1. BEN-HADAD KING of Syria gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, warring against it.
2. He sent messengers into Samaria to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, Thus says Ben-hadad:
3. Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives and your children, even the fairest, also are mine.
4. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to what you say, I am yours, and all that I have.
5. The messengers came again and said, Thus says Ben-hadad: Although I have sent to you, saying, You shall deliver to me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children–
6. Yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants; and all the desire of your eyes they shall lay hands upon and take it away.
7. Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Notice now and see how this man is seeking our destruction. He sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.
8. And all the elders and all the people said to him, Do not heed him or consent.