1 Kings 20:1-22

Ahab’s Wars with Syria

1 ^aBen-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. ^bThirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on ^cSamaria and fought against it. 2And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: 3‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” 4And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” 5The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” 6Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”

7Then the king of Israel called all the ^delders of the land and said, ^e“Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 8And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 9So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10Ben-hadad sent to him and said, ^f“The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people ^gwho follow me.” 11And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” 12When Ben-hadad heard this message as ^hhe was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

13And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, ⁱI will give it into your hand this day, ^jand you shall know that I am the Lord.” 14And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” 15Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.

16And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad ^kwas drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. 17The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.” 18He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

19So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. 20And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.

22Then ^lthe prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for ^min the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”

2 Kings 6:24

Ben-hadad’s Siege of Samaria

24Afterward ⁿBen-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria.

2 Kings 13:3

3 ^oAnd the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of ^pHazael king of Syria and into the hand of ^qBen-hadad the son of Hazael.

2 Kings 13:25

25Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities ^rthat he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. ^sThree times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

2 Chronicles 16:2

2Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying,