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1. King Ben-Hadad of Aram gathered his army together. There were 32 kings with him and many horses and chariots. They surrounded Samaria and attacked it.
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1. And Ben H1130 -hadad the king H4428 of Syria H758 gathered all his host together H6908 H853 H3605 H2428 : and there were thirty H7970 and two H8147 kings H4428 with H854 him , and horses H5483 , and chariots H7393 : and he went up H5927 and besieged H6696 H5921 Samaria H8111 , and warred H3898 against it.
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2. The king sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel who was inside the city.
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2. And he sent H7971 messengers H4397 to H413 Ahab H256 king H4428 of Israel H3478 into the city H5892 , and said H559 unto him, Thus H3541 saith H559 Ben H1130 -hadad,
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3. This was the message: "Ben-Hadad says, 'Your silver and your gold are mine, and so are of your wives and children.'"
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3. Thy silver H3701 and thy gold H2091 is mine ; thy wives H802 also and thy children H1121 , even the goodliest H2896 , are mine.
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4. The king of Israel answered, "Yes, my lord and king, I am yours now, and everything I have belongs to you."
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4. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 answered H6030 and said H559 , My lord H113 , O king H4428 , according to thy saying H1697 , I H589 am thine , and all H3605 that H834 I have.
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5. Then the messengers came back to Ahab. They said, "Ben-Hadad says, 'I told you before that all of your silver and gold and your wives and children belong to me. So give them to me!
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5. And the messengers H4397 came again H7725 , and said H559 , Thus H3541 speaketh H559 Ben H1130 -hadad, saying H559 , Although H3588 I have sent H7971 unto H413 thee, saying H559 , Thou shalt deliver H5414 me thy silver H3701 , and thy gold H2091 , and thy wives H802 , and thy children H1121 ;
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6. Tomorrow I will send my men to search through your house and through the houses of your officials. Give my men all of your valuables, and they will bring them back to me.'"
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6. Yet H3588 I will send H7971 H853 my servants H5650 unto H413 thee tomorrow H4279 about H518 this time H6256 , and they shall search H2664 H853 thine house H1004 , and the houses H1004 of thy servants H5650 ; and it shall be H1961 , that whatsoever H3605 is pleasant H4261 in thine eyes H5869 , they shall put H7760 it in their hand H3027 , and take it away H3947 .
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7. So King Ahab called a meeting of all the elders of his country and said, "Look, Ben-Hadad is looking for trouble. First he told me that I must give him my wives and children and my silver and gold. I agreed to give them to him."
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7. Then the king H4428 of Israel H3478 called H7121 all H3605 the elders H2205 of the land H776 , and said H559 , Mark H3045 , I pray you H4994 , and see H7200 how H3588 this H2088 man seeketh H1245 mischief H7451 : for H3588 he sent H7971 unto H413 me for my wives H802 , and for my children H1121 , and for my silver H3701 , and for my gold H2091 ; and I denied H4513 H4480 him not H3808 .
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8. But the elders and all the people said, "Don't obey him or do what he says."
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8. And all H3605 the elders H2205 and all H3605 the people H5971 said H559 unto H413 him, Hearken H8085 not H408 unto him , nor H3808 consent H14 .
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9. So Ahab sent a message to Ben-Hadad that said, "I will do what you said at first, but I cannot obey your second command." King Ben-Hadad's men carried the message to the king.
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9. Wherefore he said H559 unto the messengers H4397 of Ben H1130 -hadad, Tell H559 my lord H113 the king H4428 , All H3605 that H834 thou didst send H7971 for to H413 thy servant H5650 at the first H7223 I will do H6213 : but this H2088 thing H1697 I may H3201 not H3808 do H6213 . And the messengers H4397 departed H1980 , and brought H7725 him word H1697 again.
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10. Then they came back with another message from Ben-Hadad that said, "I will completely destroy Samaria. I promise that there will be nothing left of that city! There will not be enough of that city left for my men to find any souvenirs to take home. May the gods destroy me if I don't do this!"
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10. And Ben H1130 -hadad sent H7971 unto H413 him , and said H559 , The gods H430 do H6213 so H3541 unto me , and more H3254 also H3541 , if H518 the dust H6083 of Samaria H8111 shall suffice H5606 for handfuls H8168 for all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 follow H7272 me.
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11. King Ahab answered, "Tell Ben-Hadad that the man who puts on his armor should not boast as much as the man who lives long enough to take it off."
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11. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 answered H6030 and said H559 , Tell H1696 him , Let not H408 him that girdeth H2296 on his harness boast himself H1984 as he that putteth it off H6605 .
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12. King Ben-Hadad was drinking in his tent with the other rulers when the messengers came back and gave him the message from King Ahab. King Ben-Hadad commanded his men to prepare to attack the city, so the men moved into their places for the battle.
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12. And it came to pass H1961 , when Ben-hadad heard H8085 H853 this H2088 message H1697 , as he H1931 was drinking H8354 , he H1931 and the kings H4428 in the pavilions H5521 , that he said H559 unto H413 his servants H5650 , Set H7760 yourselves in array . And they set H7760 themselves in array against H5921 the city H5892 .
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13. Then a prophet went to King Ahab and said, "King Ahab, the Lord says to you, 'Do you see that great army? I, the Lord, will defeat that army for you today. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'"
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13. And, behold H2009 , there came H5066 a H259 prophet H5030 unto H413 Ahab H256 king H4428 of Israel H3478 , saying H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , Hast thou seen H7200 H853 all H3605 this H2088 great H1419 multitude H1995 ? behold H2009 , I will deliver H5414 it into thine hand H3027 this day H3117 ; and thou shalt know H3045 that H3588 I H589 am the LORD H3068 .
