1 And Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" the king|strong="H4428" of Syria|strong="H0758" gathered|strong="H6908" all his host|strong="H2428" together|strong="H6908": and there were thirty|strong="H7970" and two|strong="H8147" kings|strong="H4428" with him, and horses|strong="H5483", and chariots|strong="H7393": and he went up|strong="H5927" and besieged|strong="H6696" Samaria|strong="H8111", and warred|strong="H3898" against it.
2 And he sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to Ahab|strong="H0256" king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" into the city|strong="H5892", and said|strong="H0559" unto him, Thus saith|strong="H0559" Ben-hadad|strong="H1130",
3 Thy silver|strong="H3701" and thy gold|strong="H2091" is mine; thy wives|strong="H0802" also and thy children|strong="H1121", even the goodliest|strong="H2896", are mine.
4 And the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" answered|strong="H6030" and said|strong="H0559", My lord|strong="H0113", O king|strong="H4428", according to thy saying|strong="H1697", I am thine, and all that I have.
5 And the messengers|strong="H4397" came again|strong="H7725", and said|strong="H0559", Thus speaketh|strong="H0559" Ben-hadad|strong="H1130", saying|strong="H0559", Although I have sent|strong="H7971" unto thee, saying|strong="H0559", Thou shalt deliver|strong="H5414" me thy silver|strong="H3701", and thy gold|strong="H2091", and thy wives|strong="H0802", and thy children|strong="H1121";
6 Yet I will send|strong="H7971" my servants|strong="H5650" unto thee to morrow|strong="H4279" about this time|strong="H6256", and they shall search|strong="H2664" thine house|strong="H1004", and the houses|strong="H1004" of thy servants|strong="H5650"; and it shall be|strong="H1961", that whatsoever is pleasant|strong="H4261" in thine eyes|strong="H5869", they shall put|strong="H7760" it in their hand|strong="H3027", and take it away|strong="H3947".
7 Then the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" called|strong="H7121" all the elders|strong="H2205" of the land|strong="H0776", and said|strong="H0559", Mark|strong="H3045", I pray you, and see|strong="H7200" how this man seeketh|strong="H1245" mischief|strong="H7451": for he sent|strong="H7971" unto me for my wives|strong="H0802", and for my children|strong="H1121", and for my silver|strong="H3701", and for my gold|strong="H2091"; and I denied|strong="H4513" him not.
8 And all the elders|strong="H2205" and all the people|strong="H5971" said|strong="H0559" unto him, Hearken|strong="H8085" not unto him, nor consent|strong="H0014".
9 Wherefore he said|strong="H0559" unto the messengers|strong="H4397" of Ben-hadad|strong="H1130", Tell|strong="H0559" my lord|strong="H0113" the king|strong="H4428", All that thou didst send|strong="H7971" for to thy servant|strong="H5650" at the first|strong="H7223" I will do|strong="H6213": but this thing|strong="H1697" I may|strong="H3201" not do|strong="H6213". And the messengers|strong="H4397" departed|strong="H3212", and brought|strong="H7725" him word|strong="H1697" again|strong="H7725".
10 And Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" sent|strong="H7971" unto him, and said|strong="H0559", The gods|strong="H0430" do so|strong="H6213" unto me, and more also|strong="H3254", if the dust|strong="H6083" of Samaria|strong="H8111" shall suffice|strong="H5606" for handfuls|strong="H8168" for all the people|strong="H5971" that follow|strong="H7272" me.
11 And the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" answered|strong="H6030" and said|strong="H0559", Tell|strong="H1696" him, Let not him that girdeth|strong="H2296" on his harness boast|strong="H1984" himself as he that putteth it off|strong="H6605".
12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard|strong="H8085" this message|strong="H1697", as he was drinking|strong="H8354", he and the kings|strong="H4428" in the pavilions|strong="H5521", that he said|strong="H0559" unto his servants|strong="H5650", Set|strong="H7760" yourselves in array. And they set|strong="H7760" themselves in array against the city|strong="H5892".
13 And, behold, there came|strong="H5066" a|strong="H0259" prophet|strong="H5030" unto Ahab|strong="H0256" king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", saying|strong="H0559", Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, Hast thou seen|strong="H7200" all this great|strong="H1419" multitude|strong="H1995"? behold, I will deliver|strong="H5414" it into thine hand|strong="H3027" this day|strong="H3117"; and thou shalt know|strong="H3045" that I am the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.
14 And Ahab|strong="H0256" said|strong="H0559", By whom? And he said|strong="H0559", Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, Even by the young men|strong="H5288" of the princes|strong="H8269" of the provinces|strong="H4082". Then he said|strong="H0559", Who shall order|strong="H0631" the battle|strong="H4421"? And he answered|strong="H0559", Thou.
15 Then he numbered|strong="H6485" the young men|strong="H5288" of the princes|strong="H8269" of the provinces|strong="H4082", and they were two|strong="H8147" hundred|strong="H3967" and thirty|strong="H7970" two|strong="H8147": and after|strong="H0310" them he numbered|strong="H6485" all the people|strong="H5971", even all the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478", being seven|strong="H7651" thousand|strong="H0505".
