וּבֶן־הֲדַד מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָם קָבַץ אֶת־כָּל־חֵילוֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁנַיִם מֶלֶךְ אִתּוֹ וְסוּס וָרָכֶב וַיַּעַל וַיָּצַר עַל־שֹׁמְרוֹן וַיִּלָּחֶם בָּהּ

Ben Hadad king of Aram gathered his entire army, and thirty-two kings, probably princes of smaller areas or local chieftains, were with him, and horses and chariots; he went up and besieged Samaria, he encamped next to Samaria and planned to besiege it (see verse 12), and made war against it. This large military force descended from Damascus through the Galilee to Samaria and prepared for a massive attack against the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. Perhaps the damaging effect of the harsh famine over the previous few years prevented Ahav from responding forcefully against the armed coalition of Ben Hadad.

וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל־אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל הָעִירָה

He, Ben Hadad, sent messengers to Ahav king of Israel, to the embattled city of Samaria,

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כֹּה אָמַר בֶּן־הֲדַד כַּסְפְּךָ וּזְהָבְךָ לִי־הוּא וְנָשֶׁיךָ וּבָנֶיךָ הַטּוֹבִים לִי־הֵם

and said to him: So said Ben Hadad: Your silver and your gold is mine, and your best wives and children are mine. You must give me all your property and even your family members. These are the conditions of surrender that I am dictating to you.

וַיַּעַן מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ לְךָ אֲנִי וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לִי

The king of Israel answered and he said: In accordance with your word, my lord the king: I am yours, and everything that is mine. I surrender.

וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֹּה־אָמַר בֶּן־הֲדַד לֵאמֹר כִּי־שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר כַּסְפְּךָ וּזְהָבְךָ וְנָשֶׁיךָ וּבָנֶיךָ לִי תִתֵּן

The messengers of Ben Hadad returned, and they said: So said Ben Hadad, stating: For I have sent to you, saying: Your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children you shall give me. Do not think that you have the right to choose what is given to me.

כִּי אִם־כָּעֵת מָחָר אֶשְׁלַח אֶת־עֲבָדַי אֵלֶיךָ וְחִפְּשׂוּ אֶת־בֵּיתְךָ וְאֵת בָּתֵּי עֲבָדֶיךָ וְהָיָה כָּל־מַחְמַד עֵינֶיךָ יָשִׂימוּ בְיָדָם וְלָקָחוּ

For at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. I will conduct myself in your palace as if I were the ruler. I will not wait for you to hand over your possessions and your people; I will send my messengers to take whatever I want. It shall be that everything precious in your eyes, your most valuable items, they will place in their hand and take away.

וַיִּקְרָא מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכָל־זִקְנֵי הָאָרֶץ וַיֹּאמֶר דְּעוּ־נָא וּרְאוּ כִּי רָעָה זֶה מְבַקֵּשׁ כִּי־שָׁלַח אֵלַי לְנָשַׁי וּלְבָנַי וּלְכַסְפִּי וְלִזְהָבִי וְלֹא מָנַעְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ

The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and related to them the exchange with Ben Hadad, and he said: Know now and see that this one seeks harm, for he sent to me for my wives, for my children, for my silver, and for my gold, and I did not withhold from him all of these, but now he has imposed an additional demand. The law did not compel Ahav to consult with the elders; he did so of his own accord, as he wished to receive their support for the important decision ahead of him.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו כָּל־הַזְּקֵנִים וְכָל־הָעָם אַל־תִּשְׁמַע וְלוֹא תֹאבֶה

All the elders and all the people said to him: What you have already agreed to is not our issue, as that concerns your possessions and family alone, but regarding his second demand, do not heed and do not consent. The fact that both the elders and the people refused to give over the item referred to by Ben Hadad as “precious in your eyes” attests that this was the most precious item in the eyes of the people, and they were prepared to give their lives for it.

