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 warred 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, 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 Ben-hadad, 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 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 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 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 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 Ben-hadad 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 Ben-hadad 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 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, 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 Ben-hadad 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 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. 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 neighbour 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.

1And Benhadad the King of Syria gathered all his hoste together, and there were thirtie and two kings with him, and horses, and charets: and hee went vp and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

2And hee sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and saide vnto him, Thus saith Benhadad,

3Thy siluer and thy gold is mine, thy wiues also, and thy children, euen the goodliest, are mine.

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

5And the messengers came againe, and saide, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I haue sent vnto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliuer me thy siluer, and thy gold, and thy wiues, and thy children:

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

7Then the king of Israel called all the Elders of the land, and saide; Marke, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischiefe: for hee sent vnto me for my wiues, and for my children, and for my siluer, and for my gold, and I denied him not.

8And all the Elders, and all the people said vnto him; Hearken not vnto him, nor consent.

9Wherefore hee said vnto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou diddest send for to thy seruant at the first, I will doe: but this thing I may not doe. And the messengers departed, and brought him word againe.

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

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

12And it came to passe, when Benhadad heard this message (as hee was drinking, he and the kings in the pauilions) that hee said vnto his seruants, Set yourselues in aray. And they set themselues in aray against the citie.

13 And behold, there came a Prophet vnto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seene all this great multitude? behold, I will deliuer it into thine hand this day, and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord.

14And Ahab saide, By whom? and he saide, Thus saith the Lord, Euen by the young men of the Princes of the prouinces: Then he said, Who shall order the battell? And hee answered, Thou.

15Then he numbred the young men of the Princes of the prouinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them hee numbred all the people, euen all the children of Israel, being seuen thousand.

16And they went out at noone: But Benhadad was drinking himselfe drunke in the pauilions, hee and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

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

18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they be come out for warre, take them aliue.

19So these yong men of the princes of the prouinces, came out of the citie, and the armie which followed them:

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

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

22 And the Prophet came to the king of Israel, and said vnto him, Goe, strengthen thy selfe, and marke and see what thou doest: for at the returne of the yeere, the king of Syria will come vp against thee.

23And the seruants of the King of Syria said vnto him, Their gods are gods of the hilles, therefore they were stronger then wee: but let vs fight against them in the plaine, and surely we shall be stronger then they.

24And doe this thing, Take the kings away, euery man out of his place, and put captaines in their roumes.

25And number thee an armie, like the armie that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and charet for charet: and wee will fight against them in the plaine, and surely wee shall be stronger then they. And hee hearkened vnto their voice, and did so.

26And it came to passe at the returne of the yeere, that Benhadad numbred the Syrians, and went vp to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

27And the children of Israel were numbred, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them, like two little flockes of kids: but the Syrians filled the countrey.

28 And there came a man of God, and spake vnto the king of Israel, and sayd, Thus sayth the Lord, Because the Syrians haue sayde, The Lord is God of the hilles, but hee is not God of the valleys: therefore will I deliuer all this great multitude into thine hand, and yee shall know that I am the Lord.

29And they pitched one ouer against the other seuen daies, and so it was, that in the seuenth day the battell was ioyned: and the children of Israel slewe of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the citie, and there a wall fell vpon twentie and seuen thousand of the men that were left: and Benhadad fled, and came into the citie, into an inner chamber.

31 And his seruants said vnto him, Behold now, wee haue heard that the kings of the house of Israel are mercifull kings: let vs, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loines, and ropes vpon our heads, and goe out to the king of Israel; peraduenture he will saue thy life.

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

33Now the men did diligently obserue whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they saide, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Goe ye, bring him: then Benhadad came forth to him: and hee caused him to come vp into the charet.

34And Benhadad said vnto him, The cities which my father tooke 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 couenant. So he made a couenant with him, and sent him away.

35 And a certaine man of the sonnes of the Prophets, saide vnto his neighbour in the word of the Lord, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

36Then said he vnto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voyce of the Lord, beholde, assoone as thou art departed from me, a lyon shal slay thee. And assoone as hee was departed from him, a lyon found him, and slew him.

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

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

39And as the king passed by, he cried vnto the king: and he saide, Thy seruant went out into the mids of the battell, and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man vnto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any meanes he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of siluer.

40And as thy seruant was busie here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel saide vnto him, So shall thy iudgement bee, thy selfe hast discided it.

41And he hasted, and tooke the ashes away from his face, and the king of Israel discerned him that hee was of the Prophets.

