1 Kings 20:22-38

22Then 1the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, show yourself courageous and be aware and see what you have to do; for 2at 3the turn of the year the king of Aram will march against you.”

23Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “4Their gods are gods of the mountains; for that reason they were stronger than we. But let us fight them in the plain, and we will certainly be stronger than they. 24Carry out this 5plan: remove the kings, each from his place, and put governors in their place, 25and 6muster 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 we will certainly be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

26So 7at 8the turn of the year Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to 9Aphek to fight against Israel. 27And the sons of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and they went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped opposite them like two little flocks of goats, 10while the Arameans filled the country. 28Then 11a man of God approached and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Since the Arameans have said, “12The Lord is a god of mountains, but He is not a god of valleys,” therefore 13I will hand over to you all this great multitude, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” 29So they camped, one opposite the other, for seven days. And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel 14killed of the Arameans a hundred thousand foot soldiers in a single day. 30But the rest fled to 15Aphek into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city, going from one 16inner room to another.

31But 17his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let’s 18put sackcloth 19around our waists and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will let 20you live.” 32So 21they put sackcloth 22around their waists and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “23Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let 24me live.’” And Ahab said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 33Now the men took this as a good omen, and quickly 25accepting it from him, they said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he had him mount the chariot. 34And Ben-hadad said to him, “26The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you can make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

35Now a man from 27the sons of the prophets said to 28another 29by the word of the Lord, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him. 36Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you leave me, 30a lion will 31kill you.” And as soon as he left him a lion found him and 32killed him. 37Then he found another man and said, “Please strike me.” And the man struck him, 33injuring him. 38So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and 34disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.