וַיֹּאמֶר לְמַלְאֲכֵי בֶן־הֲדַד אִמְרוּ לַאדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַחְתָּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ בָרִאשֹׁנָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וְהַדָּבָר הַזֶּה לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת וַיֵּלְכוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים וַיְשִׁבֻהוּ דָּבָר

He said to the messengers of Ben Hadad: Tell my lord the king: Everything, all the demands, that you sent to your servant initially I will do, but this matter I am unable to do. The messengers went to the king of Aram, and they returned word to him, the response of Ahav.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אֵלָיו בֶּן־הֲדַד וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־יַעֲשׂוּן לִי אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִפוּ אִם־יִשְׂפֹּק עֲפַר שֹׁמְרוֹן לִשְׁעָלִים לְכָל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלָי

Ben Hadad sent to him and said: So may the gods do and so may they continue, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for the footsteps for all the people who follow me. I swear that all of the dust of Samaria will not be sufficient for the footsteps of my soldiers. Samaria is only a small and insignificant city, while my army is large and powerful.

וַיַּעַן מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר דַּבְּרוּ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּל חֹגֵר כִּמְפַתֵּחַ

The king of Israel answered and said: Speak to Ben Hadad: Let not one who arms himself when going off to battle boast like one who unfastens his weapons after returning from victory. Do not be so arrogant before you have won the war.

וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְהוּא שֹׁתֶה הוּא וְהַמְּלָכִים בַּסֻּכּוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו שִׂימוּ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עַל־הָעִיר

It was when he, Ben Hadad, heard this statement, and he was drinking, he and the kings with whom he was allied, in the booths of the army encamped outside of the city; he said to his servants: Beset. Begin the siege on the city; build walls and raise battering rams. And they beset the city.

וְהִנֵּה נָבִיא אֶחָד נִגַּשׁ אֶל־אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה אָמַר ה' הֲרָאִיתָ אֵת כָּל־הֶהָמוֹן הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה הִנְנִי נֹתְנוֹ בְיָדְךָ הַיּוֹם וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי־אֲנִי ה'

And behold, a prophet approached Ahav king of Israel. Apparently, some prophets had survived the attempt to murder them previously. Perhaps they were among those who were hidden in the cave (see 18:4). However, in the current tense situation, the prophet understood that there was no need to fear Ahav. And the prophet said: So said the Lord: Have you seen this entire great horde? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you will know that I am the Lord.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַחְאָב בְּמִי וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־אָמַר ה' בְּנַעֲרֵי שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר מִי־יֶאְסֹר הַמִּלְחָמָה וַיֹּאמֶר אָתָּה

Ahav said: With whom? With the assistance of which army will I accomplish this? He said: So said the Lord: With the young princes of the dominions. This was a group of young princes who came from various nations under Ahav’s rule. These princes had been raised together by Ahav in order to serve as guarantors that their parents would conduct themselves properly vis-à-vis the kingdom. These young men, who had been taken to Samaria against their will, eventually began to identify with Ahav and even stood by his side at times of distress. He, Ahav, said: Who will lead the battle? Who will be their commanding officer? He said: You shall go out to battle at the head of their force.

וַיִּפְקֹד אֶת־נַעֲרֵי שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת וַיִּהְיוּ מָאתַיִם שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶם פָּקַד אֶת־כָּל־הָעָם כָּל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים

He counted the young princes of the dominions, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them he counted all the people, all the children of Israel who were fit for combat, and there were seven thousand, as Samaria was not a large city.

וַיֵּצְאוּ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם וּבֶן־הֲדַד שֹׁתֶה שִׁכּוֹר בַּסֻּכּוֹת הוּא וְהַמְּלָכִים שְׁלֹשִׁים־וּשְׁנַיִם מֶלֶךְ עֹזֵר אֹתוֹ

They emerged at noon, and Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths. Given the disproportionate size of the forces at his disposal, he was confident in his ability to achieve victory and allowed himself to become drunk, both he and the kings, thirty-two kings helping him. They did not pay attention to the progress of the siege, but rather arranged a drinking celebration in the middle of the day.