42And hee said vnto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let goe out of thy hand, a man whom I appointed to vtter destruction, therfore thy life shall goe for his life, and thy people for his people.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X == Ex 11:8 ; Judg 4:10 ; 1st Kings 19:2

 

 

 

 

XII == 1st Kings 20:16

 

 

 

XIII == 1st Kings 20:28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVI == 1st Kings 16:9 ; 20:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == 2nd Sam 11:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Josh 13:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == 1st Kings 20:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXX == 1st Kings 22:25

 

 

XXXI == Gen 37:34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIV == 1st Kings 15:20

 

 

 

 

 

XXXV == 1st Kings 13:17-18 ; 2nd Kings 2:3 , 5 , 7 , 15

XXXVI == 1st Kings 13:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIX == 2nd Kings 10:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XLII == 1st Kings 22:31-37

 

 

 

XLIII == 1st Kings 21:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Ben-hadad, king of Aram, gathered all his forces, and accompanied by thirty-two kings with horses and chariotry, proceeded to invest and attack Samaria.

2 He sent couriers to Ahab, king of Israel, within the city,

3 and said to him, "This is Ben-hadad's message: 'Your silver and gold are mine, and your wives and your promising sons are mine.'"

4 The king of Israel answered, "As you say, my lord king, I and all I have are yours."

5 But the couriers came again and said, "This is Ben-hadad's message: 'I sent you word to give me your silver and gold, your wives and your sons.

6 Now, however, at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they shall ransack your house and the houses of your servants. They shall seize and take away whatever they consider valuable.'"

7 The king of Israel then summoned all the elders of the land and said: "Understand clearly that this man wants to ruin us. When he sent to me for my wives and sons, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him."

8 All the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen. Do not give in."

9 Accordingly he directed the couriers of Ben-hadad, "Say to my lord the king, 'I will do all that you demanded of your servant the first time. But this I cannot do.'" The couriers left and reported this.

10 Ben-hadad then sent him the message, "May the gods do thus and so to me if there is enough dust in Samaria to make handfuls for all my followers."

11 The king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'It is not for the man who is buckling his armor to boast as though he were taking it off.'"

12 Ben-hadad was drinking in the pavilions with the kings when he heard this reply. "Prepare the assault," he commanded his servants; and they made ready to storm the city.

13 Then a prophet came up to Ahab, king of Israel and said: "The LORD says, 'Do you see all this huge army? When I deliver it up to you today, you will know that I am the LORD.'"

14 But Ahab asked, "Through whom will it be delivered up?" He answered, "The LORD says, 'Through the retainers of the governors of the provinces.'" Then Ahab asked, "Who is to attack?" He replied, "You are."

15 So Ahab called up the retainers of the governors of the provinces, two hundred thirty-two of them. Behind them he mustered all the Israelite soldiery, who numbered seven thousand.

16 They marched out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking heavily in the pavilions with the thirty-two kings who were his allies.

17 When the retainers of the governors of the provinces marched out first, Ben-hadad received word that some men had marched out of Samaria.

18 He answered, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, in any case take them alive."

19 But when these had come out of the city the soldiers of the governors of the provinces with the army following them - 

20 each of them struck down his man. The Arameans fled with Israel pursuing them, while Ben-hadad, king of Aram, escaped on a chariot steed.

21 The king of Israel went out, took the horses and chariots, and inflicted a severe defeat on Aram.

22 Then the prophet went up to the king of Israel and said to him: "Go, regroup your forces. Mark well what you do, for at the beginning of the year the king of Aram will attack you."

23 On the other hand, the servants of the king of Aram said to him: "Their gods are gods of mountains. That is why they defeated us. But if we fight them on level ground, we shall be sure to defeat them.

24 This is what you must do: Take the kings from their posts and put prefects in their places.

25 Mobilize an army as large as the army that has deserted you, horse for horse, chariot for chariot. Let us fight them on level ground, and we shall surely defeat them." He took their advice and did this.

26 At the beginning of the year, Ben-hadad mobilized Aram and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

27 The Israelites, too, were called to arms and supplied with provisions; then they went out to engage the foe. The Israelites, encamped opposite them, seemed like a couple of small flocks of goats, while Aram covered the countryside.

28 A man of God came up and said to the king of Israel: "The LORD says, 'Because Aram has said the LORD is a god of mountains, not a god of plains, I will deliver up to you all this large army, that you may know I am the LORD.'"

29 They were encamped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day battle was joined, and the Israelites struck down one hundred thousand foot soldiers of Aram in one day.

30 The survivors, twenty-seven thousand of them, fled into the city of Aphek, and there the wall collapsed. Ben-hadad, too, fled, and took refuge within the city, in an inside room.

31 His servants said to him: "We have heard that the kings of the land of Israel are merciful kings. Allow us, therefore, to garb ourselves in sackcloth, with cords around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life."

32 So they dressed in sackcloth girded at the waist, and wearing cords around their heads, they went to the king of Israel. "Your servant Ben-hadad pleads for his life," they said. "Is he still alive?" the king asked. "He is my brother."

