Ben-Hadads uzbrūk Samarijai
1 Arāmas ķēniņš Ben-Hadads sapulcināja visu savu karaspēku. Ar viņu kopā bija trīsdesmit divi ķēniņi, zirgi un kararati. Viņš devās augšup, aplenca Samariju un karoja pret to. 2 Viņš sūtīja sūtņus uz pilsētu pie Israēla ķēniņa Ahāba 3 un teica tam: “Tā saka Ben-Hadads: tavs sudrabs un zelts ir mans, un tavas labākās sievas un tavi labākie dēli ir mani!” 4 Israēla ķēniņš atbildēja: “Ir tā, kā mans kungs, ķēniņš, sacīja. Es esmu tavs ar visu, kas man pieder.” 5 Bet sūtņi nāca vēlreiz un sacīja: “Tā saka Ben-Hadads: es sūtīju pie tevis un sacīju, ka tev jādod man savs sudrabs, zelts, sievas un dēli. 6 Tādēļ rīt ap šo laiku es sūtīšu pie tevis kalpus un viņi pārmeklēs tavu namu un tavu kalpu namus, un tie paņems visu, ko viņu acis iekāros.” 7 Tad Israēla ķēniņš sasauca visus zemes vecajos un sacīja: “Saprotiet jel un redziet, ka šis meklē naidu, jo viņš sūtīja pēc manām sievām un dēliem, sudraba un zelta, un es taču viņam to neliedzu!” 8 Visi vecajie un tauta sacīja viņam: “Neklausi un nepiekrīti!” 9 Un viņš atbildēja Ben-Hadada sūtņiem: “Sakiet manam kungam, ķēniņam: visu, ko tu liki sacīt savam kalpam pirmoreiz, es darīšu, bet šo lietu darīt es nevaru!” Un sūtņi aizgāja to pavēstīt. 10 Tad Ben-Hadads sūtīja pie viņa un sacīja: “Lai dievi man dara tāpat un vēl vairāk! Samarijā nepietiks putekļu visu ļaužu riekšavām, kuri man seko!” 11 Un Israēla ķēniņš atbildēja: “Sakiet: tas, kurš zobenu tikko apjozis, lai nelielās kā tāds, kas to jau noņēmis.”
Ahāba uzvara
12 Tobrīd, kad Ben-Hadads dzirdēja šos vārdus, viņš dzīroja teltīs ar ķēniņiem un uzsauca saviem kalpiem: “Taisieties!” Un tie gatavojās uzbrukt pilsētai. 13 Un, redzi, kāds pravietis nāca pie Israēla ķēniņa Ahāba un teica: “Tā saka Kungs: tu redzi visu šo lielo pulku – šodien es to nododu tavā rokā, lai tu zini, ka es esmu Kungs!” 14 Ahābs jautāja: “Kas to darīs?” Un pravietis atbildēja: “Tā saka Kungs: tavu pavalstu pārvaldnieku puiši.” – “Un kurš lai sāk kauju?” Viņš atbildēja: “Tu!” 15 Tad viņš sapulcināja pavalstu pārvaldnieku puišus, un to bija divi simti trīsdesmit divi. Pēc tam viņš sapulcināja visu tautu, visus Israēla dēlus, septiņus tūkstošus. 16 Dienas vidū viņi izgāja no pilsētas, bet Ben-Hadads un trīsdesmit divi ķēniņi, kas viņam bija nākuši palīgā, teltīs dzēra un piedzērās. 17 Pavalstu pārvaldnieku puiši izgāja pirmie. Un Ben-Hadadam tika ziņots: “No Samarijas ir izgājuši vīri.” 18 Viņš sacīja: “Ja tie nāk ar mieru, sagrābiet tos dzīvus, bet, ja nāk ar karu, arī tad sagrābiet dzīvus!” 19 Pavalstu pārvaldnieku puiši izgāja no pilsētas un karaspēks aiz tiem. 20 Tad viņi kāva cits citu, un aramieši bēga, bet Israēls tos vajāja. Arāmas ķēniņš Ben-Hadads zirgā aizbēga kopā ar jātniekiem. 21 Israēla ķēniņš izgāja, satrieca zirgus un kararatus, un sakāva Arāmu lielā kaujā. 22 Tad pie Israēla ķēniņa pienāca pravietis un sacīja: “Esi stiprs, zini un redzi, kas tev darāms, jo Arāmas ķēniņš nāks pret tevi nākamajā pavasarī.”
23 Arāmas ķēniņa kalpi sacīja: “Viņu dievi ir kalnu dievi, tādēļ viņi bija stiprāki par mums. Ja mēs ar viņiem cīnītos līdzenumā, vai tad mēs nebūtu stiprāki par tiem? 24 Tad nu dari tā – atcel ķēniņus un liec viņu vietā virsniekus, 25 bet pats savāc sev tikpat lielu karaspēku, kā pazaudēji, – zirgu lai ir tikpat, cik bija, un kararatu lai ir tikpat, cik bija, – tad cīnīsimies ar tiem līdzenumā. Vai mēs nebūsim par viņiem stiprāki?” Viņš tos uzklausīja un tā darīja.
