16. At noon Ben-Hadad and the 32 rulers helping him were getting drunk in their tents. At this time Ahab attacked them.
17. The young officers of the district governors attacked first.Ben-Hadad’s scouts told him that soldiers were coming from Samaria.
18. So Ben-Hadad said, “They may be coming to fight. Or they may be coming to ask for peace. In either case capture them alive.”
19. The young officers of the district governors led the attack. The army of Israel followed them.
20. Then each officer of Israel killed the man who came against him. So the men from Aram ran away as Israel chased them. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with some of his horsemen.
21. Ahab king of Israel led the army. He captured the Arameans’ horses and chariots. So King Ahab caused a great defeat of the Aramean army.
22. Then the prophet went to Ahab king of Israel and said, “The king of Aram will attack you again next spring. So you should go home now and make your army stronger. Make plans to defend yourself.”