Ben-Hadad's demand
Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his whole army. Thirty-two kings joined him with horses and chariots. He marched up, laid siege to Samaria and attacked it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel with this message: This is what Ben-hadad says: Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine as well. The king of Israel answered: As you say, my lord the king. I am yours, and so is everything I have. The messengers came back again and said: This is what Ben-hadad says. I already sent word that you must hand over your silver, gold, wives and children. But about this time tomorrow I'll send my servants to search your palace and your servants' houses. They'll take away whatever you value most. The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said: Look at this — this man is looking for trouble. He demanded my wives, children, silver and gold, and I didn't refuse him. All the elders and all the people told him: Don't listen to him. Don't agree to it. So Ahab told Ben-hadad's messengers: Tell my lord the king, I'll do everything you first demanded of your servant, but I won't agree to this. The messengers left and took the answer back. Ben-hadad sent another message: May the gods deal with me, ever so severely, if there is enough dust left in Samaria for each of my men to take a handful. The king of Israel replied: Tell him, The man putting his armour on shouldn't brag like the man taking it off after the fight. Ben-hadad heard this while he and the kings were drinking in their tents. He told his men: Get into position. So they formed up against the city.
And Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army together. And there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and laid siege to Samaria and fought it. And he sent messengers into the town to Ahab king of Israel: This is what Ben-Hadad says. Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives too and your children, the best of them, are mine. And the king of Israel answered: My lord king, the way you say, I'm yours and everything I've got. And the messengers came again: This is what Ben-Hadad says. Though I've sent to you: You'll hand over your silver and your gold and your wives and your children — still I'll send my servants to you about this time tomorrow, and they'll search your house and the houses of your servants. And whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they'll put it in their hand and take it away. Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land: Mark now and see how this man looks for trouble. Because he sent to me for my wives and for my children and for my silver and for my gold, and I didn't say no to him. And all the elders and all the people said to him: Don't listen to him or agree. So he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad: Tell my lord the king: I'll do everything you sent for to your servant at first. But this thing I can't do. And the messengers went off and brought him word back. And Ben-Hadad sent to him: The gods do that to me and more, if the dust of Samaria is enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me. And the king of Israel answered: Tell him: Don't let the one who straps on his armour boast like the one who takes it off. And when Ben-Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the tents, he said to his servants: Set yourselves in order. And they set themselves in order against the town.
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. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have. 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; 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. 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. And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered his whole army. Thirty-two kings joined him with horses and chariots. He marched up, laid siege to Samaria and attacked it.
And Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army together. And there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and laid siege to Samaria and fought it.
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.
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel with this message:
And he sent messengers into the town to Ahab king of Israel:
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
This is what Ben-hadad says: Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine as well.
This is what Ben-Hadad says. Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives too and your children, the best of them, are mine.
Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.
The king of Israel answered: As you say, my lord the king. I am yours, and so is everything I have.
And the king of Israel answered: My lord king, the way you say, I'm yours and everything I've got.
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
The messengers came back again and said: This is what Ben-hadad says. I already sent word that you must hand over your silver, gold, wives and children.
And the messengers came again: This is what Ben-Hadad says. Though I've sent to you: You'll hand over your silver and your gold and your wives and your children —
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;
But about this time tomorrow I'll send my servants to search your palace and your servants' houses. They'll take away whatever you value most.
still I'll send my servants to you about this time tomorrow, and they'll search your house and the houses of your servants. And whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they'll put it in their hand and take it away.
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.
The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said: Look at this — this man is looking for trouble. He demanded my wives, children, silver and gold, and I didn't refuse him.
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land: Mark now and see how this man looks for trouble. Because he sent to me for my wives and for my children and for my silver and for my gold, and I didn't say no to him.
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.
All the elders and all the people told him: Don't listen to him. Don't agree to it.
And all the elders and all the people said to him: Don't listen to him or agree.
And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
So Ahab told Ben-hadad's messengers: Tell my lord the king, I'll do everything you first demanded of your servant, but I won't agree to this. The messengers left and took the answer back.
So he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad: Tell my lord the king: I'll do everything you sent for to your servant at first. But this thing I can't do. And the messengers went off and brought him word back.
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.
Ben-hadad sent another message: May the gods deal with me, ever so severely, if there is enough dust left in Samaria for each of my men to take a handful.
And Ben-Hadad sent to him: The gods do that to me and more, if the dust of Samaria is enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.
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.
The king of Israel replied: Tell him, The man putting his armour on shouldn't brag like the man taking it off after the fight.
And the king of Israel answered: Tell him: Don't let the one who straps on his armour boast like the one who takes it off.
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.
