1Ki 20:13-21 | NASB2020 | STEP | Now behold , a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel , and said , “ This is what the Lord says : ‘Have you seen all this great multitude ? Behold , I am going to hand them over to you today , and you shall know that I am the Lord .’”

1 Kings 20:13-21

Ahab Victorious

13 Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, ^aI am going to hand them over to you today, and ^byou shall know that I am the Lord.’” 14 But Ahab said, “By whom?” So he said, “The Lord says this: ‘By the young men of the leaders of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who will begin the battle?” And he said, “You will.” 15 So he mustered the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, all the sons of Israel: seven thousand.

16 They went out at noon, while ^cBen-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the ^{▼▼Or huts}temporary shelters ^{▼▼Lit he and the 32 kings}with the thirty-two kings who were helping him. 17 The young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men have come out from Samaria.” 18 ^fThen he said, “If they have come out ^{▼▼I.e., to seek terms for surrender}for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well.”

19 So these men went out from the city, the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and the army which followed them. 20 And they ^{▼▼Lit struck}killed, each one, his man; and the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21 The king of Israel also went out and struck the horses and chariots, and ^{▼▼Lit struck}killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.