16 And they went out|strong="H3318" at noon|strong="H6672". But Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" was drinking|strong="H8354" himself drunk|strong="H7910" in the pavilions|strong="H5521", he and the kings|strong="H4428", the thirty|strong="H7970" and two|strong="H8147" kings|strong="H4428" that helped|strong="H5826" him.
17 And the young men|strong="H5288" of the princes|strong="H8269" of the provinces|strong="H4082" went out|strong="H3318" first|strong="H7223"; and Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" sent out|strong="H7971", and they told|strong="H5046" him, saying|strong="H0559", There are men|strong="H0582" come out|strong="H3318" of Samaria|strong="H8111".
18 And he said|strong="H0559", Whether they be come out|strong="H3318" for peace|strong="H7965", take|strong="H8610" them alive|strong="H2416"; or whether they be come out|strong="H3318" for war|strong="H4421", take|strong="H8610" them alive|strong="H2416".
19 So these young men|strong="H5288" of the princes|strong="H8269" of the provinces|strong="H4082" came out|strong="H3318" of the city|strong="H5892", and the army|strong="H2428" which followed|strong="H0310" them.
20 And they slew|strong="H5221" every one|strong="H0376" his man|strong="H0376": and the Syrians|strong="H0758" fled|strong="H5127"; and Israel|strong="H3478" pursued|strong="H7291" them: and Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" the king|strong="H4428" of Syria|strong="H0758" escaped|strong="H4422" on an horse|strong="H5483" with the horsemen|strong="H6571".
21 And the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" went out|strong="H3318", and smote|strong="H5221" the horses|strong="H5483" and chariots|strong="H7393", and slew|strong="H5221" the Syrians|strong="H0758" with a great|strong="H1419" slaughter|strong="H4347".
22 And the prophet|strong="H5030" came|strong="H5066" to the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", and said|strong="H0559" unto him, Go|strong="H3212", strengthen|strong="H2388" thyself, and mark|strong="H3045", and see|strong="H7200" what thou doest|strong="H6213": for at the return|strong="H8666" of the year|strong="H8141" the king|strong="H4428" of Syria|strong="H0758" will come up|strong="H5927" against thee.
23 And the servants|strong="H5650" of the king|strong="H4428" of Syria|strong="H0758" said|strong="H0559" unto him, Their gods|strong="H0430" are gods|strong="H0430" of the hills|strong="H2022"; therefore they were stronger|strong="H2388" than we; but|strong="H0199" let us fight|strong="H3898" against them in the plain|strong="H4334", and surely|strong="H3808" we shall be stronger|strong="H2388" than they.
24 And do|strong="H6213" this thing|strong="H1697", Take|strong="H5493" the kings|strong="H4428" away, every man|strong="H0376" out of his place|strong="H4725", and put|strong="H7760" captains|strong="H6346" in their rooms:
25 And number|strong="H4487" thee an army|strong="H2428", like the army|strong="H2428" that thou hast lost|strong="H5307", horse|strong="H5483" for horse|strong="H5483", and chariot|strong="H7393" for chariot|strong="H7393": and we will fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H0854" them in the plain|strong="H4334", and surely we shall be stronger|strong="H2388" than they. And he hearkened|strong="H8085" unto their voice|strong="H6963", and did so|strong="H6213".
26 And it came to pass at the return|strong="H8666" of the year|strong="H8141", that Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" numbered|strong="H6485" the Syrians|strong="H0758", and went up|strong="H5927" to Aphek|strong="H0663", to fight|strong="H4421" against Israel|strong="H3478".
27 And the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478" were numbered|strong="H6485", and were all present|strong="H3557", and went|strong="H3212" against|strong="H7125" them: and the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478" pitched|strong="H2583" before them like two|strong="H8147" little flocks|strong="H2835" of kids|strong="H5795"; but the Syrians|strong="H0758" filled|strong="H4390" the country|strong="H0776".
28 And there came|strong="H5066" a man|strong="H0376" of God|strong="H0430", and spake|strong="H0559" unto the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", and said|strong="H0559", Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, Because the Syrians|strong="H0758" have said|strong="H0559", The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* is God|strong="H0430" of the hills|strong="H2022", but he is not God|strong="H0430" of the valleys|strong="H6010", therefore will I deliver|strong="H5414" all this great|strong="H1419" multitude|strong="H1995" into thine hand|strong="H3027", and ye shall know|strong="H3045" that I am the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.
29 And they pitched|strong="H2583" one|strong="H0428" over against|strong="H5227" the other|strong="H0428" seven|strong="H7651" days|strong="H3117". And so it was, that in the seventh|strong="H7637" day|strong="H3117" the battle|strong="H4421" was joined|strong="H7126": and the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478" slew|strong="H5221" of the Syrians|strong="H0758" an hundred|strong="H3967" thousand|strong="H0505" footmen|strong="H7273" in one|strong="H0259" day|strong="H3117".