Ben-hadad heard this while he and the kings were drinking in their tents. He told his men: Get into position. So they formed up against the city.
And when Ben-Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the tents, he said to his servants: Set yourselves in order. And they set themselves in order against the town.
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.
Aram beaten twice
Then a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said: This is what the Lord says. Do you see this enormous army? I will give it into your hand today, and you will know that I am the Lord. Ahab asked: Through whom? The prophet answered: This is what the Lord says: Through the young men of the provincial rulers. Ahab asked: Who will start the battle? You will, he replied. Ahab counted the young men of the provincial rulers: there were 232. Then he mustered the rest of the Israelites, seven thousand in all. They went out at noon while Ben-hadad was in the tents getting drunk with the thirty-two kings who had come to help him. The young men of the provincial rulers went out first. Ben-hadad sent scouts, who reported: Men are coming out of Samaria. He said: If they've come for peace, take them alive. If they've come for war, take them alive anyway. So the young men of the provincial rulers marched out of the city, with the army behind them. Each struck down his opponent. The Syrians fled, with Israel in pursuit. Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, inflicting a great defeat on the Syrians. Afterwards the prophet came to the king of Israel and said: Strengthen your position and think carefully about what you need to do, because when the year turns the king of Syria will attack you again. The servants of the king of Syria told him: Their gods are gods of the hills. That's why they beat us. Fight them on level ground and we'll have them. Do this as well: remove the kings from their commands and put captains in their places. Raise another army the same size as the one you lost — horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We'll fight them on the plain, and we'll surely beat them. Ben-hadad listened and did it. At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and marched to Aphek to fight Israel. The Israelites were mustered, supplied and sent out to meet them. They camped opposite the Syrians looking like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians covered the countryside. A man of God came to the king of Israel and said: This is what the Lord says. Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills but not God of the valleys, I will give this whole enormous army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the Lord. The two armies camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day battle began, and the Israelites killed a hundred thousand Syrian foot soldiers in one day. The survivors fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of them. Ben-hadad fled into the city and hid in an inner room.
And look — a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel: This is what the Lord says. Have you seen all this great crowd? Look — I'll hand them over into your hand today. And you'll know I'm the Lord. And Ahab said: By who? And he said: This is what the Lord says. By the young men of the leaders of the provinces. Then he said: Who'll set the battle in order? And he answered: You. Then he counted the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. And after them he counted all the people, all the people of Israel, seven thousand. And they went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the tents, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him. And the young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out, and they told him: Men have come out of Samaria. And he said: Whether they've come out for peace, take them alive. Or whether they've come out for war, take them alive. So these young men of the leaders of the provinces came out of the town, and the army that followed them. And they killed every one his man. And the Arameans ran, and Israel chased them. And Ben-Hadad the king of Aram got away on a horse with the horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans with a great killing. And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him: Go, make yourself strong and mark and see what you do. Because at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you. And the servants of the king of Aram said to him: Their gods are gods of the hills. That's why they were stronger than us. But let's fight them in the plain, and we'll definitely be stronger than them. And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their places. And count yourself an army like the army you've lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. And we'll fight them in the plain, and we'll definitely be stronger than them. And he listened to their voice and did that. And at the turn of the year Ben-Hadad counted the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight Israel. And the people of Israel were counted and were all there, and went against them. And the people of Israel camped in front of them like two little flocks of young goats. But the Arameans filled the country. And a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel: This is what the Lord says. Because the Arameans have said the Lord is God of the hills but he isn't God of the valleys — so I'll hand over all this great crowd into your hand, and you'll know I'm the Lord. And they camped opposite each other seven days. And on the seventh day the battle joined. And the people of Israel killed a hundred thousand men on foot of the Arameans in one day. But the rest ran to Aphek, into the town. And a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left. And Ben-Hadad ran and came into the town, into an inner room.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. 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. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. 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. 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. And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Then a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said: This is what the Lord says. Do you see this enormous army? I will give it into your hand today, and you will know that I am the Lord.
And look — a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel: This is what the Lord says. Have you seen all this great crowd? Look — I'll hand them over into your hand today. And you'll know I'm the Lord.
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.
Ahab asked: Through whom? The prophet answered: This is what the Lord says: Through the young men of the provincial rulers. Ahab asked: Who will start the battle? You will, he replied.
And Ahab said: By who? And he said: This is what the Lord says. By the young men of the leaders of the provinces. Then he said: Who'll set the battle in order? And he answered: You.
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.
Ahab counted the young men of the provincial rulers: there were 232. Then he mustered the rest of the Israelites, seven thousand in all.
Then he counted the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. And after them he counted all the people, all the people of Israel, seven thousand.
