1 Kings 20:12-23
New American Standard Bible
13Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, and said, 'This is what the Lord says: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I am going to hand them over to you today, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’?'
14But Ahab said, 'By whom?' So he said, 'The Lord says this: ‘By the young men of the leaders of the provinces.’?' Then he said, 'Who will begin the battle?' And he said, 'You will.'
15So he mustered the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and there were 232; and after them he mustered all the people, all the sons of Israel: seven thousand.
16They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the temporary shelters with the thirty-two kings who were helping him.
17The young men of the leaders of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, 'Men have come out from Samaria.'
18Then he said, 'If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well.'
19So these men went out from the city, the young men of the leaders of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
20And they killed, each one, his man; and the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.
21The king of Israel also went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.
King James Version
Chapter 20
12And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city. 13And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. 14And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
20And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
21And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Christian Standard Bible
15So Ahab mobilized the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he mobilized all the Israelite troops: 7,000.
16They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kings who were helping him were getting drunk in their quarters.
17The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, "Men are marching out of Samaria."
19The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city,
20and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry.
21Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a severe slaughter on Aram.
New Living Translation
15So Ahab mustered the troops of the 232 provincial commanders. Then he called out the rest of the army of Israel, some 7,000 men.
16About noontime, as Ben-hadad and the thirty-two allied kings were still in their tents drinking themselves into a stupor,
19But Ahab’s provincial commanders and the entire army had now come out to fight.
20Each Israelite soldier killed his Aramean opponent, and suddenly the entire Aramean army panicked and fled. The Israelites chased them, but King Ben-hadad and a few of his charioteers escaped on horses.
21However, the king of Israel destroyed the other horses and chariots and slaughtered the Arameans.
English Standard Version
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, I will give it into your hand this day, and 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 was 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.
New International Version
15So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all.
16They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
19The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them
20and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen.
21The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.
New King James Version
16So they went out at noon. Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two kings helping him were getting drunk at the command post.
17The young leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out a patrol, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out of Samaria!”
18So he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
19Then these young leaders of the provinces went out of the city with the army which followed them.
20And each one killed his man; so the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them; and Ben-Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the cavalry.
21Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.
