15. So Ahab counted the young men of the provincial leaders, and there were 232. After them he counted all the Israelite troops: 7,000.
16. They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings who were helping him were getting drunk in the tents.
17. The young men of the provincial leaders marched out first. Then Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, saying, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”
18. So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”
19. The young men of the provincial leaders and the army behind them marched out from the city,
20. and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry.
21. Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the cavalry and the chariots. He inflicted a great slaughter on Aram.
22. The prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go and strengthen yourself, then consider what you should do, for in the spring the king of Aram will march against you.”
23. Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country. That’s why they were stronger than we were. Instead, we should fight with them on the plain; then we will certainly be stronger than they will be.
24. Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place.