17
And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first. And Benhadad had sent out men who warned him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
18
Then he said, If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.
19
So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army followed after them.
20
And each one smote the man that came against him; and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them. And Benhadad, the king of Syria, escaped on a horse with some of the horsemen.
21
And the king of Israel went out and smote the horsemen and the chariots and smote the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22
And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and consider, and see what thou must do, for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23
And the slaves of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods
are gods of the mountains; therefore, they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24
Therefore, do this: Remove the kings from their positions and put captains in their place.
25
And prepare another army like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot; then 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 Benhadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27
And the sons of Israel were numbered and took provisions and went against them; and the sons of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the land.