Ben-Hadad of Syria, together with a confederation of 32 kings, besieged Samaria capital of Israel and demanded their silver, gold, best women and children. Ahab initially agrees but then changes his mind and a battle ensues which Israel wins miraculously despite being completely outmanned. However Ben-Hadad escaped together with some horsemen and a prophet warned Ahab to get prepared because in the spring the Arameans would be back. When this happened God again gave Israel the victory killing 100,000 Syrians followed by the death of a further 27,000 when the city of Aphek wall fell on them! Then Ahab made a treaty with Ben-Hadad and let him go. Following this a prophet tried to get a man to hit him, but when he refused a lion killed him as a result. Then another man did strike him and so he could approach Ahab disguised by bandages. The prophet proceeded to condemn Ahab for having set free Ben-Hadad against God's command.
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