וַיֵּצְאוּ נַעֲרֵי שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת בָּרִאשֹׁנָה וַיִּשְׁלַח בֶּן־הֲדַד וַיַּגִּידוּ לוֹ לֵאמֹר אֲנָשִׁים יָצְאוּ מִשֹּׁמְרוֹן

The young princes of the dominions emerged first, as a separate military unit. Ben Hadad sent out messengers to determine what was happening, and they told him, saying: Men have emerged from Samaria. However, it is uncertain what their objective is, as they do not comprise a full military force.

וַיֹּאמֶר אִם־לְשָׁלוֹם יָצָאוּ תִּפְשׂוּם חַיִּים וְאִם לְמִלְחָמָה יָצָאוּ חַיִּים תִּפְשׂוּם

He, Ben Hadad, who was drunk and quite indifferent to this development, said: If they have emerged for peace, to surrender and be taken captive, seize them alive, and if they have emerged for war, alive you shall seize them. Either way, you can take control of such a small group, and a battle will not be necessary. Ben Hadad was entirely unconcerned. After Ahav’s submissive statements, he was confident that he would ultimately conquer the city.

וְאֵלֶּה יָצְאוּ מִן־הָעִיר נַעֲרֵי שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת וְהַחַיִל אֲשֶׁר אַחֲרֵיהֶם

These emerged from the city, the young princes of the dominions and the seven thousand men of the army that was behind them.

וַיַּכּוּ אִישׁ אִישׁוֹ וַיָּנֻסוּ אֲרָם וַיִּרְדְּפֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּמָּלֵט בֶּן־הֲדַד מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם עַל־סוּס וּפָרָשִׁים

The Israelite men went out to battle with passion and determination. Each man smote his counterpart. Each of the soldiers succeeded in killing the Aramean soldier standing opposite him, and once several hundred Aramean soldiers had been killed and the remainder did not know how to respond, Aram fled and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen, as he had not realized he was being attacked, and he was therefore unprepared for battle.

וַיֵּצֵא מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּךְ אֶת־הַסּוּס וְאֶת־הָרָכֶב וְהִכָּה בַאֲרָם מַכָּה גְדוֹלָה

The king of Israel emerged with the military, and he smote the horses and chariots, and he smote Aram a great blow. Once their king fled, the Aramean camp was left confused and desperate. Ahav and his men then fought with intensity and handed Aram a severe defeat.

וַיִּגַּשׁ הַנָּבִיא אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ לֵךְ הִתְחַזַּק וְדַע וּרְאֵה אֵת אֲשֶׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂה כִּי לִתְשׁוּבַת הַשָּׁנָה מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם עֹלֶה עָלֶיךָ

The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him: Although you have caused the Arameans to flee this time, you have not defeated them decisively. Go, strengthen yourself, and know and see that which you shall do, as at the turn of the year, next year, the king of Aram will come up against you a second time. Wars were generally fought beginning in the spring due to the more suitable weather conditions at that time of year.

וְעַבְדֵי מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָם אָמְרוּ אֵלָיו אֱלֹהֵי הָרִים אֱלֹהֵיהֶם עַל־כֵּן חָזְקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְאוּלָם נִלָּחֵם אִתָּם בַּמִּישׁוֹר אִם־לֹא נֶחֱזַק מֵהֶם

The servants of the king of Aram said to him: Their god is a god of highlands; therefore, they overpowered us. Since we came to the hills, where the God of Israel rules, we were defeated in battle. However, let us make war with them in the plain, where we are accustomed to doing battle, and then surely we will overpower them. In addition, you did not sufficiently prepare for combat. You have amassed all of these kings to fight with you, but it seems that they are unmotivated to fight. In addition, each one is officially an independent king with his own force. Too many individual units consolidated into one army will not result in an organized, efficient fighting force.

וְאֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה עֲשֵׂה הָסֵר הַמְּלָכִים אִישׁ מִמְּקֹמוֹ וְשִׂים פַּחוֹת תַּחְתֵּיהֶם

Instead of assembling your army from foreign units, you must tighten your own rule. And therefore do this thing: Remove the kings, each man from his place, and appoint governors in their place.

וְאַתָּה תִמְנֶה־לְּךָ חַיִל כַּחַיִל הַנֹּפֵל מֵאוֹתָךְ וְסוּס כַּסּוּס וְרֶכֶב כָּרֶכֶב וְנִלָּחֲמָה אוֹתָם בַּמִּישׁוֹר אִם־לֹא נֶחֱזַק מֵהֶם וַיִּשְׁמַע לְקֹלָם וַיַּעַשׂ כֵּן

Muster an army for yourself, like the army that has fallen from you, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Establish a replacement army whose size is identical to the size of the one that fell in the previous battle. And we will make war with them in the plain; surely, we will overpower them. He, Ben Hadad, heeded their voice, and he did so. He restructured his army somewhat, tightened his rule over the kingdom, and prepared for another round of battle.

וַיְהִי לִתְשׁוּבַת הַשָּׁנָה וַיִּפְקֹד בֶּן־הֲדַד אֶת־אֲרָם וַיַּעַל אֲפֵקָה לַמִּלְחָמָה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵל

It was at the turn of the year, when a year had passed, and Ben Hadad counted Aram, and went up to Afek, which was on level ground, where it was easier to conduct a battle, for war with Israel, and summoned the king of Israel to battle.

ובְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָתְפָּקְדוּ וְכָלְכְּלוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ לִקְרָאתָם וַיַּחֲנוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶגְדָּם כִּשְׁנֵי חֲשִׂפֵי עִזִּים ואֲרָם מִלְאוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ

The children of Israel were also mobilized and the soldiers were provisioned, they received the supplies and arms necessary for battle, and they went toward them. The children of Israel encamped opposite them, and their size was only like the grazings of two flocks of goats, that is, the size of land exposed by two flocks of goats after they have grazed, and Aram filled the land.

וַיִּגַּשׁ אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־אָמַר ה' יַעַן אֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ אֲרָם אֱלֹהֵי הָרִים ה' וְלֹא־אֱלֹהֵי עֲמָקִים הוּא וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־כָּל־הֶהָמוֹן הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה בְּיָדֶךָ וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי ה'

The man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, and he said: So said the Lord: Because Aram said: The Lord is a god of highlands, but He is not a god of valleys, I will deliver this entire great horde into your hand, and you will know that I am the Lord.

וַיַּחֲנוּ אֵלֶּה נֹכַח־אֵלֶּה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַתִּקְרַב הַמִּלְחָמָה וַיַּכּוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־אֲרָם מֵאָה־אֶלֶף רַגְלִי בְּיוֹם אֶחָד

They encamped one facing the other for seven days without fighting. Meanwhile, each side attempted to establish a better starting position. It was on the seventh day that the battle was joined, that it broke out, and the children of Israel smote Aram, one hundred thousand infantry soldiers in one day, delivering them a harsh blow.

וַיָּנֻסוּ הַנּוֹתָרִים אֲפֵקָה אֶל־הָעִיר וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה עַל־עֶשְׂרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֶלֶף אִישׁ הַנּוֹתָרִים וּבֶן־הֲדַד נָס וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הָעִיר חֶדֶר בְּחָדֶר

The remainder of the Aramean military fled to Afek, into the city, and the wall fell upon the twenty-seven thousand Aramean men who remained. Ben Hadad fled, and he came to the city, into a room within a room. He was aware that he had lost the war as well as his army, and that soon Ahav, the victorious king, would arrive.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו עֲבָדָיו הִנֵּה־נָא שָׁמַעְנוּ כִּי מַלְכֵי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי־מַלְכֵי חֶסֶד הֵם נָשִׂימָה נָּא שַׂקִּים בְּמָתְנֵינוּ וַחֲבָלִים בְּרֹאשֵׁנוּ וְנֵצֵא אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוּלַי יְחַיֶּה אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ

