1 Kings 20
1 And Ben Hadad [the] king of Aram he gathered all army his and thirty and two king[s] [were] with him and horse[s] and chariotry and he went up and he laid siege on Samaria and he fought against it.
Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, gathered all his army, and he persuaded 32 other kings to join him with their armies and horses and chariots. They marched to Samaria [city, the capital of Israel], and surrounded it, and [prepared to] attack it.
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab [the] king of Israel the city towards. And he said to him thus he says Ben Hadad
Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, to say this to him: “This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
3 silver your and gold your [belongs] to me it and wives your and children your good [belong] to me they.
‘[You must give to] me all your silver and gold, your (good-looking/most beautiful) wives/women and strongest children.’”
4 And he answered [the] king of Israel and he said according to word your O lord my the king [belong] to you I and all that [belongs] to me.
The king of Israel replied to them, “Tell this to King Ben-Hadad: ‘I agree to do what you requested. You can have me and everything that I own.’”
5 And they returned the messengers and they said thus he says Ben Hadad saying that I sent to you saying silver your and gold your and wives your and children your to me you will give.
[The messengers told that to] Ben-Hadad, and he [sent them back with] another message: “I sent a message to you saying that you must give me all your silver and gold and your wives and your children.
6 That - except about this time tomorrow I will send servants my to you and they will search house your and [the] houses of servants your and it will be every desirable thing of eyes your they will put in hand their and they will take [it].
But [in addition to that], about this time tomorrow, I will send some of my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials, and to bring to me everything that pleases them.”
7 And he summoned [the] king of Israel all [the] elders of the land and he said know please and see that trouble this [man] [is] seeking for he sent to me for wives my and for children my and for silver my and for gold my and not I withheld [them] from him.
King Ahab summoned all the leaders of Israel, and said to them, “You can see/realize for yourselves that this man is trying to cause much trouble. He sent me a message insisting that I must give him my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, and I agreed to do that.”
8 And they said to him all the elders and all the people may not you listen and not you must be willing.
The leaders and all the other people said to him, “Do not pay any attention to him! Do not do what he is requesting!”
9 And he said to [the] messengers of Ben Hadad say to lord my the king all that you sent to servant your at the first I will do and the thing this not I am able to do and they went the messengers and they brought back him word.
So Ahab said to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell the king that I agree to give him the things that he first requested, but I do not agree to allow his officials to take anything that they want from my palace and from the houses of my officials.” So the messengers [reported that to King Ben-Hadad, and they] returned with another message from Ben-Hadad.
10 And he sent to him Ben Hadad and he said thus may they do! to me [the] gods and thus may they add if it will suffice [the] dust of Samaria for handfuls for all the people which [is] at feet my.
In that message he said, “[We will destroy] your city [completely, with the result that] there will not be enough dust and rubble left for each of my soldiers to have one handful! I hope/wish that the gods will strike me dead if we do not do that!”
11 And he answered [the] king of Israel and he said speak may not he boast [one who] girds on like [one who] loosens.
King Ahab replied [to the messengers], “Tell King Ben-Hadad that a soldier who is putting on his armor [preparing to fight a battle] [MTY] should not boast at that time; he [should wait until] after he wins the battle.”
12 And it was when heard the word this and he [was] drinking he and the kings in the booths and he said to servants his set yourselves and they set themselves on the city.
Ben-Hadad heard that message while he and the other rulers were drinking [wine] in their temporary shelters. He told his men to prepare to attack [MTY] the city. So his men did that.
13 And there! - a prophet one he drew near to Ahab [the] king of Israel and he said thus he says Yahweh ¿ do you see all the multitude great this here I [am] about to give it in hand your this day and you will know that I [am] Yahweh.
At that moment, a prophet came to King Ahab and said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘[Do not be at all afraid of] [RHQ] the large enemy army that you see! I will enable your army to defeat them today, and you will know that it is I, Yahweh, [who have the power to do what I say that I will do].’”
14 And he said Ahab by whom? and he said thus he says Yahweh by [the] young men of [the] officials of the provinces and he said who? will he begin the battle and he said you.
Ahab asked, “What group [of our army] will defeat them?” The prophet replied, “The young soldiers who are commanded by the district governors will do it.” The king asked, “Who should lead the attack?” The prophet replied, “You should!”
15 And he mustered [the] young men of [the] officials of the provinces and they were two hundred two and thirty and after them he mustered all the people all [the] people of Israel [were] seven thousand.
So Ahab gathered the young soldiers who were commanded by the district governors. There were 232 of those men. Then he also summoned all the Israeli army. There were [only] 7,000 soldiers.
16 And they went out at the noontide and Ben Hadad [was] drinking drunken in the booths he and the kings thirty and two king[s] [who] was helping him.
