1 And Benhadad{H1130} the king{H4428} of Syria{H758} gathered{H6908} all his host{H2428} together{H6908}{(H8804)}: and there were thirty{H7970} and two{H8147} kings{H4428} with him, and horses{H5483}, and chariots{H7393}: and he went up{H5927}{(H8799)} and besieged{H6696}{(H8799)} Samaria{H8111}, and warred{H3898}{(H8735)} against it.

2 And he sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} to Ahab{H256} king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} into the city{H5892}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)}, 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}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thus speaketh{H559}{(H8804)} Benhadad{H1130}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Although I have sent{H7971}{(H8804)} unto thee, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Thou shalt deliver{H5414}{(H8799)} me thy silver{H3701}, and thy gold{H2091}, and thy wives{H802}, and thy children{H1121};

6 Yet I will send{H7971}{(H8799)} my servants{H5650} unto thee to morrow{H4279} about this time{H6256}, and they shall search{H2664}{(H8765)} thine house{H1004}, and the houses{H1004} of thy servants{H5650}; and it shall be{H1961}{(H8804)}, that whatsoever is pleasant{H4261} in thine eyes{H5869}, they shall put{H7760}{(H8799)} it in their hand{H3027}, and take it away{H3947}{(H8804)}.

7 Then the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} called{H7121}{(H8799)} all the elders{H2205} of the land{H776}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Mark{H3045}{(H8798)}, I pray you, and see{H7200}{(H8798)} how this man seeketh{H1245}{(H8764)} mischief{H7451}: for he sent{H7971}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8804)} him not.

8 And all the elders{H2205} and all the people{H5971} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Hearken{H8085}{(H8799)} not unto him, nor consent{H14}{(H8799)}.

9 Wherefore he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the messengers{H4397} of Benhadad{H1130}, Tell{H559}{(H8798)} my lord{H113} the king{H4428}, All that thou didst send{H7971}{(H8804)} for to thy servant{H5650} at the first{H7223} I will do{H6213}{(H8799)}: but this thing{H1697} I may{H3201}{(H8799)} not do{H6213}{(H8800)}. And the messengers{H4397} departed{H3212}{(H8799)}, and brought{H7725} him word{H1697} again{H7725}{(H8686)}.

10 And Benhadad{H1130} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} unto him, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, The gods{H430} do so{H6213}{(H8799)} unto me, and more also{H3254}{(H8686)}, if the dust{H6083} of Samaria{H8111} shall suffice{H5606}{(H8799)} for handfuls{H8168} for all the people{H5971} that follow{H7272} me.

11 And the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Tell{H1696}{(H8761)} him, Let not him that girdeth{H2296}{(H8802)} on his harness boast{H1984}{(H8691)} himself as he that putteth it off{H6605}{(H8764)}.

12 And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard{H8085}{(H8800)} this message{H1697}, as he was drinking{H8354}{(H8802)}, he and the kings{H4428} in the pavilions{H5521}, that he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his servants{H5650}, Set{H7760}{(H8798)} yourselves in array. And they set{H7760}{(H8799)} themselves in array against the city{H5892}.

13 And, behold, there came{H5066}{(H8738)} a{H259} prophet{H5030} unto Ahab{H256} king{H4428} of Israel{H3478}, saying{H559}{(H8799)}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Hast thou seen{H7200}{(H8804)} all this great{H1419} multitude{H1995}? behold, I will deliver{H5414}{(H8802)} it into thine hand{H3027} this day{H3117}; and thou shalt know{H3045}{(H8804)} that I am the LORD{H3068}.

14 And Ahab{H256} said{H559}{(H8799)}, By whom? And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Even by the young men{H5288} of the princes{H8269} of the provinces{H4082}. Then he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Who shall order{H631}{(H8799)} the battle{H4421}? And he answered{H559}{(H8799)}, Thou.

15 Then he numbered{H6485}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8804)} all the people{H5971}, even all the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, being seven{H7651} thousand{H505}.

16 And they went out{H3318}{(H8799)} at noon{H6672}. But Benhadad{H1130} was drinking{H8354}{(H8802)} himself drunk{H7910} in the pavilions{H5521}, he and the kings{H4428}, the thirty{H7970} and two{H8147} kings{H4428} that helped{H5826}{(H8802)} him.