30 But the rest|strong="H3498" fled|strong="H5127" to Aphek|strong="H0663", into the city|strong="H5892"; and there a wall|strong="H2346" fell|strong="H5307" upon twenty|strong="H6242" and seven|strong="H7651" thousand|strong="H0505" of the men|strong="H0376" that were left|strong="H3498". And Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" fled|strong="H5127", and came|strong="H0935" into the city|strong="H5892", into an inner|strong="H2315" chamber|strong="H2315".
31 And his servants|strong="H5650" said|strong="H0559" unto him, Behold now, we have heard|strong="H8085" that the kings|strong="H4428" of the house|strong="H1004" of Israel|strong="H3478" are merciful|strong="H2617" kings|strong="H4428": let us, I pray thee, put|strong="H7760" sackcloth|strong="H8242" on our loins|strong="H4975", and ropes|strong="H2256" upon our heads|strong="H7218", and go out|strong="H3318" to the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478": peradventure he will save|strong="H2421" thy life|strong="H5315".
32 So they girded|strong="H2296" sackcloth|strong="H8242" on their loins|strong="H4975", and put ropes|strong="H2256" on their heads|strong="H7218", and came|strong="H0935" to the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", and said|strong="H0559", Thy servant|strong="H5650" Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" saith|strong="H0559", I pray thee, let me live|strong="H2421". And he said|strong="H0559", Is he yet alive|strong="H2416"? he is my brother|strong="H0251".
33 Now the men|strong="H0582" did diligently observe|strong="H5172" whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily|strong="H4116" catch|strong="H2480" it: and they said|strong="H0559", Thy brother|strong="H0251" Ben-hadad|strong="H1130". Then he said|strong="H0559", Go|strong="H0935" ye, bring|strong="H3947" him. Then Ben-hadad|strong="H1130" came forth|strong="H3318" to him; and he caused him to come up|strong="H5927" into the chariot|strong="H4818".
34 And Ben-hadad said|strong="H0559" unto him, The cities|strong="H5892", which my father|strong="H0001" took|strong="H3947" from thy father|strong="H0001", I will restore|strong="H7725"; and thou shalt make|strong="H7760" streets|strong="H2351" for thee in Damascus|strong="H1834", as my father|strong="H0001" made|strong="H7760" in Samaria|strong="H8111". Then said Ahab, I will send thee away|strong="H7971" with this covenant|strong="H1285". So he made|strong="H3772" a covenant|strong="H1285" with him, and sent him away|strong="H7971".
35 And a certain|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0376" of the sons|strong="H1121" of the prophets|strong="H5030" said|strong="H0559" unto his neighbour|strong="H7453" in the word|strong="H1697" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, Smite|strong="H5221" me, I pray thee. And the man|strong="H0376" refused|strong="H3985" to smite|strong="H5221" him.
36 Then said|strong="H0559" he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed|strong="H8085" the voice|strong="H6963" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, behold, as soon as thou art departed|strong="H1980" from me, a lion|strong="H0738" shall slay|strong="H5221" thee. And as soon as he was departed|strong="H3212" from him|strong="H0681", a lion|strong="H0738" found|strong="H4672" him, and slew|strong="H5221" him.
37 Then he found|strong="H4672" another|strong="H0312" man|strong="H0376", and said|strong="H0559", Smite|strong="H5221" me, I pray thee. And the man|strong="H0376" smote|strong="H5221" him, so that in smiting|strong="H5221" he wounded|strong="H6481" him.
38 So the prophet|strong="H5030" departed|strong="H3212", and waited|strong="H5975" for the king|strong="H4428" by the way|strong="H1870", and disguised|strong="H2664" himself with ashes|strong="H0666" upon his face|strong="H5869".
39 And as the king|strong="H4428" passed by|strong="H5674", he cried|strong="H6817" unto the king|strong="H4428": and he said|strong="H0559", Thy servant|strong="H5650" went out|strong="H3318" into the midst|strong="H7130" of the battle|strong="H4421"; and, behold, a man|strong="H0376" turned aside|strong="H5493", and brought|strong="H0935" a man|strong="H0376" unto me, and said|strong="H0559", Keep|strong="H8104" this man|strong="H0376": if by any means|strong="H6485" he be missing|strong="H6485", then shall thy life|strong="H5315" be for his life|strong="H5315", or else thou shalt pay|strong="H8254" a talent|strong="H3603" of silver|strong="H3701".
40 And as thy servant|strong="H5650" was busy|strong="H6213" here and there, he was gone|strong="H0369". And the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559" unto him, So shall thy judgment|strong="H4941" be; thyself hast decided|strong="H2782" it.
41 And he hasted|strong="H4116", and took the ashes|strong="H0666" away|strong="H5493" from his face|strong="H5869"; and the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" discerned|strong="H5234" him that he was of the prophets|strong="H5030".
42 And he said|strong="H0559" unto him, Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, Because thou hast let go|strong="H7971" out of thy hand|strong="H3027" a man|strong="H0376" whom I appointed to utter destruction|strong="H2764", therefore thy life|strong="H5315" shall go for his life|strong="H5315", and thy people|strong="H5971" for his people|strong="H5971".
43 And the king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" went|strong="H3212" to his house|strong="H1004" heavy|strong="H5620" and displeased|strong="H2198", and came|strong="H0935" to Samaria|strong="H8111".