1Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. (1Ki 15:18; 1Ki 16:24; 1Ki 22:31; 2Ki 6:24; 2Ki 8:7)2And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:3‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’”4And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”5The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.”6Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”7Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” (1Ki 21:8; 1Ki 21:11; 2Ki 5:7)8And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”9So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again.10Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” (Ex 11:8; 1Ki 19:2)11And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”12When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city. (1Ki 16:9)
Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad
13And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” (1Ki 18:36; 1Ki 20:28)14And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”15Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.16And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. (1Ki 20:12)17The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”18He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”19So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them.20And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.21And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.22Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.” (2Sa 11:1; 1Ki 20:13)23And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.24And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places,25and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.
Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad Again
26In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. (1Ki 20:22; 2Ki 13:17)27And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country.28And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” (1Ki 17:18; 1Ki 20:13; 1Ki 20:23)29And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.30And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. (1Ki 20:26; 1Ki 22:25; 2Ki 9:2; 2Ch 18:24)31And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” (2Sa 3:31)32So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” (1Ki 20:31)33Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot.34And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go. (1Ki 11:24; 1Ki 15:20)
A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad’s Release
35And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. (1Ki 13:17; 2Ki 2:3; 2Ki 2:5; 2Ki 2:7; 2Ki 2:15)36Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. (1Ki 13:24)37Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him.38So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. (1Sa 28:8)39And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent[1] of silver.’ (2Ki 10:24)40And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”41Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.42And he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction,[2] therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” (1Ki 20:39)43And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria. (1Ki 21:4)
1Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it.2He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, ‘This is what Ben-Hadad says:3“Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.” ’4The king of Israel answered, ‘Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.’5The messengers came again and said, ‘This is what Ben-Hadad says: “I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children.6But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.” ’7The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, ‘See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.’8The elders and the people all answered, ‘Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.’9So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, ‘Tell my lord the king, “Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.” ’ They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.10Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.’11The king of Israel answered, ‘Tell him: “One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off.” ’12Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents,[1] and he ordered his men: ‘Prepare to attack.’ So they prepared to attack the city.
Ahab defeats Ben-Hadad
13Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.” ’14‘But who will do this?’ asked Ahab. The prophet replied, ‘This is what the Lord says: “The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.” ’ ‘And who will start the battle?’ he asked. The prophet answered, ‘You will.’15So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all.16They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.17The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first. Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, ‘Men are advancing from Samaria.’18He said, ‘If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.’19The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them20and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen.21The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.22Afterwards, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, ‘Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.’23Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, ‘Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.24Do this: remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers.25You must also raise an army like the one you lost – horse for horse and chariot for chariot – so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.’ He agreed with them and acted accordingly.26The next spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.27When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.28The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.” ’29For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day.30The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek, where the wall collapsed on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room.31His officials said to him, ‘Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth round our waists and ropes round our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.’32Wearing sackcloth round their waists and ropes round their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, ‘Your servant Ben-Hadad says: “Please let me live.” ’ The king answered, ‘Is he still alive? He is my brother.’33The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. ‘Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!’ they said. ‘Go and get him,’ the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab brought him up into his chariot.34‘I will return the cities my father took from your father,’ Ben-Hadad offered. ‘You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.’ Ahab said, ‘On the basis of a treaty I will set you free.’ So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.
A prophet condemns Ahab
35By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets said to his companion, ‘Strike me with your weapon,’ but he refused.36So the prophet said, ‘Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.’ And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.37The prophet found another man and said, ‘Strike me, please.’ So the man struck him and wounded him.38Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes.39As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, ‘Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, “Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent[2] of silver.”40While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.’ ‘That is your sentence,’ the king of Israel said. ‘You have pronounced it yourself.’41Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognised him as one of the prophets.42He said to the king, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You have set free a man I had determined should die.[3] Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.” ’43Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.