17 And the young men{H5288} of the princes{H8269} of the provinces{H4082} went out{H3318}{(H8799)} first{H7223}; and Benhadad{H1130} sent out{H7971}{(H8799)}, and they told{H5046}{(H8686)} him, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, There are men{H582} come out{H3318}{(H8804)} of Samaria{H8111}.

18 And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Whether they be come out{H3318}{(H8804)} for peace{H7965}, take{H8610}{(H8798)} them alive{H2416}; or whether they be come out{H3318}{(H8804)} for war{H4421}, take{H8610}{(H8798)} them alive{H2416}.

19 So these young men{H5288} of the princes{H8269} of the provinces{H4082} came out{H3318}{(H8804)} of the city{H5892}, and the army{H2428} which followed{H310} them.

20 And they slew{H5221}{(H8686)} every one{H376} his man{H376}: and the Syrians{H758} fled{H5127}{(H8799)}; and Israel{H3478} pursued{H7291}{(H8799)} them: and Benhadad{H1130} the king{H4428} of Syria{H758} escaped{H4422}{(H8735)} on an horse{H5483} with the horsemen{H6571}.

21 And the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} went out{H3318}{(H8799)}, and smote{H5221}{(H8686)} the horses{H5483} and chariots{H7393}, and slew{H5221}{(H8689)} the Syrians{H758} with a great{H1419} slaughter{H4347}.

22 And the prophet{H5030} came{H5066}{(H8799)} to the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, strengthen{H2388}{(H8690)} thyself, and mark{H3045}{(H8798)}, and see{H7200}{(H8798)} what thou doest{H6213}{(H8799)}: for at the return{H8666} of the year{H8141} the king{H4428} of Syria{H758} will come up{H5927}{(H8802)} against thee.

23 And the servants{H5650} of the king{H4428} of Syria{H758} said{H559}{(H8804)} unto him, Their gods{H430} are gods{H430} of the hills{H2022}; therefore they were stronger{H2388}{(H8804)} than we; but{H199} let us fight{H3898}{(H8735)} against them in the plain{H4334}, and surely{H3808} we shall be stronger{H2388}{(H8799)} than they.

24 And do{H6213}{(H8798)} this thing{H1697}, Take{H5493}{(H8685)} the kings{H4428} away, every man{H376} out of his place{H4725}, and put{H7760}{(H8798)} captains{H6346} in their rooms:

25 And number{H4487}{(H8799)} thee an army{H2428}, like the army{H2428} that thou hast lost{H5307}{(H8802)}, horse{H5483} for horse{H5483}, and chariot{H7393} for chariot{H7393}: and we will fight{H3898}{(H8735)} against{H854} them in the plain{H4334}, and surely we shall be stronger{H2388}{(H8799)} than they. And he hearkened{H8085}{(H8799)} unto their voice{H6963}, and did so{H6213}{(H8799)}.

26 And it came to pass at the return{H8666} of the year{H8141}, that Benhadad{H1130} numbered{H6485}{(H8799)} the Syrians{H758}, and went up{H5927}{(H8799)} to Aphek{H663}, to fight{H4421} against Israel{H3478}.

27 And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} were numbered{H6485}{(H8719)}, and were all present{H3557}{(H8791)}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} them: and the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} before them like two{H8147} little flocks{H2835} of kids{H5795}; but the Syrians{H758} filled{H4390}{(H8765)} the country{H776}.

28 And there came{H5066}{(H8799)} a man{H376} of God{H430}, and spake{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Because the Syrians{H758} have said{H559}{(H8804)}, 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}{(H8804)} all this great{H1419} multitude{H1995} into thine hand{H3027}, and ye shall know{H3045}{(H8804)} that I am the LORD{H3068}.

29 And they pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8799)}: and the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} slew{H5221}{(H8686)} of the Syrians{H758} an hundred{H3967} thousand{H505} footmen{H7273} in one{H259} day{H3117}.

30 But the rest{H3498}{(H8737)} fled{H5127}{(H8799)} to Aphek{H663}, into the city{H5892}; and there a wall{H2346} fell{H5307}{(H8799)} upon twenty{H6242} and seven{H7651} thousand{H505} of the men{H376} that were left{H3498}{(H8737)}. And Benhadad{H1130} fled{H5127}{(H8804)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} into the city{H5892}, into an inner{H2315} chamber{H2315}.

