16. At noon they marched for battle. Meanwhile, Ben-hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were getting drunk in their tents.
17. The servants of the district officials were at the head of the march. Ben-hadad sent for information and was told, "Some men have marched out of Samaria."
18. He said, "If they have come out in peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive as well."
19. So the servants of the district governors with the army behind them marched out from the city.
20. Each one struck down his opponent, so that the Arameans fled. Israel chased after them. Ben-hadad, Aram’s king, escaped with some horses and chariots.
21. Israel’s king went out and attacked the horses and chariots. He attacked the Arameans with a fierce assault.
22. The prophet came to Israel’s king and said to him, "Maintain your strength! Know and understand that at the turn of the coming year, Aram’s king will attack you again."
23. The officers of Aram’s king said to him, "Israel’s god is a god of the mountains. That’s why they were stronger than us. But if we fight them on the plains, we will certainly be stronger than they are.
24. This is what you need to do: Remove the kings from their military posts and appoint officials in their place.
25. Then raise another army like the one that was destroyed, with horses like those horses and chariots like those chariots. Then we will fight them on the plains, and we will certainly be stronger than they are." The king took their advice and followed it.