¹⁷ The young men who served the district governors went out first. Ben-hadad had sent out scouts,^[a] and they reported to him, “Men have come out from Samaria.”

¹⁹ But these had already come out of the city: the young men who served the district governors and the army that followed them.

¹⁴ Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord: By the young men who serve the district governors.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” ¹⁵ Then he mustered the young men who served the district governors, two hundred thirty-two; after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.