Study Desk

Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab, king of Israel, and said to him, "This is what Ben-hadad says:

'Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.'"

And the king of Israel replied, "As ^(F1)you say, my lord, O king; I am yours, as well as all that I have."

Then the messengers returned and said, "Ben-hadad says ^(F1)this: 'I did indeed send word to you, saying, "You shall give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children";

but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and they will take in their hands everything that is pleasing to your eyes, and take it all away.'"

Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, "Please be aware and ^(C1)see that this man is looking for trouble; for he sent me his demand for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him."

Then all the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen nor consent."

So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, "Tell my lord the king, 'Everything that you sent as a demand to your servant at the first, I will do; but this thing I cannot do.'" Then the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

Ben-hadad sent word to him and said, "May ^(C1)the gods do so to me and more so, ^(F1)if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who ^(F2)follow me."

Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, '^(C1)He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off.'"