31 And his servants{H5650} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Behold now, we have heard{H8085}{(H8804)} that the kings{H4428} of the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} are merciful{H2617} kings{H4428}: let us, I pray thee, put{H7760}{(H8799)} sackcloth{H8242} on our loins{H4975}, and ropes{H2256} upon our heads{H7218}, and go out{H3318}{(H8799)} to the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478}: peradventure he will save{H2421}{(H8762)} thy life{H5315}.

32 So they girded{H2296}{(H8799)} sackcloth{H8242} on their loins{H4975}, and put ropes{H2256} on their heads{H7218}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thy servant{H5650} Benhadad{H1130} saith{H559}{(H8804)}, I pray thee, let me live{H2421}{(H8799)}{H5315}. And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Is he yet alive{H2416}? he is my brother{H251}.

33 Now the men{H582} did diligently observe{H5172}{(H8762)} whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily{H4116}{(H8762)} catch{H2480}{(H8686)} it: and they said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thy brother{H251} Benhadad{H1130}. Then he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Go{H935}{(H8798)} ye, bring{H3947}{(H8798)} him. Then Benhadad{H1130} came forth{H3318}{(H8799)} to him; and he caused him to come up{H5927}{(H8686)} into the chariot{H4818}.

34 And Benhadad said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, The cities{H5892}, which my father{H1} took{H3947}{(H8804)} from thy father{H1}, I will restore{H7725}{(H8686)}; and thou shalt make{H7760}{(H8799)} streets{H2351} for thee in Damascus{H1834}, as my father{H1} made{H7760}{(H8804)} in Samaria{H8111}. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away{H7971}{(H8762)} with this covenant{H1285}. So he made{H3772}{(H8799)} a covenant{H1285} with him, and sent him away{H7971}{(H8762)}.

35 And a certain{H259} man{H376} of the sons{H1121} of the prophets{H5030} said{H559}{(H8804)} unto his neighbour{H7453} in the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}, Smite{H5221}{(H8685)} me, I pray thee. And the man{H376} refused{H3985}{(H8762)} to smite{H5221}{(H8687)} him.

36 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed{H8085}{(H8804)} the voice{H6963} of the LORD{H3068}, behold, as soon as thou art departed{H1980}{(H8802)} from me, a lion{H738} shall slay{H5221}{(H8689)} thee. And as soon as he was departed{H3212}{(H8799)} from him{H681}, a lion{H738} found{H4672}{(H8799)} him, and slew{H5221}{(H8686)} him.

37 Then he found{H4672}{(H8799)} another{H312} man{H376}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Smite{H5221}{(H8685)} me, I pray thee. And the man{H376} smote{H5221}{(H8686)} him, so that in smiting{H5221}{(H8687)} he wounded{H6481}{(H8800)} him.

38 So the prophet{H5030} departed{H3212}{(H8799)}, and waited{H5975}{(H8799)} for the king{H4428} by the way{H1870}, and disguised{H2664}{(H8691)} himself with ashes{H666} upon his face{H5869}.

39 And as the king{H4428} passed by{H5674}{(H8802)}, he cried{H6817}{(H8804)} unto the king{H4428}: and he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thy servant{H5650} went out{H3318}{(H8804)} into the midst{H7130} of the battle{H4421}; and, behold, a man{H376} turned aside{H5493}{(H8804)}, and brought{H935}{(H8686)} a man{H376} unto me, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Keep{H8104}{(H8798)} this man{H376}: if by any means{H6485}{(H8736)} he be missing{H6485}{(H8735)}, then shall thy life{H5315} be for his life{H5315}, or else thou shalt pay{H8254}{(H8799)} a talent{H3603} of silver{H3701}.

40 And as thy servant{H5650} was busy{H6213}{(H8802)} here and there, he was gone{H369}. And the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, So shall thy judgment{H4941} be; thyself hast decided{H2782}{(H8804)} it.

41 And he hasted{H4116}{(H8762)}, and took the ashes{H666} away{H5493}{(H8686)} from his face{H5869}; and the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} discerned{H5234}{(H8686)} him that he was of the prophets{H5030}.

42 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Because thou hast let go{H7971}{(H8765)} 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}{(H8799)} to his house{H1004} heavy{H5620} and displeased{H2198}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to Samaria{H8111}.