26 Nākamajā pavasarī Ben-Hadads izrīkoja aramiešus un devās uz Afēku karot ar Israēlu. 27 Arī Israēla dēli tika izrīkoti un apgādāti, un tie izgāja tiem pretī. Israēla dēli apmetās tiem pretī, un to bija tik vien kā divi kazu pulciņi, bet aramieši piepildīja visu zemi. 28 Un Dieva vīrs pienāca klāt un sacīja Israēla ķēniņam: “Tā saka Kungs: tādēļ ka Arāms ir sacījis: Kungs ir kalnu dievs, bet nav ieleju dievs, – es nodošu visu šo lielo pulku tavā rokā, un jūs zināsiet, ka es esmu Kungs!” 29 Septiņas dienas viņi stāvēja, apmetušies viens otram pretī, bet septītajā dienā sākās kauja, un Israēla dēli kāva Arāmu – simts tūkstošus kājnieku vienā dienā. 30 Atlikušie bēga uz Afēku, bet mūris sagruva pār divdesmit septiņiem tūkstošiem atlikušo vīru. Ben-Hadads izbēga un bēguļoja pa pilsētu no viena nama uz otru.
31 Tad viņa kalpi tam sacīja: “Klau, mēs taču esam dzirdējuši, kādi ir Israēla nama ķēniņi, ka tie ir žēlsirdīgi ķēniņi! Tad nu tinam maisus ap gurniem un virves ap galvām un izejam pie Israēla ķēniņa, varbūt viņš atstāj tevi dzīvu!” 32 Tie tina maisus ap gurniem un virves ap galvām, nāca pie Israēla ķēniņa un teica: “Tavs kalps Ben-Hadads saka: atstāj jel mani dzīvu!” Un ķēniņš atbildēja: “Vai viņš vēl dzīvs? Viņš ir mans brālis!” 33 Vīri viņa teikto saprata kā zīmi un steidzās to apstiprināt, sacīdami: “Ben-Hadads ir tavs brālis!” Un viņš sacīja: “Ejiet un atvediet viņu!” Tad Ben-Hadads iznāca pie viņa, un viņš lika tam kāpt ratos. 34 Un Ben-Hadads viņam sacīja: “Es tev atdošu pilsētas, kuras mans tēvs atņēma tavam tēvam, un Damaskā tu varēsi taisīt tirgus ielas, tāpat kā mans tēvs darīja Samarijā.” Tad Ahābs teica: “Ar šādu derību es tevi atlaižu.” Viņi noslēdza derību, un viņš to atlaida.
Dieva spriedums par Ahābu
35 Kāds vīrs no praviešu dēliem Kunga vārdā teica otram: “Nu, sit man!” – bet tas liedzās sist. 36 Tad viņš tam sacīja: “Tādēļ ka tu neklausīji Kunga balsij, tiklīdz tu no manis aiziesi, tevi nogalēs lauva.” Kad tas aizgāja, lauva to notvēra un nogalēja. 37 Bet tas sastapa citu vīru un sacīja: “Nu, sit man!” Un tas vīrs viņam sita un ievainoja. 38 Tad pravietis gāja un nostājās ķēniņam ceļā ar aizklātu seju. 39 Kad ķēniņš gāja garām, viņš sauca: “Tavs kalps gāja kaujā, un, redzi, kāds nāca un pieveda man gūstekni, sacīdams: sargā šo vīru, ja viņš pazudīs, tava dzīvība būs viņa dzīvības vietā vai arī tev būs jāmaksā talants sudraba, – 40 bet, kamēr tavs kalps rīkojās, tikmēr tas pazuda.” Israēla ķēniņš viņam sacīja: “Lai tavs spriedums ir tāds, kā tu saki!” 41 Tad viņš steigšus norāva aizsegu, un Israēla ķēniņš pazina, ka tas ir viens no praviešiem. 42 Un tas sacīja: “Tā saka Kungs: tādēļ ka tu atlaidi manis nolādētu vīru, tava dzīvība būs viņa dzīvības vietā un tava tauta – viņa tautas vietā!” 43 Un Israēla ķēniņš gāja uz savu namu drūms un saīdzis un nonāca Samarijā.
War with Syria
1 King Benhadad of Syria gathered all his troops, and supported by thirty-two other rulers with their horses and chariots, he marched up, laid siege to Samaria, and launched attacks against it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel to say, “King Benhadad demands that 3 you surrender to him your silver and gold, your women and the strongest of your children.”
4 “Tell my lord, King Benhadad, that I agree; he can have me and everything I own,” Ahab answered.
5 Later the messengers came back to Ahab with another demand from Benhadad: “I sent you word that you were to hand over to me your silver and gold, your women and your children. 6 Now, however, I will send my officers to search your palace and the homes of your officials, and to take everything they consider valuable. They will be there about this time tomorrow.”
