^20:13Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army?¹⁴ Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” ^20:14Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?”¹⁵ He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’ ” Ahab¹⁶ asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”

^20:15So Ahab¹⁷ assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000.¹⁸^20:16They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily¹⁹ in their quarters.²⁰^20:17The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”²¹^20:18He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.”²²^20:19They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. ^20:20Each one struck down an enemy soldier;²³ the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. ^20:21Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated²⁴ Syria.

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Footnotes

14 Heb “this great horde.”
15 The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
16 Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
18 Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
19 Heb “drinking and drunken.”
20 Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
21 For location see ; ; ; ; .
22 Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
23 Heb “each struck down his man.”
24 Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”