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.
They went out at noon while Ben-hadad was in the tents getting drunk with the thirty-two kings who had come to help him.
And they went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the tents, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
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.
The young men of the provincial rulers went out first. Ben-hadad sent scouts, who reported: Men are coming out of Samaria.
And the young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out, and they told him: Men have come out of Samaria.
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.
He said: If they've come for peace, take them alive. If they've come for war, take them alive anyway.
And he said: Whether they've come out for peace, take them alive. Or whether they've come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
So the young men of the provincial rulers marched out of the city, with the army behind them.
So these young men of the leaders of the provinces came out of the town, and the army that followed them.
So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
Each struck down his opponent. The Syrians fled, with Israel in pursuit. Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen.
And they killed every one his man. And the Arameans ran, and Israel chased them. And Ben-Hadad the king of Aram got away on a horse with the horsemen.
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.
The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, inflicting a great defeat on the Syrians.
And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans with a great killing.
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
Afterwards the prophet came to the king of Israel and said: Strengthen your position and think carefully about what you need to do, because when the year turns the king of Syria will attack you again.
And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him: Go, make yourself strong and mark and see what you do. Because at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.
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.
The servants of the king of Syria told him: Their gods are gods of the hills. That's why they beat us. Fight them on level ground and we'll have them.
And the servants of the king of Aram said to him: Their gods are gods of the hills. That's why they were stronger than us. But let's fight them in the plain, and we'll definitely be stronger than them.
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.
Do this as well: remove the kings from their commands and put captains in their places.
And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their places.
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
Raise another army the same size as the one you lost — horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We'll fight them on the plain, and we'll surely beat them. Ben-hadad listened and did it.
And count yourself an army like the army you've lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. And we'll fight them in the plain, and we'll definitely be stronger than them. And he listened to their voice and did that.
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.
At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and marched to Aphek to fight Israel.
And at the turn of the year Ben-Hadad counted the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight Israel.
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.
The Israelites were mustered, supplied and sent out to meet them. They camped opposite the Syrians looking like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians covered the countryside.
And the people of Israel were counted and were all there, and went against them. And the people of Israel camped in front of them like two little flocks of young goats. But the Arameans filled the country.
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.
A man of God came to the king of Israel and said: This is what the Lord says. Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills but not God of the valleys, I will give this whole enormous army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
And a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel: This is what the Lord says. Because the Arameans have said the Lord is God of the hills but he isn't God of the valleys — so I'll hand over all this great crowd into your hand, and you'll know I'm the Lord.
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.
The two armies camped opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day battle began, and the Israelites killed a hundred thousand Syrian foot soldiers in one day.
And they camped opposite each other seven days. And on the seventh day the battle joined. And the people of Israel killed a hundred thousand men on foot of the Arameans in one day.
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.
The survivors fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of them. Ben-hadad fled into the city and hid in an inner room.
But the rest ran to Aphek, into the town. And a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left. And Ben-Hadad ran and came into the town, into an inner room.
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.
Ahab spares Ben-Hadad
His servants told him: We've heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let's put coarse mourning cloth around our waists and ropes around our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll spare your life. So they wrapped coarse mourning cloth around their waists, put ropes around their heads and went to the king of Israel. Your servant Ben-hadad says, Please let me live. Ahab replied: Is he still alive? He's my brother. The men were watching closely for any hopeful sign, and they grabbed hold of that word at once: Yes — your brother Ben-hadad. Ahab said: Go and bring him here. Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him brought up into his chariot. Ben-hadad said: I will restore the cities my father took from your father, and you may set up market streets for yourself in Damascus just as my father did in Samaria. Ahab said: On those terms I'll let you go. So he made a covenant with him and sent him away. By the word of the Lord, one of the sons of the prophets said to another man: Strike me, please. But the man refused. The prophet told him: Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me. After the man left, a lion found him and killed him. The prophet found another man and said: Strike me, please. This man struck him and wounded him. Then the prophet went and waited beside the road for the king, disguising himself with a covering over his face. As the king passed, the prophet called out: Your servant went into the thick of the battle. A man brought me a prisoner and said, Guard this man. If he goes missing, your life will be for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver. But while your servant was busy here and there, the prisoner disappeared. The king of Israel said: That's your sentence then. You've pronounced it on yourself. The prophet quickly removed the covering from his face, and the king of Israel recognised him as one of the prophets. He told the king: This is what the Lord says. You released from your hand a man I had appointed to destruction. So your life will be for his life, and your people for his people. The king of Israel went home to Samaria sullen and angry.