1Ben-Hadad brought his whole army together. He was king of Aram. He went up to Samaria. He took 32 kings and their horses and chariots with him. All of them surrounded Samaria and attacked it.2Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city. They spoke to Ahab, the king of Israel. They told him, ‘Ben-Hadad says,3“Your silver and gold belong to me. The best of your wives and children also belong to me.” ’4The king of Israel replied, ‘What you say is true. You are my king and master. I belong to you. And everything I have belongs to you.’5The messengers came again. They told Ahab, ‘Ben-Hadad says, “I commanded you to give me your silver and gold. I also commanded you to give me your wives and children.6But now I’m going to send my officials to you. They will come about this time tomorrow. They’ll search your palace. They’ll search the houses of your officials. They’ll take everything you value. And they’ll carry it all away.” ’7The king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land. He said to them, ‘This man is really looking for trouble! He sent for my wives and children. He sent for my silver and gold. And I agreed to give them to him.’8All the elders and people answered, ‘Don’t listen to him. Don’t agree to give him what he wants.’9So Ahab replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers. He said, ‘Tell my king and master, “I will do everything you commanded me to do the first time. But this time, I can’t do what you want me to do.” ’ They took Ahab’s answer back to Ben-Hadad.10Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab. Ben-Hadad said, ‘There won’t be enough dust left in Samaria to give each of my followers even a handful. If there is, may the gods punish me greatly.’11The king of Israel replied. He said, ‘Tell him, “Someone who puts his armour on shouldn’t boast like someone who takes it off.” ’12Ben-Hadad and the kings were in their tents drinking. That’s when he heard the message. He ordered his men, ‘Get ready to attack.’ So they prepared to attack the city.
Ahab wins the battle over Ben-Hadad
13During that time a prophet came to Ahab, the king of Israel. He announced, ‘The LORD says, “Do you see this huge army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” ’14‘But who will do it?’ Ahab asked. The prophet answered, ‘The LORD says, “The junior officers who are under the area commanders will do it.” ’ ‘And who will start the battle?’ Ahab asked. The prophet answered, ‘You will.’15So Ahab sent for the junior officers who were under the area commanders. The total number of officers was 232. Ahab gathered together the rest of the Israelites. The total number of them was 7,000.16They started out at noon. At that time Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings helping him were in their tents. They were getting drunk.17The junior officers who were under Ahab’s area commanders marched out first. Ben-Hadad had sent out scouts. They came back and reported, ‘Men are marching against us from Samaria.’18Ben-Hadad said, ‘They might be coming to make peace. If they are, take them alive. Or they might be coming to make war. If they are, take them alive.’19The junior officers marched out of the city. The army was right behind them.20Each man struck down the one fighting against him. When that happened, the army of Aram ran away. The Israelites chased them. But Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse. Some of his horsemen escaped with him.21The king of Israel attacked them. He overpowered the horses and chariots. Large numbers of the men of Aram were wounded or killed.22After that, the prophet came to the king of Israel again. The prophet said, ‘Make your position stronger. Do what needs to be done. Next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.’23During that time, the officials of the king of Aram gave him advice. They said, ‘The gods of Israel are gods of the hills. That’s why they were too strong for us. But suppose we fight them on the plains. Then we’ll certainly be stronger than they are.24Here’s what you should do. Don’t let any of the kings continue as military leaders. Have other officers take their places.25You must also put another army together. It should be just like the one you lost. It should have the same number of horses and chariots. Then we’ll be able to fight against Israel on the plains. And we’ll certainly be stronger than they are.’ Ben-Hadad agreed with their advice. He did what they suggested.26The next spring Ben-Hadad brought together the men of Aram. They went up to the city of Aphek to fight against Israel.27The Israelites were also brought together. They were given supplies. They marched out to fight against their enemies. Israel’s army camped opposite Aram’s army. The Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats that had become separated from the others. But the men of Aram covered the countryside.28The man of God came up to the king of Israel again. He told him, ‘The LORD says, “The men of Aram think the LORD is a god of the hills. They do not think he is a god of the valleys. So I, the LORD, will hand their huge army over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” ’29For seven days the two armies camped opposite each other. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites wounded or killed 100,000 Aramean soldiers who were on foot. That happened in a single day.30The rest of the men of Aram escaped to the city of Aphek. Its wall fell down on 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad ran to the city. He hid in a secret room.31His officials said to him, ‘Look, we’ve heard that the kings of Israel often show mercy. So let’s go to the king of Israel. Let’s wear the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Let’s tie ropes around our heads. Perhaps Ahab will spare your life.’32So they wore rough clothing. They tied ropes around their heads. Then they went to the king of Israel. They told him, ‘Your servant Ben-Hadad says, “Please let me live.” ’ The king answered, ‘Is he still alive? He used to be my friend.’33The men thought that was good news. So they quickly used the word Ahab had used. ‘Yes! Your friend Ben-Hadad!’ they said. ‘Go and get him,’ the king said. Ben-Hadad came out of the secret room. Then Ahab let him get into his chariot.34‘I’ll return the cities my father took from your father,’ Ben-Hadad offered. ‘You can set up your own market areas in Damascus. That’s what my father did in Samaria.’ Ahab said, ‘If we sign a peace treaty, I’ll set you free.’ So Ben-Hadad made a treaty with him. Then Ahab let him go.