33 Hearing this as a good omen, the men quickly took him at his word and said, "Ben-hadad is your brother." He answered, "Go and get him." When Ben-hadad came out to him, the king had him mount his chariot.

34 Ben-hadad said to him, "I will restore the cities which my father took from your father, and you may make yourself bazaars in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." "On these terms," Ahab replied, "I will set you free." So he made an agreement with him and then set him free.

35 One of the guild prophets was prompted by the LORD to say to his companion, "Strike me." But he refused to strike him.

36 Then he said to him, "Since you did not obey the voice of the LORD, a lion will kill you when you leave me." When they parted company, a lion came upon him and killed him.

37 The prophet met another man and said, "Strike me." The man struck him a blow and wounded him.

38 The prophet went on and waited for the king on the road, having disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.

39 As the king was passing, he called out to the king and said: "Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and suddenly someone turned and brought me a man and said, 'Guard this man. If he is missing, you shall have to pay for his life with your life or pay out a talent of silver.'

40 But while your servant was looking here and there, the man disappeared." The king of Israel said to him, "That is your sentence. You have decided it yourself."

41 He immediately removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

42 He said to him: "The LORD says, 'Because you have set free the man I doomed to destruction, your life shall pay for his life, your people for his people.'"

43 Disturbed and angry, the king of Israel went off homeward and entered Samaria.

 

v 1-4. Ben-hadad the second, not the one King Asa of Judah hired, chapter 15, came with 32 city - state kings to besiege Samaria. He gave Ahab terms of giving him his silver and gold and even his wives and children. Ahab was so outnumbered he consented.

 

 

 

v 5-9. With such quick acceptance, Ben-hadad decided his terms were too easy, so he demanded to let his servants come in & take all the plunder they wanted. Ahab called in all the elders, and they agreed that he should not consent to that. He sent the messengers back with word that he would abide by the first agreement but not this.

 

An unnamed prophet came and told Ahab that the huge army would be delivered to him to show that God is the Lord. This not due to any of Ahab’s goodness.

 

 

v 10-12. Ben-hadad tried to intimidate Ahab with an oath by saying Israel was just handfuls of dust compared to his vast army, but Ahab bravely chided him not to boast of victory until he had gained it. Ben-hadad had the men prepare for battle while he and the other kings had a drinking party.

 

 

 

 

 

v 14-16. When Ahab was informed that he was to direct the battle, he called out 232 princes to lead the 7000 soldiers. He surprised attacked in the hot restful time of the day while the kings were drunken.

 

 

 

 

v 17-21. The princes went out first, and not knowing their motive, Ahab ordered them to be taken alive. Taking the Syrians by surprise, Israel inflicted heavy casualties on the soldiers, their horses and chariots, but Ben-hadad escaped on a horse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 22-25. The prophet came to Ahab and warned him to prepare, because the Syrians would return in the spring of the year. Meanwhile, Ben-hadad was advised that Israel had gods of the hills, so replace the 32 kings with regular army officers, assemble an army just like the first one, but fight in the plains.

 

 

 

 

 

v 26,27. Israel was so outnumbered their camp was like two little flocks of kids compared to the enemy. The two groups may have been a part of battle strategy.

 

 

v 28-30. The man of God returned and told Ahab that since the enemy trusted in gods of the plains,God would deliver Israel, so Ahab would know God was Lord. For some reason they camped for seven days, then Israel killed 100,000 Syrian footmen in one day. The rest retreated into the city of Aphek and a wall fell on 27,000 more.

 

 

 

 

v 31-34. Ahab should have destroyed Ben-hadad, but when he and his servants came out in sackcloth, indicating submission. Ahab called him a brother indicating he would accept a defense agreement against Assyria. He accepted restoration of his cities and access to cities of Damascus. After two great victories, Ahab was still not willing to trust the Lord. Not in the Bible but in record of Shalmanezer, three years later Ahab supplied 10,000 troops and 2000 chariots and joined Ben-hadad in defeating Assyrian Shalmanezer 3rd at Qarqar on the Orontes River in Aram. 

 

 

 

 

 

v 35-38. God commanded an unnamed prophet to have a neighbor smite him (with a weapon). He was too nice to do that, but it was the command of God, so a lion slew him. He found another man who would smite him, and in so doing injured him. Then he disguised himself with ashes on his face and waited for Ahab.

 

 

 

 

v 39-43. He protested that in a battle he was supposed to guard a prisoner or forfeit his life, but he let the man escape. In indicating the man got the judgment he deserved, Ahab was judging himself, just as David did when confronted by Nathan, 2 Sam. 12:1-7.  Then the prophet revealed himself and rebuked Ahab for not destroying Ben-hadad. As a result, Ahab’s own life and his people would be forfeited for the Syrians he let escape. Ahab returned to his home resentful and sullen, probably as much at himself as at the prophet.