought him word again.

¹⁰ Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.

¹¹ The king of Israel answered, Tell him, Don't let him who girds on [his armor] boast himself as he who puts it off.

¹² It happened, when [Ben Hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. They set [themselves in array] against the city.

¹³ Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Have you seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

¹⁴ Ahab said, By whom? He said, Thus says Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You.

¹⁵ Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

¹⁶ They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.

¹⁷ The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria.

¹⁸ He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.

¹⁹ So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.

²⁰ They killed everyone his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

²¹ The king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.

²² The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.

²³ The servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

²⁴ Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;

²⁵ and number you an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. He listened to their voice, and did so.

²⁶ It happened at the return of the year, that Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

²⁷ The children of Israel were mustered, and were provisioned, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

²⁸ A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Because the Syrians have said, Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

²⁹ They encamped one over against the other seven days. So it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed of the Syrians one hundred thousand footmen in one day.

³⁰ But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

³¹ His servants said to him, See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray you, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save your life.

³² So 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. He said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

³³ Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Your brother Ben Hadad. Then he said, Go you, bring him. Then Ben Hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

³⁴ [Ben Hadad] said to him, The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you shall make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. I, [said Ahab], will let you go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.

³⁵ A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of Yahweh, Please strike me. The man refused to strike him.

³⁶ Then said he to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall kill you. As soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him.

³⁷ Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him.

³⁸ So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

³⁹ As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he 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, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.

⁴⁰ As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. The king of Israel said to him, So shall your judgment be; yourself have decided it.

⁴¹ He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.

⁴² He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, 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.

⁴³ The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.

---

¹ Now Ben-hadad, king of Aram, got all his army together, and thirty-two kings with him, and horses and carriages of war; he went up and made war on Samaria, shutting it in.

² And he sent representatives into the town to Ahab, king of Israel;

³ And they said to him, Ben-hadad says, Your silver and your gold are mine; and your wives and children are mine.

⁴ And the king of Israel sent him an answer saying, As you say, my lord king, I am yours with all I have.

⁵ Then the representatives came back again, and said, These are the words of Ben-hadad: I sent to you saying, Give up to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children;

⁶ But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, to make a search through your house and the houses of your people, and everything which is pleasing in your eyes they will take away in their hands.

⁷ Then the king of Israel sent for all the responsible men of the land, and said, Now will you take note and see the evil purpose of this man: he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, and I did not keep them back.

⁸ And all the responsible men and the people said to him, Do not give attention to him or do what he says.

⁹ So he said to the representatives of Ben-hadad, Say to my lord the king, All the orders you sent the first time I will do; but this thing I may not do. And the representatives went back with this answer.

¹⁰ Then Ben-hadad sent to him, saying, May the gods' punishment be on me if there is enough of the dust of Samaria for all the people at my feet to take some in their hands.

¹¹ And the king of Israel said in answer, Say to him, The time for loud talk is not when a man is putting on his arms, but when he is taking them off.

¹² Now when this answer was given to Ben-hadad, he was drinking with the kings in the tents, and he said to his men, Take up your positions. So they put themselves in position for attacking the town.

¹³ Then a prophet came up to Ahab, king of Israel, and said, The Lord says, Have you seen all this great army? See, I will give it into your hands today, and you will see that I am the Lord.

¹⁴ And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, The Lord says, By the servants of the chiefs who are over the divisions of the land. Then he said, By whom is the fighting to be started? And he made answer, By you.

¹⁵ Then he got together the servants of all the chiefs who were over the divisions of the land, two hundred and thirty-two of them; and after them, he got together all the people, all the children of Israel, seven thousand.

¹⁶ And in the middle of the day they went out. But Ben-hadad was drinking in the tents with the thirty-two kings who were helping him.

¹⁷ And the servants of the chiefs who were over the divisions of the land went forward first; and when Ben-hadad sent out, they gave him the news, saying, Men have come out from Samaria.

¹⁸ And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.

¹⁹ So the servants of the chiefs of the divisions of the land went out of the town, with the army coming after them.

²⁰ And every one of them put his man to death, and the Aramaeans went in flight with Israel after them; and Ben-hadad, king of Aram, got away safely on a horse with his horsemen.

²¹ And the king of Israel went out and took the horses and the war-carriages, and made great destruction among the Aramaeans.

²² Then the prophet came up to the king of Israel, and said to him, Now make yourself strong, and take care what you do, or a year from now the king of Aram will come up against you again.

²³ Then the king of Aram's servants said to him, Their god is a god of the hills; that is why they were stronger than we: but if we make an attack on them in the lowlands, we will certainly be stronger than they.

²⁴ This is what you have to do: take away the kings from their positions, and put captains in their places;

²⁵ And get together another army like the one which came to destruction, horse for horse, and carriage for carriage; and let us make war on them in the lowlands, and certainly we will be stronger than they. And he gave ear to what they said, and did so.

²⁶ So, a year later, Ben-hadad got the Aramaeans together and went up to Aphek to make war on Israel.

²⁷ And the children of Israel got themselves together, and food was made ready and they went against them; the tents of the children of Israel were like two little flocks of goats before them, but all the country was full of the Aramaeans.

²⁸ And a man of God came up and said to the king of Israel, The Lord says, Because the Aramaeans have said, The Lord is a god of the hills and not of the valleys; I will give all this great army into your hands, and you will see that I am the Lord.

²⁹ Now the two armies kept their positions facing one another for seven days. And on the seventh day the fight was started; and the children of Israel put to the sword a hundred thousand Aramaean footmen in one day.

³⁰ But the rest went in flight to Aphek, into the town, where a wall came down on the twenty-seven thousand who were still living. And Ben-hadad went in flight into the town, into an inner room.

³¹ Then his servants said to him, It is said that the kings of Israel are full of mercy: let us then put on haircloth, and cords on our heads, and go to the king of Israel; it may be that he will give you your life.

³² So they put on haircloth, and cords on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, Your servant Ben-hadad says, Let me now keep my life. And he said, Is he still living? he is my brother.

³³ Now the men took it as a sign, and quickly took up his words; and they said, Ben-hadad is your brother. Then he said, Go and get him. So Ben-hadad came out to him and he made him get up into his carriage.

³⁴ And Ben-hadad said to him, The towns my father took from your father I will give back; and you may make streets for yourself in Damascus as my father did in Samaria. And as for me, at the price of this agreement you will let me go. So he made an agreement with him and let him go.

³⁵ And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbour by the word of the Lord, Give me a wound. But the man would not.

³⁶ Then he said to him, Because you have not given ear to the voice of the Lord, straight away when you have gone from me a lion will put you to death. And when he had gone, straight away a lion came rushing at him and put him to death.

³⁷ Then he came across another man, and said, Give me a wound. And the man gave him a blow wounding him.

³⁸ So the prophet went away, and pulling his head-band over his eyes to keep his face covered, took his place by the road waiting for the king.

³⁹ And when the king went by, crying out to him he said, Your servant went out into the fight; and a man came out to me with another man and said, Keep this man: if by any chance he gets away, your life will be the price of his life, or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.

⁴⁰ But while your servant was turning this way and that, he was gone. Then the king of Israel said to him, You are responsible; you have given the decision against yourself.

⁴¹ Then he quickly took the head-band from his eyes; and the king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets.

⁴² And he said to him, These are the words of the Lord: Because you have let go from your hands the man whom I had put to the curse, your life will be taken for his life, and your people for his people.

⁴³ Then the king of Israel went back to his house, bitter and angry, and came to Samaria.