A prophet accuses Ahab
35There was a group of people called the group of the prophets. A message from the LORD came to one of their members. He said to his companion, ‘Strike me down with your weapon.’ But he wouldn’t do it.36The prophet said, ‘You haven’t obeyed the LORD. So as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.’ The companion went away. And a lion found him and killed him.37The prophet found another man. He said, ‘Please strike me down.’ So the man struck him down and wounded him.38Then the prophet went and stood by the road. He waited for the king to come by. He pulled his headband down over his eyes so no one would recognise him.39The king passed by. Then the prophet called out to him. He said, ‘I went into the middle of the battle. Someone came to me with a prisoner. He said, “Guard this man. Don’t let him get away. If he does, you will pay for his life with yours. Or you can pay 36 kilograms of silver.”40While I was busy here and there, the man disappeared.’ The king of Israel spoke to him. He told him, ‘What you’ve just said is what will happen to you.’41Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel recognised him as one of the prophets.42He told the king, ‘The LORD says, “You have set a man free. But I had said he should be set apart to the LORD in a special way to be destroyed. So you must pay for his life with yours. You must pay for his people’s lives with the lives of your people.” ’43The king of Israel was angry. He was in a bad mood. He went back to his palace in Samaria.
1 Kings 20
King James Version
1And 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.2And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,3Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even 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 have.5And 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;6Yet 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.7Then 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.8And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him , nor consent.9Wherefore 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.10And 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.11And 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.12And it came to pass, when Benhadad 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.13And, 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.14And 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.15Then 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.16And 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.17And 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.18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.19So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.20And 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.21And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.22And 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.23And 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.24And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:25And 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.26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.27And 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.28And 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.29And 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.30But 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.31And 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.32So 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.33Now 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.34And Benhadad 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.35And 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.36Then 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.37Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him .38So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.39And 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.40And 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 .41And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.42And 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.43And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