They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
17 And they went out [the] young men of [the] officials of the provinces at the first and he sent Ben Hadad and people told to him saying men they have come out from Samaria.
The young soldiers advanced first. Some scouts who had been sent out by Ben-Hadad reported to him, “There are men coming out of Samaria [city]”!
18 And he said if for peace they have come out seize them alive and if for battle they have come out alive seize them.
He said, “It does not matter whether they are coming to fight against us or to ask for peace. Capture them, but do not kill them
19 And these [men] they went out from the city [the] young men of [the] officials of the provinces and the army which [was] behind them.
The young Israeli soldiers went out of the city to attack [the Syrian army], and the other soldiers in the Israeli army followed them.
20 And they struck down everyone man his and they fled Aram and it pursued them Israel and he escaped Ben Hadad [the] king of Aram on a horse and horsemen.
Each [Israeli soldier] killed a [Syrian] soldier. The rest of the Syrian army then ran away, and the Israeli soldiers pursued them. But King Ben-Hadad escaped riding his horse, along with some other men riding horses.
21 And he went out [the] king of Israel and he struck down the horse[s] and the chariotry and he struck down among Aram a slaughter great.
Then the king of Israel went out [of the city], and he and his soldiers captured [all] the [other Syrian] horses and chariots, and also killed a large number of Syrian soldiers.
22 And he drew near the prophet to [the] king of Israel and he said to him go strengthen yourself and know and see [that] which you will do for to [the] return of the year [the] king of Aram [is] coming up on you.
Then that same prophet went to King Ahab and said to him, “Go back and prepare your soldiers, and think carefully about what will be necessary for you to do, because the king of Syria with attack with his army again in the springtime of next year.”
23 And [the] servants of [the] king of Aram they said to him [is] a god of mountains God their there-fore they were strong more than us and but let us do battle with them on the level ground if not we will be strong more than them.
[After the Syrian army was defeated, ] Ben-Hadad’s officials said to him, “The gods that the Israelis [worship] are gods [who live] in the hills. [Samaria is built on a hill, and] that is why their soldiers were able to defeat us. But if we fight against them in the plains/lowlands, we certainly will be able to defeat them.
24 And the thing this do remove the kings each from place his and appoint governors in place of them.
So, this is what you should do: You must remove the 32 kings [who are leading your troops] and replace them with army commanders.
25 And you you will muster for yourself - an army like the army which fell from you and a horse like the horse - and chariotry like the chariotry and let us fight them on the level ground if not we will be strong more than them and he listened to voice their and he did thus.
Then gather an army like the army that was defeated. Gather an army that has as many horses and chariots as the first army had. Then we will fight the Israelis in the plains/lowlands, and we will surely defeat them.” Ben-Hadad agreed with them, and he did what they suggested.
26 And it was to [the] return of the year and he mustered Ben Hadad Aram and he went up Aphek towards for battle with Israel.
In the spring of the following year, he gathered his soldiers and marched [with them] to Aphek [city east of Galilee Lake], to fight against the Israeli army.
27 And [the] people of Israel they were mustered and they were supplied and they went to meet them and they encamped [the] people of Israel before them like two little flocks of goats and Aram they filled the land.
The Israeli army was also gathered together, and they were equipped with the things that they needed [for the battle]. Then they marched out and formed two groups facing the Syrian army. Their army was very small; they resembled two small flocks of goats, whereas the Syrian army [was very large and] spread all over the countryside.
28 And he drew near [the] man of God and he said to [the] king of Israel and he said thus he says Yahweh because that they have said Aram [is] a god of mountains Yahweh and not [is] a god of valleys he and I will give all the multitude great this in hand your and you will know that I [am] Yahweh.
A prophet came to King Ahab and said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘The Syrians say that I am a god who lives in the hills, and that I am not a god who lives in the valleys. So I will [show that they are wrong by] enabling your men to defeat this huge army [IDM] [in the valley], and you will know that I, Yahweh, [have done it].’”
29 And they encamped these opposite to these seven days and it was - on the day seventh and it drew near the battle and they struck down [the] people of Israel Aram one hundred thousand foot soldier[s] in a day one.
The two armies stayed in their tents for seven days, in groups that faced each other. Then, on the seventh day, they started fighting. The Israeli army killed 100,000 Syrian soldiers.
30 And they fled the [ones who] remained - Aphek towards into the city and it fell the wall on twenty and seven thousand man who remained and Ben Hadad he fled and he went into the city a room in a room.
The other Syrian soldiers ran away into Aphek City. Then the wall of the city collapsed and killed 27,000 more Syrian soldiers. Ben-Hadad also escaped into the city, and hid in the back room of a house.
