Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria
1Ben-Hadad brought his whole army together. He was king of Aram. He went up to Samaria. He took 32 kings and their horses and chariots with him. All of them surrounded Samaria and attacked it. 2Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city. They spoke to Ahab, the king of Israel. They told him, “Ben-Hadad says, 3‘Your silver and gold belong to me. The best of your wives and children also belong to me.’ ”
4The king of Israel replied, “What you say is true. You are my king and master. I belong to you. And everything I have belongs to you.”
5The messengers came again. They told Ahab, “Ben-Hadad says, ‘I commanded you to give me your silver and gold. I also commanded you to give me your wives and children. 6But now I’m going to send my officials to you. They will come about this time tomorrow. They’ll search your palace. They’ll search the houses of your officials. They’ll take everything you value. And they’ll carry it all away.’ ”
7The king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land. He said to them, “This man is really looking for trouble! He sent for my wives and children. He sent for my silver and gold. And I agreed to give them to him.”
8All the elders and people answered, “Don’t listen to him. Don’t agree to give him what he wants.”
9So Ahab replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers. He said, “Tell my king and master, ‘I will do everything you commanded me to do the first time. But this time, I can’t do what you want me to do.’ ” They took Ahab’s answer back to Ben-Hadad.
10Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab. Ben-Hadad said, “There won’t be enough dust left in Samaria to give each of my followers even a handful. If there is, may the gods punish me greatly.”
11The king of Israel replied. He said, “Tell him, ‘Someone who puts his armor on shouldn’t brag like someone who takes it off.’ ”
12Ben-Hadad and the kings were in their tents drinking. That’s when he heard the message. He ordered his men, “Get ready to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city.
Ahab Wins the Battle Over Ben-Hadad
13During that time a prophet came to Ahab, the king of Israel. He announced, “The Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
14“But who will do it?” Ahab asked.
The prophet answered, “The Lord says, ‘The junior officers who are under the area commanders will do it.’ ”
“And who will start the battle?” Ahab asked.
The prophet answered, “You will.”
15So Ahab sent for the junior officers who were under the area commanders. The total number of officers was 232. Ahab gathered together the rest of the Israelites. The total number of them was 7,000. 16They started out at noon. At that time Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings helping him were in their tents. They were getting drunk. 17The junior officers who were under Ahab’s area commanders marched out first.
Ben-Hadad had sent out scouts. They came back and reported, “Men are marching against us from Samaria.”
18Ben-Hadad said, “They might be coming to make peace. If they are, take them alive. Or they might be coming to make war. If they are, take them alive.”
19The junior officers marched out of the city. The army was right behind them. 20Each man struck down the one fighting against him. When that happened, the army of Aram ran away. The Israelites chased them. But Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse. Some of his horsemen escaped with him. 21The king of Israel attacked them. He overpowered the horses and chariots. Large numbers of the men of Aram were wounded or killed.
22After that, the prophet came to the king of Israel again. The prophet said, “Make your position stronger. Do what needs to be done. Next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”
23During that time, the officials of the king of Aram gave him advice. They said, “The gods of Israel are gods of the hills. That’s why they were too strong for us. But suppose we fight them on the plains. Then we’ll certainly be stronger than they are. 24Here’s what you should do. Don’t let any of the kings continue as military leaders. Have other officers take their places. 25You must also put another army together. It should be just like the one you lost. It should have the same number of horses and chariots. Then we’ll be able to fight against Israel on the plains. And we’ll certainly be stronger than they are.” Ben-Hadad agreed with their advice. He did what they suggested.
26The next spring Ben-Hadad brought together the men of Aram. They went up to the city of Aphek to fight against Israel. 27The Israelites were also brought together. They were given supplies. They marched out to fight against their enemies. Israel’s army camped across from Aram’s army. The Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats that had become separated from the others. But the men of Aram covered the countryside.
28The man of God came up to the king of Israel again. He told him, “The Lord says, ‘The men of Aram think the Lord is a god of the hills. They do not think he is a god of the valleys. So I, the Lord, will hand their huge army over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
29For seven days the two armies camped across from each other. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites wounded or killed 100,000 Aramean soldiers who were on foot. That happened in a single day. 30The rest of the men of Aram escaped to the city of Aphek. Its wall fell down on 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad ran to the city. He hid in a secret room.
