1 Kings 20:1-12

Ahab Wars with Aram

Now ^aBen-hadad king of Aram gathered all his military force, ^band there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and ^cbesieged Samaria and fought against it. 2 Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad, 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.’” 4 Then the king of Israel answered and said, “It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.” 5 Then the messengers returned and said, “Thus says ¹Ben-hadad, ‘Surely, I sent to you saying, “You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children,” 6 but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and ¹whatever is desirable in your eyes, they will put in their hand and carry away.’”
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Please know and ^asee how this man is looking for trouble; for he sent to me for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold, and I withheld nothing from him.” 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Say to my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 Then Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “May ^athe gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be sufficient for ¹a handful for all the people who ²follow me.” 11 Then the king of Israel answered and said, “Speak to him, ‘^aLet not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’” 12 Now it happened that when Ben-hadad heard this message, as ^ahe was drinking ¹with the kings in the booths, he said to his servants, “Station yourselves.” So they stationed themselves against the city.

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