Ahab and Ben-Hadad

Ben-Hadad king of Syria came up against Samaria with horses, chariots, and thirty-two kings with him. He demanded Ahab's silver, gold, wives, and children. Ahab first agreed. But when Ben-Hadad said his servants would come and take whatever pleased them, Ahab asked the elders and people. They told him not to agree, so Ahab refused this second demand.

Ben-Hadad threatened Samaria, and Ahab answered that a man should not boast before the battle is finished. While Ben-Hadad and the other kings were drinking and preparing to attack, a prophet came to Ahab. He said the Lord would give this great army into Ahab's hand so Ahab would know that Yahweh is the Lord. The young men of the princes went out first, then the rest of Israel followed, and Syria fled.

After the battle, the prophet warned Ahab to be ready, because the king of Syria would return the next year. Ben-Hadad's servants said Israel's God was only a god of the hills, so they advised fighting on the plain instead. At Aphek, Israel camped opposite Syria and looked like two little flocks of goats beside them. A man of God said the Lord would again give Israel victory, so they would know that he is Yahweh.

The armies faced each other for seven days. On the seventh day Israel struck down one hundred thousand Syrian foot soldiers, and a falling wall at Aphek killed twenty-seven thousand more. Ben-Hadad hid in an inner room. His servants came in sackcloth and ropes and begged for his life. Ahab called Ben-Hadad his brother, brought him into his chariot, made a covenant with him, and let him go after Ben-Hadad promised to restore cities and allow streets in Damascus.

Then one of the prophets received a message from the Lord. He told one man to strike him, but the man refused and was killed by a lion. Another man struck and wounded the prophet. Disguised, the prophet told Ahab a story about a prisoner who had been allowed to escape. Ahab said the guard had judged himself.

Then the prophet uncovered his eyes and said this was the Lord's word against Ahab: because he had released a man marked for destruction, Ahab's life would answer for his life, and his people for his people. Ahab went home sullen and angry.