His servants said to him: Behold now, we have heard of the kings of the house of Israel that they have a good reputation, as they are merciful kings. Their hearts are soft even in the midst of war. Therefore, please let us put sackcloth around our waists as a sign of mourning or surrender, as though we are captives, and ropes on our heads, like servants ready to serve as porters, as those who carry heavy loads tie ropes on their heads. Alternatively, they would place nooses around their necks to symbolize their surrender. And we will come out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will forgive you and spare your life when he sees our surrender.

וַיַּחְגְּרוּ שַׂקִּים בְּמָתְנֵיהֶם וַחֲבָלִים בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶם וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַבְדְּךָ בֶן־הֲדַד אָמַר תְּחִי־נָא נַפְשִׁי וַיֹּאמֶר הַעוֹדֶנּוּ חַי אָחִי הוּא

They girded sackcloth on their loins and placed ropes around their waists, and came to the king of Israel, and said: Your servant Ben Hadad says: Please, spare my life. He requested that they have mercy on him and not kill him. Following the glorious victory over Aram, Ahav was in a jovial mood. He said: Is he still alive? The king also should have died during the pandemonium of the battle. He is my brother.

וְהָאֲנָשִׁים יְנַחֲשׁוּ וַיְמַהֲרוּ וַיַּחְלְטוּ הֲמִמֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אָחִיךָ בֶן־הֲדַד וַיֹּאמֶר בֹּאוּ קָחֻהוּ וַיֵּצֵא אֵלָיו בֶּן־הֲדַד וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ עַל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָה

The men of Ben Hadad took it as a sign, they understood it as an affirmative response to their request, and they quickly insisted on clarifying: Is it from him? Did Ahav really mean what he said? They said: Your brother is Ben Hadad. He too feels like he is your brother. He, Ahav, said: Come, take him to me. Since Ahav did not declare that he planned to punish him, Ben Hadad came out to him, and he, Ahav, took him up onto the chariot. Ahav invited the broken, submissive Ben Hadad to ascend his chariot and treated him as a king. Ahav was in such good spirits that he treated the enemy king with the trappings of nobility.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר־לָקַח־אָבִי מֵאֵת אָבִיךָ אָשִׁיב וְחֻצוֹת תָּשִׂים לְךָ בְדַמֶּשֶׂק כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׂם אָבִי בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן וַאֲנִי בַּבְּרִית אֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּ וַיִּכְרָת־לוֹ בְרִית וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ

He, Ben Hadad, said to him: I will return the cities that my father conquered and took from your father, and you will set for yourself streets in Damascus, as my father set in Samaria. In other words, Ben Hadad promised that Ahav could establish free trade rights in Damascus, just as the previous Aramean king had compelled Samaria to allow Arameans to engage in commerce there without restrictions. And I, Ahav responded, with the covenant that we establish, will release you, so that our positive relations will be maintained in the future as well. He established a covenant with him, and Ahav accepted Ben Hadad’s suggestion, and he released him. Ahav defeated the army of Aram and emerged from the war with the clear upper hand. Nevertheless, there was no comparison between this treaty and the demeaning conditions that Ben Hadad had dictated to Ahav just a year earlier, before Israel had been victorious.

וְאִישׁ אֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אָמַר אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ בִּדְבַר ה' הַכֵּינִי נָא וַיְמָאֵן הָאִישׁ לְהַכֹּתוֹ

One man of the disciples of the prophets, those training to become prophets, said to his colleague by the word of the Lord: Please strike me. The man refused to strike him, as they were close friends.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יַעַן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹל ה'הִנְּךָ הוֹלֵךְ מֵאִתִּי וְהִכְּךָ הָאַרְיֵה וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאֶצְלוֹ וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ הָאַרְיֵה וַיַּכֵּהוּ

He said to him: Because you did not heed the voice of the Lord, who commanded that you strike me, behold, you are going from me, and a lion will smite you. He went from him, and a lion found him and smote him.