31His officials said to him, “Look, we’ve heard that the kings of Israel often show mercy. So let’s go to the king of Israel. Let’s wear the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Let’s tie ropes around our heads. Perhaps Ahab will spare your life.”
32So they wore rough clothing. They tied ropes around their heads. Then they went to the king of Israel. They told him, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ”
The king answered, “Is he still alive? He used to be my friend.”
33The men thought that was good news. So they quickly used the word Ahab had used. “Yes! Your friend Ben-Hadad!” they said.
“Go and get him,” the king said. Ben-Hadad came out of the secret room. Then Ahab had him get into his chariot.
34“I’ll return the cities my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad offered. “You can set up your own market areas in Damascus. That’s what my father did in Samaria.”
Ahab said, “If we sign a peace treaty, I’ll set you free.” So Ben-Hadad made a treaty with him. Then Ahab let him go.
A Prophet Accuses Ahab
35There was a group of people called the group of the prophets. A message from the Lord came to one of their members. He said to his companion, “Strike me down with your weapon.” But he wouldn’t do it.
36The prophet said, “You haven’t obeyed the Lord. So as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” The companion went away. And a lion found him and killed him.
37The prophet found another man. He said, “Please strike me down.” So the man struck him down and wounded him. 38Then the prophet went and stood by the road. He waited for the king to come by. He pulled his headband down over his eyes so no one would recognize him. 39The king passed by. Then the prophet called out to him. He said, “I went into the middle of the battle. Someone came to me with a prisoner. He said, ‘Guard this man. Don’t let him get away. If he does, you will pay for his life with yours. Or you can pay 75 pounds of silver.’ 40While I was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”
The king of Israel spoke to him. He told him, “What you’ve just said is what will happen to you.”
41Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42He told the king, “The Lord says, ‘You have set a man free. But I had said he should be set apart to the Lord in a special way to be destroyed. So you must pay for his life with yours. You must pay for his people’s lives with the lives of your people.’ ” 43The king of Israel was angry. He was in a bad mood. He went back to his palace in Samaria.
Nilusob ni Ben Hadad ang Samaria
1Ngayon, tinipon ni Haring Ben Hadad ng Aram20:1 Aram: o, Syria. ang lahat ng sundalo niya para makipaglaban. Sumama sa kanila ang 32 hari na kakampi ni Ben Hadad na may mga kabayo at mga karwahe. At umalis sila para lusubin ang Samaria. 2Nagsugo si Ben Hadad ng mga mensahero sa Samaria para iparating ang mensaheng ito kay Haring Ahab ng Israel, “Ito ang ipinapasabi ni Ben Hadad: 3‘Ang iyong mga pilak at ginto ay akin, at ang iyong mga asawa at ang iyong mabubuting anak ay akin din.’ ” 4Sinagot siya ni Haring Ahab ng Israel, “Ayon nga sa sinabi mo, Mahal na Hari, ako at ang lahat ng akin ay iyo.”
5Muling bumalik ang mga mensahero kay Ahab at sinabi, “Ito ang ipinapasabi ni Ben Hadad: ‘Sinabi ko na sa iyo na ibigay mo sa akin ang iyong mga pilak, ginto, mga asawaʼt anak. 6Pero bukas sa ganito ring oras, papupuntahin ko riyan ang mga opisyal ko para maghalughog sa palasyo mo at sa mga bahay ng iyong mga opisyal. Kukunin nila ang lahat ng itinuturing mong mahalaga.’ ”
7Ipinatawag ng hari ng Israel ang lahat ng tagapamahala ng Israel, at sinabi, “Naghahanap talaga ng paraan si Ben Hadad na wasakin tayo. Pumayag na nga ako nang hilingin niya ang aking mga asawa, mga anak, mga pilak at ginto.” 8Sumagot ang mga tagapamahala at ang mga tao, “Huwag po kayong papayag sa mga hinihiling niya.” 9Kaya sinabihan niya ang mga mensahero ni Ben Hadad, “Sabihin ninyo sa mahal na hari na ibibigay ko ang kanyang unang kahilingan, pero ang ikalawa ay hindi ko na maibibigay.” Nagsiuwi ang mga mensahero at sinabi kay Ben Hadad ang sagot ni Ahab.
