1 Kings 20:32-43 ▼

32 And they wore sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, and they came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let my soul live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 And the men were watching closely, and they quickly grasped it from him and said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” And he said, “Go, bring him.” And Ben-hadad came out to him, and he had him come up into the chariot.

34 And he said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father, I will restore, and you may set up streets for yourself in Damascus as my father set up in Samaria. And I will send you away by the covenant.” And he made with him a covenant and sent him away.

35 And a man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the word of YHWH, “Strike me, please.” And the man refused to strike him.

36 And he said to him, “Because that you have not obeyed the voice of YHWH, surely as soon as you depart from me, a lion will strike you.” And he left him, and a lion found him and struck him.

37 And he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him, striking and wounding.

38 And the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and he disguised himself with the covering over his eyes.

39 And it came to pass, as the king was passing by, that 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 to me a man, and he said, ‘Guard this man. If he goes missing for any reason, then your life will be in place of his life, or else a talent of silver you must weigh out.’

40 And it came to pass that your servant working here and there, and he was not there.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So is your judgment; you have determined.”

41 And he hurried and turned aside the covering from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him, that he was one of the prophets.

42 And he said to him, “Thus says YHWH, ‘Because you have sent away a man I had devoted to destruction, out of the hand your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’”

43 And the king of Israel went to his house, sullen and angry, and he came to Samaria.