And his servants said to him: Look now — we've heard the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let's put sackcloth on our waists, please, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll save your life. So they strapped sackcloth on their waists and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel: Your servant Ben-Hadad says: Let me live, please. And he said: Is he still alive? He's my brother. Now the men were watching carefully to see whether anything would come from him, and they caught it quickly: Your brother Ben-Hadad. Then he said: Go, bring him. Then Ben-Hadad came out to him, and he made him come up into the chariot. And Ben-Hadad said to him: I'll give back the towns my father took from your father. And you'll make streets for yourself in Damascus, the way my father did in Samaria. Then I'll send you away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him and sent him away. And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbour by the word of the Lord: Strike me, please. And the man refused to strike him. Then he said to him: Because you haven't listened to the voice of the Lord, look — as soon as you've gone from me, a lion will kill you. And as soon as he'd gone from him, a lion found him and killed him. Then he found another man and said: Strike me, please. And the man struck him, so he wounded him with the blow. So the prophet went off and waited for the king by the way, and covered himself with ashes on his face. And as the king went past, he cried out to the king: Your servant went out into the middle of the battle. And look — a man turned aside and brought a man to me: Keep this man. If he's missing at all, then your life will go for his life, or you'll pay a talent of silver. And while your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him: That's your judgment. You've decided it yourself. And he hurried and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel knew he was one of the prophets. And he said to him: This is what the Lord says. Because you've let go out of your hand a man I'd set apart, so your life will go for his life and your people for his people. And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and put out, and came to Samaria.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. 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. 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. And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 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. And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
His servants told him: We've heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let's put coarse mourning cloth around our waists and ropes around our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll spare your life.
And his servants said to him: Look now — we've heard the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let's put sackcloth on our waists, please, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he'll save your life.
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.
So they wrapped coarse mourning cloth around their waists, put ropes around their heads and went to the king of Israel. Your servant Ben-hadad says, Please let me live. Ahab replied: Is he still alive? He's my brother.
So they strapped sackcloth on their waists and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel: Your servant Ben-Hadad says: Let me live, please. And he said: Is he still alive? He's my brother.
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.
The men were watching closely for any hopeful sign, and they grabbed hold of that word at once: Yes — your brother Ben-hadad. Ahab said: Go and bring him here. Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him brought up into his chariot.
Now the men were watching carefully to see whether anything would come from him, and they caught it quickly: Your brother Ben-Hadad. Then he said: Go, bring him. Then Ben-Hadad came out to him, and he made him come up into the chariot.
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.
Ben-hadad said: I will restore the cities my father took from your father, and you may set up market streets for yourself in Damascus just as my father did in Samaria. Ahab said: On those terms I'll let you go. So he made a covenant with him and sent him away.
And Ben-Hadad said to him: I'll give back the towns my father took from your father. And you'll make streets for yourself in Damascus, the way my father did in Samaria. Then I'll send you away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him and sent him away.
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.
By the word of the Lord, one of the sons of the prophets said to another man: Strike me, please. But the man refused.
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbour by the word of the Lord: Strike me, please. And the man refused to strike him.
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.
The prophet told him: Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me. After the man left, a lion found him and killed him.
Then he said to him: Because you haven't listened to the voice of the Lord, look — as soon as you've gone from me, a lion will kill you. And as soon as he'd gone from him, a lion found him and killed him.
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.
The prophet found another man and said: Strike me, please. This man struck him and wounded him.
Then he found another man and said: Strike me, please. And the man struck him, so he wounded him with the blow.
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
Then the prophet went and waited beside the road for the king, disguising himself with a covering over his face.
So the prophet went off and waited for the king by the way, and covered himself with ashes on his face.
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
As the king passed, the prophet called out: Your servant went into the thick of the battle. A man brought me a prisoner and said, Guard this man. If he goes missing, your life will be for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.
And as the king went past, he cried out to the king: Your servant went out into the middle of the battle. And look — a man turned aside and brought a man to me: Keep this man. If he's missing at all, then your life will go for his life, or you'll pay a talent of silver.
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.
But while your servant was busy here and there, the prisoner disappeared. The king of Israel said: That's your sentence then. You've pronounced it on yourself.
And while your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him: That's your judgment. You've decided it yourself.
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.
The prophet quickly removed the covering from his face, and the king of Israel recognised him as one of the prophets.
And he hurried and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel knew he was one of the prophets.
And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
He told the king: This is what the Lord says. You released from your hand a man I had appointed to destruction. So your life will be for his life, and your people for his people.
And he said to him: This is what the Lord says. Because you've let go out of your hand a man I'd set apart, so your life will go for his life and your people for his people.
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.
The king of Israel went home to Samaria sullen and angry.
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and put out, and came to Samaria.
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.