1 Kings 20:26-34

New American Standard Bible

Another Aramean War

²⁶ So ^(A)at ^[a]the turn of the year Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to ^(B)Aphek to fight against Israel. ²⁷ And the sons of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and they went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped opposite them like two little flocks of goats, ^(C)while the Arameans filled the country. ²⁸ Then ^(D)a man of God approached and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Since the Arameans have said, “^(E)The Lord is a god of mountains, but He is not a god of valleys,” therefore ^(F)I will hand over to you all this great multitude, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” ²⁹ So they camped, one opposite the other, for seven days. And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel ^[b]killed of the Arameans a hundred thousand foot soldiers in a single day. ³⁰ But the rest fled to ^(G)Aphek into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city, going from one ^(H)inner room to another.

³¹ But ^(I)his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let’s ^(J)put sackcloth ^[c]around our waists and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will let ^[d]you live.” ³² So ^(K)they put sackcloth ^[e]around their waists and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “^(L)Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let ^[f]me live.’” And Ahab said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” ³³ Now the men took this as a good omen, and quickly ^[g]accepting it from him, they said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he had him mount the chariot. ³⁴ And Ben-hadad said to him, “^(M)The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you can make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.