20

Ahab Defeats the Syrians

1Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it. 2Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad: 3‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine.’ ”
4And the king of Israel answered and said, “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I have are yours.”
5Then the messengers came back and said, “Thus speaks Ben-Hadad, saying, ‘Indeed I have sent to you, saying, “You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children”; 6but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants. And it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hands and take it.’ ”
7So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Notice, please, and see how this man seeks trouble, for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not deny him.”
8And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”
9Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ”
 And the messengers departed and brought back word to him.
10Then Ben-Hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me.”
11So the king of Israel answered and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not the one who puts on his armorboast like the one who takes it off.’ ”
12And it happened when Ben-Hadad heard this message, as he and the kings weredrinking at the command post, that he said to his servants, “Get ready.” And they got ready to attack the city.
13Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”
14So Ahab said, “By whom?”
 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘By the young leaders of the provinces.’ ”
 Then he said, “Who will set the battle in order?”
 And he answered, “You.”
15Then he mustered the young leaders of the provinces, and there were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he mustered all the people, all the children of Israel—seven thousand.
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.
22And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.”

The Syrians Again Defeated

23Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they. 24So do this thing: Dismiss the kings, each from his position, and put captains in their places; 25and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.”
 And he listened to their voice and did so.
26So it was, in the spring of the year, that Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27And the children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and they went against them. Now the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside.
28Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lordis God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” 29And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians in one day. 30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; then a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left.
 And Ben-Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner chamber.

Ahab’s Treaty with Ben-Hadad

31Then his servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please, let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.” 32So they wore sackcloth around their waists and put ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ”
 And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33Now the men were watching closely to see whether any sign of mercy would come from him; and they quickly grasped at this word and said, “Your brother Ben-Hadad.”
 So he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-Hadad came out to him; and he had him come up into the chariot.
34So Ben-Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you may set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”
 Then Ahab said, “I will send you away with this treaty.” So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

Ahab Condemned

35Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the word of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” And the man refused to strike him. 36Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you.” And as soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.
37And he found another man, and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound. 38Then the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39Now as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and there, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”
 Then the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.
41And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”
43So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.