10Nagpadala muli si Ben Hadad ng mensahe kay Ahab, “Lubos sana akong parusahan ng mga dios, kung hindi ko mawasak nang lubos ang Samaria. Titiyakin kong kahit alikabok ay walang maiiwan na madadakot ang mga sundalo ko.” 11Sumagot ang hari ng Israel, “Sabihan nʼyo siya na ang sundalong naghahanda pa lang sa pakikipaglaban ay hindi dapat magmayabang tulad ng sundalong tapos nang makipaglaban.” 12Natanggap ni Ben Hadad ang sagot ni Ahab habang umiinom siya at ang mga kasama niyang hari roon sa kanilang mga tolda. Agad niyang inutusan ang mga tauhan niya na maghanda sa paglusob sa Samaria. At sinunod nila ito.
Tinalo ni Ahab si Ben Hadad
13Samantala, may dumating na isang propeta kay Ahab, at sinabi, “Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon: Nakita mo ang napakaraming sundalo ni Ben Hadad. Pero ipapatalo ko sila sa iyo sa araw na ito, at malalaman mo na ako ang Panginoon.” 14Nagtanong si Ahab, “Pero sino ang tatalo sa kanila?” Sumagot ang propeta, “Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon: Ang mga binatang sundalo na nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng mga gobernador ng mga probinsya ang siyang tatalo sa kanila.” Nagtanong si Ahab, “Sino ang unang lulusob?” Sumagot ang propeta, “Kayo.”20:14 Sino ang unang … Kayo: o, Sino ang mangunguna sa kanila sa pakikipaglaban? Sumagot ang propeta, “Ikaw.”
15Kaya ipinatawag ni Ahab ang mga binatang sundalo, na nasa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng mga gobernador ng mga probinsya – 232 silang lahat. At tinipon din niya ang iba pang mga Israelita – 7,000 silang lahat. 16Tanghali nang lumusob sila, habang si Ben Hadad at ang 32 haring kakampi niya ay naglalasing sa mga tolda nila. 17Ang unang lumusob ay ang mga binatang sundalo.
Ngayon, ang mga espiyang ipinadala ni Ben Hadad sa Samaria ay nagsabi sa kanya, “May mga sundalo pong papunta rito mula sa Samaria.” 18Sinabi ni Ben Hadad, “Hulihin nʼyo sila! Kahit anong pakay nila rito, makipaglaban man o makipag-ayos.”
19Ang mga binatang sundalo ang nangunguna sa mga sundalo ng Israel. 20Ang bawat isaʼy pinatay ang kanyang kalaban. Kaya tumakas ang ibang mga sundalo ng Aram, at hinabol sila ng mga Israelita. Pero si Ben Hadad at ang iba pa niyang mga kasama ay tumakas na nakasakay sa kabayo.
21Ganoon ang paglusob nina Haring Ahab ng Israel. Marami silang pinatay na Arameo at pinagkukuha20:21 pinagkukuha: Ganito sa isang lumang teksto. Sa Hebreo, pinagsisira. nila ang mga kabayo at mga karwahe ng mga ito. 22Pagkatapos nito, lumapit ang propeta sa hari ng Israel, at sinabi, “Maghanda kayo at magplano nang mabuti, dahil lulusob pong muli ang hari ng Aram sa susunod na taon.”
23Samantala, sinabi ng mga opisyal ng hari ng Aram sa kanya, “Ang dios ng mga Israelita ay dios ng mga bundok; iyan ang dahilan ng kanilang pagwawagi. Pero kung makikipaglaban tayo sa kanila sa kapatagan, siguradong matatalo natin sila. 24Ito ang kailangan ninyong gawin: Alisin ninyo ang 32 hari sa kanilang katungkulan, at ipalit sa kanila ang mga kumander. 25Pagkatapos, magtipon kayo ng mga sundalo, mga kabayo, at mga karwahe na kasindami ng mga nawala noon. Makipaglaban tayo sa mga Israelita sa kapatagan, at tiyak na matatalo natin sila.” Pumayag si Ben Hadad, at ginawa niya ito.
26Nang sumunod na taon, tinipon ni Ben Hadad ang mga Arameo, at pumunta sila sa lungsod ng Afek para makipaglaban sa mga Israelita. 27Nagtipon din ang mga Israelita, naghanda ng kanilang mga pangangailangan, at lumabas para makipaglaban sa mga Arameo. Nagkampo sila na paharap sa kampo ng mga Arameo. Pero katulad lang sila ng dalawang maliliit na pulutong ng mga kambing kung ikukumpara sa mga Arameo na nakakalat sa kapatagan. 28Pumunta ang lingkod ng Dios sa hari ng Israel, at sinabi, “Ito po ang sinasabi ng Panginoon: Inaakala ng mga Arameo na dios ako ng mga bundok at hindi dios ng mga lambak, kaya ipapatalo ko sa iyo ang napakarami nilang sundalo para malaman ninyo na ako ang siyang Panginoon.”