1Ben-Hadad, der König von Aram, sammelte sein ganzes Heer. In seinem Gefolge waren zweiunddreißig Könige mit Pferden und Wagen. Er zog herauf, belagerte Samaria und bestürmte es.[1] (2Ki 6:24)2Dann schickte er Boten in die Stadt zu Ahab, dem König von Israel,3und ließ ihm sagen: So spricht Ben-Hadad: Dein Silber und dein Gold gehören mir. Auch deine Frauen und deine edlen Söhne gehören mir.4Der König von Israel antwortete: Ganz wie du sagst, mein Herr und König, gehöre ich dir mit allem, was ich besitze.5Aber die Boten kamen ein zweites Mal und meldeten: So spricht Ben-Hadad: Ich habe dir sagen lassen, dass du mir dein Silber und Gold, deine Frauen und Söhne ausliefern sollst.6Doch morgen um diese Zeit werde ich meine Leute zu dir schicken, damit sie dein Haus und auch die Häuser deiner Diener durchsuchen und alles, was wertvoll ist, nehmen und forttragen.7Da rief der König von Israel alle Ältesten des Landes zu sich und sagte: Seht und erkennt, dass dieser Mann Böses im Sinn hat. Er hat von mir meine Frauen und Söhne, mein Silber und Gold gefordert und ich habe ihm nichts verweigert. (2Ki 5:7)8Da antworteten ihm alle Ältesten und das ganze Volk: Gehorch ihm nicht und willige nicht ein!9Er gab daher den Abgesandten Ben-Hadads den Bescheid: Sagt zu meinem Herrn, dem König: Alles, was du zuerst von deinem Knecht verlangt hast, will ich tun; doch diese Forderung kann ich nicht erfüllen. Die Boten zogen ab und meldeten es ihrem Herrn.10Darauf sandte Ben-Hadad abermals Boten und ließ sagen: Die Götter sollen mir dies und das antun, wenn der Staub Samarias ausreicht, um allen Leuten in meinem Gefolge die Hand zu füllen.11Doch der König von Israel antwortete: Sagt zu ihm: Wer den Gürtel anlegt, soll sich nicht rühmen wie einer, der ihn bereits ablegt. (Pr 27:1)12Als Ben-Hadad diese Meldung empfing, hielt er gerade in den Zelten ein Gelage mit den Königen. Er befahl seinen Leuten anzugreifen und diese begannen den Sturm auf die Stadt.13Doch ein Prophet kam zu Ahab, dem König von Israel, und sagte: So spricht der HERR: Siehst du diese gewaltige Menge? Ich gebe sie heute in deine Hand und du wirst erkennen, dass ich der HERR bin.14Ahab fragte: Durch wen? Er erwiderte: So spricht der HERR: Durch die Truppe der Provinzstatthalter. Als dann der König weiter wissen wollte, wer den Kampf eröffnen solle, sprach er: Du selbst.15Daraufhin musterte er die Truppe der Provinzstatthalter; es waren zweihundertzweiunddreißig Mann. Nach ihnen musterte er das ganze Kriegsvolk, die Gesamtheit der Israeliten; es waren siebentausend Mann.16Als sie um die Mittagszeit ausrückten, zechte Ben-Hadad mit den zweiunddreißig Königen, seinen Bundesgenossen, in den Zelten.17Die Truppe der Provinzstatthalter rückte zuerst aus. Ben-Hadad hatte Beobachter ausgesandt und sie meldeten ihm, dass Leute aus Samaria herauskommen.18Er befahl: Wenn sie in friedlicher Absicht kommen, ergreift sie lebendig! Wenn sie zum Kampf ausrücken, ergreift sie ebenfalls lebendig!19Sobald nun die Truppe der Statthalter und das Heer, das ihr folgte, aus der Stadt ausgerückt waren,20gelang es jedem Einzelnen, seinen Gegner zu überwinden. Die Aramäer mussten fliehen und die Israeliten setzten ihnen nach. Ben-Hadad, der König von Aram, konnte zu Pferd entkommen, ebenso einige Wagenkämpfer.21Als dann auch der König von Israel ausrückte, vernichtete er die Pferde und Kriegswagen und bereitete den Aramäern eine schwere Niederlage.22Da erschien der Prophet wieder beim König von Israel und sagte zu ihm: Sammle deine Kräfte und überleg dir gut, was du zu tun hast; denn um die Jahreswende wird der König von Aram abermals gegen dich ziehen.23Zum König von Aram hatten