A Prophet Denounces Ahab’s Actions

20:35 One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, “Wound me!”53 But the man refused to wound him. 20:36 So the prophet54 said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. 20:37 He found another man and said, “Wound me!” So the man wounded him severely.55 20:38 The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes. 20:39 When the king passed by, he called out to the king, “Your servant went out into the heat56 of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner.57 He told me, ‘Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason,58 you will pay with your life or with a talent59 of silver.’60 20:40 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him, “Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.”61 20:41 The prophet62 quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. 20:42 The prophet63 then said to him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.’ ”64 20:43 The king of Israel went home to Samaria65 bitter and angry.