7 King Ahab called in all the leaders of the country and said, “You see that this man wants to ruin us. He sent me a message demanding my wives and children, my silver and gold, and I agreed.”
8 The leaders and the people answered, “Don't pay any attention to him; don't give in.”
9 So Ahab replied to Benhadad's messengers, “Tell my lord the king that I agreed to his first demand, but I cannot agree to the second.”
The messengers left and then returned with another message 10 from Benhadad: “I will bring enough men to destroy this city of yours and carry off the rubble in their hands. May the gods strike me dead if I don't!”
11 King Ahab answered, “Tell King Benhadad that a real soldier does his bragging after a battle, not before it.”
12 Benhadad received Ahab's answer as he and his allies, the other rulers, were drinking in their tents. He ordered his men to get ready to attack the city, and so they moved into position.
13 Meanwhile, a prophet went to King Ahab and said, “The Lord says, ‘Don't be afraid of that huge army! I will give you victory over it today, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
14 “Who will lead the attack?” Ahab asked.
The prophet answered, “The Lord says that the young soldiers under the command of the district governors are to do it.”
“Who will command the main force?” the king asked.
“You,” the prophet answered.
15 So the king called out the young soldiers who were under the district commanders, 232 in all. Then he called out the Israelite army, a total of seven thousand men.
16 The attack began at noon, as Benhadad and his thirty-two allies were getting drunk in their tents. 17 The young soldiers advanced first. Scouts sent out by Benhadad reported to him that a group of soldiers was coming out of Samaria. 18 He ordered, “Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace.”
19 The young soldiers led the attack, followed by the Israelite army, 20 and each one killed the man he fought. The Syrians fled, with the Israelites in hot pursuit, but Benhadad escaped on horseback, accompanied by some of the cavalry. 21 King Ahab took to the field, captured the horses and chariots, and inflicted a severe defeat on the Syrians.
22 Then the prophet went to King Ahab and said, “Go back and build up your forces and make careful plans, because the king of Syria will attack again next spring.”
The Second Syrian Attack
23 King Benhadad's officials said to him, “The gods of Israel are mountain gods, and that is why the Israelites defeated us. But we will certainly defeat them if we fight them in the plains. 24 Now, remove the thirty-two rulers from their commands and replace them with field commanders. 25 Then call up an army as large as the one that deserted you, with the same number of horses and chariots. We will fight the Israelites in the plains, and this time we will defeat them.”
King Benhadad agreed and followed their advice. 26 The following spring he called up his men and marched with them to the city of Aphek to attack the Israelites. 27 The Israelites were called up and equipped; they marched out and camped in two groups facing the Syrians. The Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats compared to the Syrians, who spread out over the countryside.
28 A prophet went to King Ahab and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Syrians say that I am a god of the hills and not of the plains, I will give you victory over their huge army, and you and your people will know that I am the Lord.’”
29 For seven days the Syrians and the Israelites stayed in their camps, facing each other. On the seventh day they started fighting, and the Israelites killed a hundred thousand Syrians. 30 The survivors fled into the city of Aphek, where the city walls fell on twenty-seven thousand of them.
Benhadad also escaped into the city and took refuge in the back room of a house. 31 His officials went to him and said, “We have heard that the Israelite kings are merciful. Give us permission to go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our necks, and maybe he will spare your life.” 32 So they wrapped sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their necks, went to Ahab and said, “Your servant Benhadad pleads with you for his life.”
Ahab answered, “Is he still alive? Good! He's like a brother to me!”
33 Benhadad's officials were watching for a good sign, and when Ahab said “brother,” they took it up at once, and said, “As you say, Benhadad is your brother!”
“Bring him to me,” Ahab ordered. When Benhadad arrived, Ahab invited him to get in the chariot with him. 34 Benhadad said to him, “I will restore to you the towns my father took from your father, and you may set up a commercial center for yourself in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.”
Ahab replied, “On these terms, then, I will set you free.” He made a treaty with him and let him go.
A Prophet Condemns Ahab
35 At the Lord's command a member of a group of prophets ordered a fellow prophet to hit him. But he refused, 36 so he said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord's command, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And as soon as he left, a lion came along and killed him.
37 Then this same prophet went to another man and said, “Hit me!” This man did so; he hit him a hard blow and hurt him. 38 The prophet bandaged his face with a cloth, to disguise himself, and went and stood by the road, waiting for the king of Israel to pass. 39 As the king was passing by, the prophet called out to him and said, “Your Majesty, I was fighting in the battle when a soldier brought a captured enemy to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if he escapes, you will pay for it with your life or else pay a fine of three thousand pieces of silver.’ 40 But I got busy with other things, and the man escaped.”
The king answered, “You have pronounced your own sentence, and you will have to pay the penalty.”
41 The prophet tore the cloth from his face, and at once the king recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 The prophet then said to the king, “This is the word of the Lord: ‘Because you allowed the man to escape whom I had ordered to be killed, you will pay for it with your life, and your army will be destroyed for letting his army escape.’”
43 The king went back home to Samaria, worried and depressed.