nämlich seine Ratgeber gesagt: Ihr Gott ist ein Gott der Berge; darum waren sie uns überlegen. Wenn wir aber in der Ebene mit ihnen kämpfen, dann werden wir sie bestimmt besiegen. (Jdt 7:10)24Tu also Folgendes: Entfern die Könige aus ihrer Stellung und ersetze sie durch Statthalter!25Dann sammle ein ebenso großes Heer, wie du es verloren hast, und ebenso viele Pferde und Kriegswagen, wie du zuvor hattest! Wir werden in der Ebene mit ihnen kämpfen und sie gewiss besiegen. Ben-Hadad befolgte ihren Rat.26Um die Jahreswende musterte er die Aramäer und rückte zum Krieg gegen Israel bis Afek vor.27Auch die Israeliten wurden gemustert und mit Lebensmitteln versehen. Sie zogen den Aramäern entgegen und lagerten ihnen gegenüber wie zwei Ziegenherden; die Aramäer aber füllten die ganze Gegend.28Nun trat der Gottesmann zum König von Israel hin und sagte: So spricht der HERR: Weil die Aramäer sagen, dass der HERR ein Gott der Berge und nicht ein Gott der Ebenen sei, gebe ich diese ganze gewaltige Menge in deine Hand; und ihr werdet erkennen, dass ich der HERR bin.29Sie lagen dann sieben Tage einander gegenüber. Am siebten Tag kam es zur Schlacht und die Israeliten töteten vom aramäischen Fußvolk hunderttausend Mann an einem Tag.30Der Rest floh in die Stadt Afek; doch die Mauer stürzte über den siebenundzwanzigtausend Mann, die übrig geblieben waren, zusammen. Auch Ben-Hadad war in die Stadt geflohen und irrte von einem Gemach in das andere.31Da sagten seine Ratgeber zu ihm: Wir haben gehört, dass die Könige des Hauses Israel milde Könige sind. Wir wollen daher Trauergewänder anlegen und mit Stricken um den Hals zum König von Israel hinausgehen. Vielleicht schenkt er dir das Leben.32Sie legten also Trauergewänder an und mit Stricken um den Hals kamen sie zum König von Israel. Sie flehten ihn an: Dein Knecht Ben-Hadad bittet dich, ihm das Leben zu schenken. Er antwortete: Lebt er noch? Er ist mein Bruder.33Die Männer nahmen das Wort als gutes Zeichen, gingen sogleich darauf ein und sagten: Ben-Hadad ist dein Bruder. Dann befahl der König von Israel: Geht, bringt ihn zu mir! Als Ben-Hadad kam, nahm er ihn zu sich auf seinen Wagen.34Da erklärte Ben-Hadad: Die Städte, die mein Vater deinem Vater weggenommen hat, werde ich zurückgeben und in Damaskus magst du dir Handelsniederlassungen errichten, wie mein Vater es in Samaria getan hat. Auf diese Abmachung hin werde ich dich freilassen. So schloss er mit ihm einen Vertrag und ließ ihn frei. (2Ki 13:25)35Einer von den Prophetenjüngern sprach im Auftrag des HERRN zu seinem Gefährten: Schlag mich! Als dieser sich weigerte, ihn zu schlagen,36sagte er zu ihm: Weil du der Stimme des HERRN nicht gehorcht hast, wird dich ein Löwe töten, sobald du von mir weggegangen bist. Der Mann hatte sich kaum von ihm entfernt, als ihn ein Löwe anfiel und tötete. (1Ki 13:24)37Hierauf traf der Prophet einen andern und befahl ihm: Schlag mich! Dieser schlug auf ihn ein und verwundete ihn.38Sogleich begab sich der Prophet zum König und stellte sich ihm in den Weg. Durch eine Binde über den Augen hatte er sich unkenntlich gemacht.39Als der König vorbeikam, rief er ihn und sagte: Dein Knecht ist in den Kampf gezogen. Da kam jemand herbei, brachte mir einen Gefangenen und befahl: Bewach diesen Mann! Wenn er entkommt, dann musst du es mit deinem Leben büßen oder du musst ein Talent Silber bezahlen.40Während nun dein Knecht da und dort zu tun hatte, konnte der Gefangene entkommen. Da sagte der König von Israel: Du hast dir dein Urteil selbst gesprochen. (2Sa 14:13)41Sogleich nahm der Prophet die Binde von den Augen und der König von Israel erkannte ihn als einen von den Propheten.42Dieser aber sagte zu ihm: So spricht der HERR: Weil du den Mann, der meinem Bann verfallen war, aus deiner Hand entlassen hast, muss dein Leben für sein Leben, dein Volk für sein Volk einstehen.43Missmutig und verdrossen ging der König von Israel nach Hause und kam nach Samaria.