29Nagkampo ang mga Israelita at ang mga Arameo na magkaharap sa loob ng pitong araw. At naglaban sila nang ikapitong araw. Sa isang araw lang, nakapatay ang mga Israelita ng 100,000 sundalong Arameo. 30Ang mga natirang Arameo ay nagsitakas sa lungsod ng Afek, kung saan ang 27,000 sa kanila ay nabagsakan ng pader ng lungsod. Tumakas din doon si Ben Hadad at nagtago sa kasuluk-sulukang kwarto ng bahay. 31Sinabi sa kanya ng kanyang mga opisyal, “Narinig po namin na maawain daw ang mga hari ng Israel. Kaya pupunta kami sa hari ng Israel, magsusuot ng sako at magtatali ng lubid sa aming mga ulo. Baka sakaling hindi ka niya patayin.”
32Kaya nagsuot sila ng sako at tinalian nila ng lubid ang kanilang ulo. Pagkatapos, pumunta sila sa hari ng Israel, at sinabi, “Ang inyo pong lingkod na si Ben Hadad ay humihiling na kung maaari, huwag nʼyo siyang patayin.” Sumagot ang hari, “Buhay pa pala siya? Para ko na siyang kapatid.” 33Itinuring ng mga opisyal ang sagot ng hari na isang palatandaan na may pag-asa sila, kaya agad naman nilang sinabi na, “Opo, si Ben Hadad ay para na ninyong kapatid.” Sinabi ng hari, “Dalhin ninyo siya sa akin.”
Pagdating ni Ben Hadad, pinasakay siya ni Ahab sa kanyang karwahe. 34Sinabi ni Ben Hadad kay Ahab, “Isasauli ko sa iyo ang mga lungsod na inagaw ng aking ama sa iyong ama. At maaari kang magpatayo ng mga tindahan sa Damascus, katulad ng ginawa ng aking ama sa Samaria.” Tugon ni Ahab, “Sa alok mong ito, pakakawalan kita.” Kaya gumawa sila ng kasunduan, at pinaalis siya ni Ahab.
35Samantala, may isang taong kabilang sa samahan ng mga propeta ang inutusan ng Panginoon para sabihin ito sa kasama niya, “Sige saktan mo ako.” Pero tumanggi ang kasama niya na saktan siya. 36Kaya sinabi niya sa kanyang kasama, “Dahil hindi mo sinunod ang Panginoon, papatayin ka ng leon pag-alis mo rito.” Pag-alis nga ng kasama niya, nakita siya ng isang leon at pinatay.
37May nakita namang isang tao ang propeta at sinabi niya, “Saktan mo ako.” Kaya sinaktan siya nito at nasugatan siya. 38Pagkatapos, lumakad ang propeta at tumayo sa daan para hintayin na dumaan ang hari ng Israel. Nagbalat-kayo siya sa pamamagitan ng paglalagay ng piring sa mata para hindi makilala. 39Pagdaan ng hari, sumigaw ang propeta sa kanya, “Mahal na hari, sumama po ako sa labanan, at doon ay may taong nagdala sa akin ng bihag at sinabi, ‘Bantayan mo ang taong ito. Kapag nakatakas siya, papatayin ka o pagbabayarin ng 35 kilong pilak.’ 40Pero naging abala po ako sa ibang mga gawain kaya nakatakas ang bihag.”
Sinabi ng hari, “Dapat ka ngang parusahan ayon sa sinabi mo.” 41Tinanggal ng propeta ang piring sa kanyang mga mata, at nakilala siya ng hari ng Israel na isa siyang propeta. 42Sinabi niya sa hari, “Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon: Dahil sa pinakawalan mo ang taong sinasabi ko na dapat patayin, ikaw ang papatayin bilang kapalit niya at papatayin din ang iyong mga tauhan bilang kapalit ng kanyang mga tauhan.” 43Umuwing malungkot at galit ang hari ng Israel sa palasyo niya sa Samaria.