וַיִּמְצָא אִישׁ אַחֵר וַיֹּאמֶר הַכֵּינִי נָא וַיַּכֵּהוּ הָאִישׁ הַכֵּה וּפָצֹעַ

He, the man who was one of the disciples of the prophets, found another man, and he said to him: Please strike me. The man struck him. He responded affirmatively to his request and hit him with a harsh blow, striking and wounding him.

וַיֵּלֶךְ הַנָּבִיא וַיַּעֲמֹד לַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־הַדָּרֶךְ וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ בָּאֲפֵר עַל־עֵינָיו

The prophet went, and he stood for the king, Ahav, on the way along which he was traveling, and he disguised himself with a scarf, similar to a veil, over his eyes, so that the king would not recognize him. Although the prophets were generally distinguishable by their clothing, he covered his eyes so that it was impossible to identify him.

וַיְהִי הַמֶּלֶךְ עֹבֵר וְהוּא צָעַק אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר עַבְדְּךָ יָצָא בְקֶרֶב־הַמִּלְחָמָה וְהִנֵּה־אִישׁ סָר וַיָּבֵא אֵלַי אִישׁ וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמֹר אֶת־הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה אִם־הִפָּקֵד יִפָּקֵד וְהָיְתָה נַפְשְׁךָ תַּחַת נַפְשׁוֹ אוֹ כִכַּר־כֶּסֶף תִּשְׁקוֹל

The king was passing, and he cried to the king, who was considered to be the supreme judge of the country, and he said: I, your servant, went out in the midst of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside to me, and he brought a man to me and said: Guard this man whom I have taken captive, and you are hereby responsible for him. If he will be missing, your life will be for his life, I will kill you, or you will weigh out, pay, a talent of silver, a sum much higher than the price of a servant.

וַיְהִי עַבְדְּךָ עֹשֵׂה הֵנָּה וָהֵנָּה וְהוּא אֵינֶנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל כֵּן מִשְׁפָּטֶךָ אַתָּה חָרָצְתָּ

I, your servant, was busy here and there, while I was attending to my own affairs, and he was gone. What should I do now? I do not wish to be killed, and I do not have sufficient funds to pay the penalty. The king of Israel said to him: So is your judgment; you decided it. You do not deny the conditions of the agreement, and you admit that you have not properly fulfilled your responsibility. Therefore, you must suffer the consequences.

וַיְמַהֵר וַיָּסַר אֶת־הָאֲפֵר מֵעֲלֵ עֵינָיו וַיַּכֵּר אֹתוֹ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי מֵהַנְּבִיאִים הוּא

He, the prophet, hastened, and he removed the scarf from over his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him that he was from the prophets. Perhaps this was the same prophet who had previously come to him (verses 13, 28), and therefore he recognized him.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר ה' יַעַן שִׁלַּחְתָּ אֶת־אִישׁ־חֶרְמִי מִיָּד וְהָיְתָה נַפְשְׁךָ תַּחַת נַפְשׁוֹ וְעַמְּךָ תַּחַת עַמּוֹ

He, the prophet, said to him: So said the Lord: Because you released the man of My proscription from your hand, My enemy, the king of Aram, who was supposed to die, therefore your life will be for his life, and your people for his people. You are the man responsible for the captive; instead of guarding your captive, you set him free, and you must pay for it with your life.

וַיֵּלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל בֵּיתוֹ סַר וְזָעֵף וַיָּבֹא שֹׁמְרוֹנָה

The king of Israel went to his house troubled and furious, and he came to Samaria. His mood changed from when he first set out. He was pained by the rebuke of the prophet, which he had been compelled to agree with, as it reminded him that the victory had not occurred due to his own might. God had given the king of Aram into his hand, while Ahav treated the foreign and vicious king as if he were a close friend.