22 Sometime later the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “On the alert now—build up your army, assess your capabilities, and see what has to be done. Before the year is out, the king of Aram will be back in force.”

23-25 Meanwhile the advisors to the king of Aram said, “Their god is a god of the mountains—we don’t stand a chance against them there. So let’s engage them on the plain where we’ll have the advantage. Here’s the strategy: Remove each sheik from his place of leadership and replace him with a seasoned officer. Then recruit a fighting force equivalent in size to the army that deserted earlier—horse for horse, chariot for chariot. And we’ll fight them on the plain—we’re sure to prove stronger than they are.”

It sounded good to the king; he did what they advised.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

The Message Harvest, Wheat
The Message Harvest, Wheat
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $44.99
Save: $5.00 (10%)
The Message Deluxe Gift Bible, Black/Slate Leather-Look
The Message Deluxe Gift Bible, Black/Slate Leather-Look
Retail: $19.99
Our Price: $12.86
Save: $7.13 (36%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
The Message Compact Bible--soft leather-look, black
The Message Compact Bible--soft leather-look, black
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $6.99
Save: $23.00 (77%)
The Message Prayerful Reading Bible: Luke & Acts
The Message Prayerful Reading Bible: Luke & Acts
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $0.99
Save: $7.00 (88%)