20

Y-Ahap Bi Blah Dưi hŏng Phung Siri

1Y-Ben-Hadat mtao čar Siri bi kƀĭn jih jang phung kahan ñu mbĭt; mâo mbĭt hŏng ñu tlâo pluh dua čô mtao, lu drei aseh leh anăn êdeh aseh. Ñu đĭ nao leh anăn wang ƀuôn Samari leh anăn bi blah hŏng gơ̆. 2Ñu tiŏ nao phung hưn kơ Y-Ahap mtao Israel hlăm ƀuôn, leh anăn lač kơ ñu, “Snei Y-Ben-Hadat lač: 3‘Prăk leh anăn mah ih jing dŏ kâo; phung mô̆ leh anăn phung anak ih siam hĭn jing dŏ kâo mơh.’ ” 4Mtao Israel lŏ wĭt lač, “Tui si ih lač, Ơ khua kâo mtao, kâo jing dŏ ih leh anăn jih jang mnơ̆ng kâo mâo.” 5Phung hưn lŏ truh leh anăn lač, “Snei Y-Ben-Hadat lač: ‘Kâo tiŏ nao mnuih kơ ih leh anăn lač, “Jao bĕ kơ kâo prăk leh anăn mah ih, phung mô̆ leh anăn phung anak ih,” 6ƀiădah mgi hlăm brô mmông anei kâo srăng tiŏ nao phung dĭng buăl kâo kơ ih. Diñu srăng duah hlăm sang ih leh anăn sang phung dĭng buăl ih, leh anăn mă ya mnơ̆ng diñu čiăng leh anăn mă ba dŏ anăn.’ ”
7Snăn mtao Israel iêu jih jang phung khua mduôn hlăm čar leh anăn lač, “Ksiêm bĕ ară anei leh anăn dlăng si êkei anei duah ngă klei bi rŭng; kyuadah ñu tiŏ hriê arăng kơ kâo čiăng mă phung mô̆ leh anăn phung anak kâo, prăk leh anăn mah kâo, leh anăn kâo amâo hngah kơ ñu ôh.” 8Jih jang phung khua mduôn leh anăn phung ƀuôn sang lač kơ ñu, “Đăm dôk hmư̆ amâodah tŭ klei ñu ôh.” 9Snăn ñu lač kơ phung Y-Ben-Hadat tiŏ nao, “Hưn bĕ kơ khua kâo mtao, ‘Jih jang klei ih mtă leh kơ dĭng buăl ih tal êlâo kâo srăng ngă; ƀiădah klei anei kâo amâo dưi ngă ôh.’ ” Phung ñu tiŏ nao đuĕ nao leh anăn lŏ ba klei hưn kơ ñu. 10Y-Ben-Hadat tiŏ nao mnuih kơ Y-Ahap leh anăn lač, “Brei phung yang ngă kơ kâo msĕ snăn leh anăn êbeh hĭn mơh tơdah ƀruih lăn ƀuôn Samari srăng djăp čiăng bi bŏ kpăt kngan jih jang phung ƀuôn sang tui hlue kâo.” 11Leh anăn mtao Israel lŏ wĭt lač, “Hưn kơ ñu, ‘Đăm brei pô hơô ao msei bi mni kơ ñu pô ôh msĕ si pô toh hĕ ao anăn.’ ” 12Tơdah Y-Ben-Hadat hmư̆ klei hưn anăn êjai ñu dôk mnăm mbĭt hŏng phung mtao hlăm sang trưng, ñu lač kơ phung kahan ñu, “Dôk bĕ ti anôk diih bi blah.” Leh anăn digơ̆ dôk ti anôk digơ̆ bi blah hŏng ƀuôn anăn.
13Nĕ anei sa čô khua pô hưn êlâo hriê giăm Y-Ahap mtao Israel leh anăn lač, “Snei Yêhôwa lač, Ih ƀuh leh mơ̆ jih jang phung lu lĭn anei? Nĕ anei kâo srăng jao phung anei hlăm kngan ih hruê anei; leh anăn ih srăng thâo kơ kâo jing Yêhôwa.” 14Y-Ahap lač, “Hŏng hlei pô ih srăng jao diñu?” Ñu lač, “Snei Yêhôwa lač, Hŏng phung dĭng buăl phung khua krĭng.” Leh anăn Y-Ahap lač, “Hlei pô srăng dơ̆ng bi blah?” Ñu lŏ wĭt lač, “Ih yơh.” 15Snăn Y-Ahap rĭng phung dĭng buăl phung khua krĭng, leh anăn mâo dua êtuh tlâo pluh dua čô. Êdei kơ phung anăn ñu rĭng jih jang phung ƀuôn sang Israel, mâo kjuh êbâo čô.
