1 Kings 15 18-1 Kings 15 20
Asa responded by removing all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it with some of his officials to Ben hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:“ Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”Ben hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel beth maacah, and all Kinnereth, and all the land of Naphtali.
1 Kings 20 1-1 Kings 20 22
About that time King Ben hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it.Ben hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel:“ This is what Ben hadad says:‘ Your silver and gold are mine, and so are your wives and the best of your children!’”“ All right, my lord the king,” Israel’s king replied.“ All that I have is yours!”Soon Ben hadad’s messengers returned again and said,“ This is what Ben hadad says:‘ I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children.But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take away everything you consider valuable!’”Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them,“ Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold.”“ Don’t give in to any more demands,” all the elders and the people advised.So Ahab told the messengers from Ben hadad,“ Say this to my lord the king:‘ I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.’” So the messengers returned to Ben hadad with that response.Then Ben hadad sent this message to Ahab:“ May the gods strike me and even kill me if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide even a handful for each of my soldiers.”The king of Israel sent back this answer:“ A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.”Ahab’s reply reached Ben hadad and the other kings as they were drinking in their tents.“ Prepare to attack!” Ben hadad commanded his officers. So they prepared to attack the city.Then a certain prophet came to see King Ahab of Israel and told him,“ This is what the Lord says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”Ahab asked,“ How will he do it?” And the prophet replied,“ This is what the Lord says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it.”“ Should we attack first?” Ahab asked.“ Yes,” the prophet answered.So Ahab mustered the troops of the 232 provincial commanders. Then he called out the rest of the army of Israel, some 7,000 men.About noontime, as Ben hadad and the thirty two allied kings were still in their tents drinking themselves into a stupor,the troops of the provincial commanders marched out of the city as the first contingent. As they approached, Ben hadad’s scouts reported to him,“ Some troops are coming from Samaria.”“ Take them alive,” Ben hadad commanded,“ whether they have come for peace or for war.”But Ahab’s provincial commanders and the entire army had now come out to fight.Each 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.However, the king of Israel destroyed the other horses and chariots and slaughtered the Arameans.Afterward the prophet said to King Ahab,“ Get ready for another attack. Begin making plans now, for the king of Aram will come back next spring.”
