12. And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
13. And, behold, a prophet came near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold; I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
14. And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15. Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16. And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17. And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria.
18. And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19. So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
20. And they slew every one his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with horsemen.
21. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22. And the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23. And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24. And do this thing; take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room:
25. and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26. And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27. And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.