Study Desk

And the elders and the people all said, "Do not listen to him or consent to his terms."

And the king of Israel replied, "Tell him: 'The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.'"

Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, "Take your positions." So they stationed themselves against the city.

and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, "Yes, your brother Ben-hadad." "Go and get him!" said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, "Strike me, please!" But the man refused to strike him.

and the prophet went and waited on the road for the king, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.

As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: "Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, 'Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.'

Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

And the prophet said to the king, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.'"

So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

Soon his wife Jezebel came in and asked, "Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat?"

But his wife Jezebel said to him, "Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

Tell him that this is what the LORD says: 'Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?' Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: 'In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood-yes, yours!'"

(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.

"Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son."

who said to his servants, "Do you not know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?"

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once."