²² But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? ^(A)Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”

²² Moreover ^(A)I have given to you one ^[a]portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand ^(B)of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

²⁰ Therefore

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but ^(B)overcome evil with good.

^44 [a]But I say to you, ^(A)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^(B)do good to those who hate you, and pray ^(C)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

⁸ And the children of Israel carried away captive of their ^(A)brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much ^[a]spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

Israel Returns the Captives

⁹ But a ^(B)prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: “Look, ^(C)because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that ^(D)reaches up to heaven. ¹⁰ And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your ^(E)male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the Lord your God? ¹¹ Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, ^(F)for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

¹² Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, ¹³ and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the Lord. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” ¹⁴ So the armed men left the captives and the ^[b]spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. ¹⁵ Then the men ^(G)who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the ^[c]spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, ^(H)gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, ^(I)the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.