16Diñu kbiă nao ti yang hruê dơ̆ng êjai Y-Ben-Hadat dôk mnăm tơl kpiê ruă hlăm sang trưng, ñu leh anăn phung tlâo pluh dua čô mtao, phung đru ñu. 17Phung dĭng buăl phung khua krĭng kbiă êlâo hĭn. Y-Ben-Hadat tiŏ nao phung ksiêm, leh anăn digơ̆ hưn kơ ñu, “Phung kahan kbiă hriê mơ̆ng ƀuôn Samari.” 18Ñu lač, “Tơdah digơ̆ kbiă hriê kơ klei êđăp ênang, brei diih mă digơ̆ hdĭp; amâodah tơdah digơ̆ kbiă hriê kơ klei bi blah, brei diih mă digơ̆ hdĭp.”
19Snăn phung anăn kbiă mơ̆ng ƀuôn, phung dĭng buăl phung khua krĭng leh anăn phung kahan tui hlue diñu. 20Grăp čô bi mdjiê mnuih ñu tuôm. Phung Siri đuĕ, leh anăn phung Israel tiŏ diñu. Ƀiădah Y-Ben-Hadat mtao Siri đuĕ đĭ aseh mbĭt hŏng phung kahan đĭ aseh. 21Leh anăn mtao Israel kbiă mă aseh leh anăn êdeh aseh, leh anăn bi mdjiê phung Siri lu snăk.
22Leh anăn khua pô hưn êlâo hriê giăm mtao Israel leh anăn lač kơ ñu, “Hriê bi ktang bĕ ih pô leh anăn ksiêm bi nik ya ih srăng ngă, kyuadah ti yan mnga mtao Siri srăng hriê bi blah hŏng ih.”
23Phung dĭng buăl mtao Siri lač kơ ñu, “Phung yang diñu jing yang kbuôn, kyuanăn diñu jing ktang hĭn kơ drei. Ƀiădah brei drei bi blah hŏng diñu hlăm anôk lăn dap, leh anăn sĭt nik drei srăng jing ktang hĭn kơ diñu. 24Leh anăn ngă snei: Bi mlih bĕ phung mtao grăp čô mơ̆ng anôk digơ̆, leh anăn dưm phung khua kahan ti anôk diñu, 25leh anăn brei ih rĭng sa phung kahan mdŭm hŏng phung kahan ih luč leh, aseh hrô aseh leh anăn êdeh aseh hrô êdeh aseh. Snăn drei srăng bi blah hŏng diñu hlăm anôk lăn dap, leh anăn sĭt nik drei srăng jing ktang hĭn kơ diñu.” Ñu hmư̆ asăp phung anăn leh anăn ngă msĕ snăn.
26Hlăm yan mnga Y-Ben-Hadat rĭng kahan phung Siri, leh anăn đĭ nao kơ ƀuôn Aphek čiăng bi blah hŏng phung Israel. 27Arăng rĭng leh phung ƀuôn sang Israel leh anăn arăng brei mnơ̆ng ƀơ̆ng huă kơ diñu, leh anăn diñu nao bi blah hŏng phung Siri. Phung ƀuôn sang Israel ngă kđông ti anăp diñu msĕ si dua phung bê ƀiă, ƀiădah phung Siri bi bŏ čar. 28Mâo sa čô mnuih Aê Diê hriê leh anăn lač kơ mtao Israel, “Snei Yêhôwa lač, ‘Kyuadah phung Siri lač leh, “Yêhôwa jing sa čô yang kbuôn ƀiădah ñu amâo jing sa čô yang tlung ôh,” kyuanăn kâo srăng jao jih phung lu lĭn anei hlăm kngan ih, leh anăn ih srăng thâo kơ kâo jing Yêhôwa.’ ” 29Dua phung ngă kđông bi anăp mbĭt êjai kjuh hruê. Hruê tal kjuh diñu bi blah; leh anăn phung ƀuôn sang Israel bi mdjiê phung Siri sa êtuh êbâo čô kahan êbat jơ̆ng hlăm sa hruê. 30Phung adôk đuĕ mŭt hlăm ƀuôn Aphek; leh anăn mnư̆ klưh găm dua pluh kjuh êbâo čô kahan adôk anăn.
