9. Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I cannot do.’”The messengers departed, and brought him back the message.
10. Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
11. The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’”
12. When Ben Hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, he said to his servants, “Prepare to attack!” They prepared to attack the city.
13. Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “the Lord says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
14. Ahab said, “By whom?”He said, “the Lord says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’”Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?”He answered, “You.”
15. Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16. They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.