31 And they said to him servants his here! please we have heard that [the] kings of [the] house of Israel that [are] kings of covenant loyalty they let us put please sackcloth on loins our and ropes on head our and let us go out to [the] king of Israel perhaps he will let live life your.
His officials went to him and said, “We have heard a report that the Israelis act mercifully. So allow us to go to the king of Israel, wearing coarse sacks around our waists and ropes on our heads/necks [to indicate that we will be his slaves]. Perhaps [if we do that, ] he will allow you to remain alive.”
32 And they girded sackcloth on loins their and ropes on heads their and they went to [the] king of Israel and they said servant your Ben Hadad he says let it live please life my and he said ¿ [is] still he alive [is] brother my he.
[The king permitted them to do that, ] so they wrapped coarse sacks around their waists and put ropes on their heads/necks, and they went to the king of Israel and said to him, “Ben-Hadad, who greatly respects you, says, ‘Please do not kill me.’” Ahab replied, “Is he still alive? He is like a brother to me!”
33 And the men they observed [the] signs and they hastened and they caught ¿ from him and they said [is] brother your Ben Hadad and he said go fetch him and he came out to him Ben Hadad and he brought up him on the chariot.
Ben-Hadad’s officials were trying to find out if Ahab would act mercifully, and when Ahab said “brother,” they (were optimistic/thought that Ahab would be merciful). So they replied, “Yes, he is like your brother!” Ahab said, “Go and bring him to me.” So they [went and] brought Ben-Hadad to him. [When Ben-Hadad arrived, ] Ahab told him to get in his chariot [and sit with him].
34 And he said to him the cities which he took father my from with father your I will return and streets you will make for yourself in Damascus just as he made father my in Samaria and I with the covenant I will let go you and he made to him a covenant and he let go him.
Ben-Hadad said to him, “I will give back to you the towns that my father’s army took from your father. And I will allow you to set up market areas for your merchants in Damascus [my capital], just as my father did in Samaria [your capital].” Ahab replied, “Because you agree to do that, I will not execute you.” So Ahab made an agreement with Ben-Hadad, and allowed him to go home.
35 And a man one one of [the] sons of the prophets he said to companion his at [the] word of Yahweh strike me please and he refused the man to strike him.
Then Yahweh spoke to a member of a group of prophets and said to him, “Ask one of your fellow prophets to strike and wound you.” [So he did what Yahweh told him to do]. [He said to one of his fellow prophets, ‘Strike me and wound me].’ But that man refused to do it.
36 And he said to him because that not you listened to [the] voice of Yahweh here you [are] about to go from with me and it will strike down you the lion and he went from beside him and it met him the lion and it struck down him.
So the prophet said to him, “Because you refused to obey what Yahweh told you to do, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And as soon as he left that prophet, a lion suddenly pounced on him and killed him.
37 And he found a man another and he said strike me please and he struck him the man completely and wounded.
Then the prophet found another prophet, and said to him, “Strike me!” So that man hit him [very hard] and injured him.
38 And he went the prophet and he stood for the king (beside *LAB(H)*) the way and he disguised himself with ashes over eyes his.
Then the prophet put a large bandage/cloth over his face so that no one would recognize him. Then he went and stood alongside the road, waiting for the king to come by.
39 And he was the king passing by and he he cried out to the king and he said servant your - he went out in [the] midst of the battle and there! a man he turned aside and he brought to me a man and he said guard the man this if indeed he will be missing and it will be life your in place of life his or a talent of silver you will weigh out.
When the king passed by, the prophet cried out to him, saying “Your majesty, [after I was wounded] while I was fighting in a battle, a soldier brought to me one of our enemies that he had captured, and said to me, ‘Guard this man! If he escapes, you must pay me 3,000 pieces of silver, and if you do not pay that, you will be executed!’
40 And he was servant your doing them and them and he there not [was] he and he said to him [the] king of Israel [is] thus sentence your you you have decided.
But while I was busy doing other things, the man escaped!” The king of Israel said to him, “That is your problem! You yourself have said that you deserve to be punished.”
41 And he hastened and he removed the bandage (from over *Q(k)*) eyes his and he recognized him [the] king of Israel that [was] one of the prophets he.
The prophet immediately took off the bandage, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
42 And he said to him thus he says Yahweh because you have let go [the] man of total destruction my from a hand and it will be life your in place of life his and people your in place of people his.
And the prophet said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘You have allowed that man [Ben-Hadad] to escape after I commanded you to be sure to execute him! Since you did not do that, you will be killed instead. And your army will be destroyed because you allowed [some of] his army to escape!’”
43 And he went [the] king of Israel to house his sullen and furious and he went Samaria towards.
The king went back home to Samaria, very angry and depressed/dejected.