 Y-Ben-Hadat đuĕ msĕ mơh, leh anăn mŭt hlăm sa boh adŭ hlăm ƀuôn.
31Phung dĭng buăl ñu lač kơ ñu, “Nĕ anei hmei hmư̆ leh phung mtao sang Israel jing phung mtao thâo pap. Brei hyuă klŭng ti kơiêng drei leh anăn hruôt klei bră ti boh kŏ drei, leh anăn kbiă nao kơ mtao Israel. Năng ai ñu srăng pioh klei hdĭp ih.” 32Snăn diñu hyuă klŭng ti kơiêng diñu leh anăn hruôt klei bră ti boh kŏ diñu, nao kơ mtao Israel leh anăn lač, “Dĭng buăl ih Y-Ben-Hadat lač, ‘Kâo akâo kơ ih, lui kâo dôk hdĭp.’ ” Leh anăn gơ̆ lač, “Ñu ăt dôk hdĭp mơ̆? Ñu jing ayŏng adei kâo.” 33Phung mnuih anăn kăp dlăng klei bi knăl, leh anăn diñu tŭ djăl mtam klei anăn leh anăn lač, “Ơ, ayŏng adei ih Y-Ben-Hadat.” Leh anăn gơ̆ lač, “Nao mă ba ñu bĕ.” Snăn Y-Ben-Hadat nao kơ gơ̆; leh anăn gơ̆ brei ñu đĭ êdeh aseh. 34Y-Ben-Hadat lač kơ gơ̆, “Jih ƀuôn ama kâo mă leh mơ̆ng ama ih kâo srăng bi wĭt; leh anăn ih dưi mdơ̆ng sang čhĭ mnia kơ ih pô hlăm ƀuôn Damas, msĕ si ama kâo ngă leh hlăm ƀuôn Samari.” Y-Ahap wĭt lač, “Kâo srăng lui ih đuĕ nao tui si klei bi kuôl anei.” Snăn ñu ngă klei bi mguôp hŏng gơ̆, leh anăn brei gơ̆ đuĕ nao.
35Sa čô hlăm phung anak êkei phung khua pô hưn êlâo lač kơ găp ñu tui si klei Yêhôwa mtă, “Kâo akâo kơ ih, čăm hĕ bĕ kâo.” Ƀiădah êkei anăn hngah čăm ñu. 36 Snăn ñu lač kơ gơ̆, “Kyuadah ih amâo gưt ôh asăp Yêhôwa, nĕ anei tơdah ih đuĕ leh mơ̆ng kâo, sa drei êmông gu srăng bi mdjiê ih.” Leh anăn tơdah gơ̆ đuĕ leh mơ̆ng ñu, sa drei êmông gu bi tuôm hŏng gơ̆ leh anăn bi mdjiê hĕ gơ̆. 37Leh anăn ñu lŏ tuôm hŏng sa čô êkei mkăn leh anăn lač, “Kâo akâo kơ ih čăm hĕ bĕ kâo.” Êkei anăn čăm hĕ ñu leh anăn bi êka ñu. 38Snăn khua pô hưn êlâo anăn đuĕ nao, dôk guôn mtao giăm êlan, mgưt jing sa čô mnuih mkăn êjai guôm hĕ ală ñu hŏng sa blah čhiăm. 39Êjai mtao găn ñu ur kơ mtao leh anăn lač, “Dĭng buăl ih kbiă nao ti krah anôk arăng bi blah, leh anăn nĕ anei, sa čô kahan weh leh anăn atăt sa čô mnuih kơ kâo leh anăn lač, ‘Răng pioh êkei anei. Tơdah ñu đuĕ hĕ, klei hdĭp ih srăng hrô klei hdĭp ñu, amâodah ih srăng tla sa talăng prăk.’ 40Leh anăn êjai dĭng buăl ih mâo bruă tinei tinăn, êkei anăn đuĕ hĕ.” Mtao Israel lač kơ ñu, “Msĕ snăn jing klei phat kđi kơ ih. Ih pô čuăn leh klei anăn.” 41Leh anăn ñu mă hĕ mtam čhiăm guôm ală ñu, leh anăn mtao Israel thâo kral ñu jing sa čô hlăm phung khua pô hưn êlâo. 42Leh anăn ñu lač kơ mtao, “Snei Yêhôwa lač, ‘Kyuadah ih phưi hĕ mơ̆ng kngan ih mnuih kâo jao leh kơ klei bi rai, snăn klei hdĭp ih srăng hrô klei hdĭp ñu, leh anăn klei hdĭp phung ƀuôn sang ih hrô klei hdĭp phung ƀuôn sang ñu.’ ” 43Leh anăn mtao Israel wĭt kơ sang ñu ăl leh anăn ênguôt, leh anăn ñu truh ti ƀuôn Samari.