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14. Ahab said, "Who will you use to defeat them?" The prophet answered, "The Lord says, 'The young men who carry the weapons for the government officials.'" Then the king asked, "Who should command the main army?" The prophet answered, "You will."
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14. And Ahab H256 said H559 , By whom H4310 ? And he said H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , Even by the young men H5288 of the princes H8269 of the provinces H4082 . Then he said H559 , Who H4310 shall order H631 the battle H4421 ? And he answered H559 , Thou H859 .
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15. So Ahab gathered the young helpers of the government officials. There were 232 of these young men. Then the king called together the army of Israel. The total number was 7000.
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15. Then he numbered H6485 H853 the young men H5288 of the princes H8269 of the provinces H4082 , and they were H1961 two hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 two H8147 : and after H310 them he numbered H6485 H853 all H3605 the people H5971 , even all H3605 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , being seven H7651 thousand H505 .
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16. King Ahab began his attack at noon, while King Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings were drinking and getting drunk in their tents.
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16. And they went out H3318 at noon H6672 . But Ben H1130 -hadad was drinking H8354 himself drunk H7910 in the pavilions H5521 , he H1931 and the kings H4428 , the thirty H7970 and two H8147 kings H4428 that helped H5826 him.
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17. The young helpers went out first. King Ben-Hadad's men told him that some soldiers had come out of Samaria.
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17. And the young men H5288 of the princes H8269 of the provinces H4082 went out H3318 first H7223 ; and Ben H1130 -hadad sent out H7971 , and they told H5046 him, saying H559 , There are men H376 come out H3318 of Samaria H4480 H8111 .
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18. So Ben-Hadad said, "They might be coming to fight or they might be coming to ask for peace. Capture them alive."
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18. And he said H559 , Whether H518 they be come out H3318 for peace H7965 , take H8610 them alive H2416 ; or whether H518 they be come out H3318 for war H4421 , take H8610 them alive H2416 .
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19. The young men of King Ahab were the first to come out, but the rest of the army of Israel was following them.
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19. So these H428 young men H5288 of the princes H8269 of the provinces H4082 came out H3318 of H4480 the city H5892 , and the army H2428 which H834 followed H310 them.
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20. Each of the men of Israel killed the man who had come against him. So the men from Aram began to run away and the army of Israel chased them. King Ben-Hadad escaped on a horse with the chariots.
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20. And they slew H5221 every one H376 his man H376 : and the Syrians H758 fled H5127 ; and Israel H3478 pursued H7291 them : and Ben H1130 -hadad the king H4428 of Syria H758 escaped H4422 on H5921 a horse H5483 with the horsemen H6571 .
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21. King Ahab led the army and attacked all the horses and chariots. So King Ahab made the Arameans suffer a great defeat.
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21. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 , and smote H5221 H853 the horses H5483 and chariots H7393 , and slew H5221 the Syrians H758 with a great H1419 slaughter H4347 .
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22. Then the prophet went to King Ahab and said, "The king of Aram will come back to fight again next spring. So go back and strengthen your army and make careful plans to defend yourself against him."
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22. And the prophet H5030 came H5066 to H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 , and said H559 unto him, Go H1980 , strengthen thyself H2388 , and mark H3045 , and see H7200 H853 what H834 thou doest H6213 : for H3588 at the return H8666 of the year H8141 the king H4428 of Syria H758 will come up H5927 against H5921 thee.
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23. King Ben-Hadad's officers said to him, "The gods of Israel are mountain gods. We fought in a mountain area, so the Israelites won. If we fight them on level ground, we will win.
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23. And the servants H5650 of the king H4428 of Syria H758 said H559 unto H413 him , Their gods H430 are gods H430 of the hills H2022 ; therefore H5921 H3651 they were stronger H2388 than H4480 we; but H199 let us fight H3898 against H854 them in the plain H4334 , and surely H518 , we shall be stronger H3808 H2388 than H4480 they.
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24. Also, don't let the 32 kings command the armies. Put your commanders in charge of the armies.
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24. And do H6213 this H2088 thing H1697 , Take the kings away H5493 H4428 , every man H376 out of his place H4480 H4725 , and put H7760 captains H6346 in their rooms H8478 :
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25. Let's gather an army like the one that was destroyed. Gather as many men, horses, and chariots as before, and fight the Israelites on level ground. Then we will win." Ben-Hadad followed their advice and did what they said.
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25. And number H859 H4487 thee an army H2428 , like the army H2428 that thou hast lost H5307 H4480 H853 , horse H5483 for horse H5483 , and chariot H7393 for chariot H7393 : and we will fight against H3898 them in the plain H4334 , and surely H518 H3808 we shall be stronger H2388 than H4480 they . And he hearkened H8085 unto their voice H6963 , and did H6213 so H3651 .
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26. So in the spring, Ben-Hadad gathered the men of Aram and went to Aphek to fight against Israel.
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26. And it came to pass H1961 at the return H8666 of the year H8141 , that Ben H1130 -hadad numbered H6485 H853 the Syrians H758 , and went up H5927 to Aphek H663 , to fight H4421 against H5973 Israel H3478 .
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27. The Israelites also prepared for war and went to fight the army of Aram. They made their camp opposite the camp of Aram. The Aramean soldiers filled the land, but Israel's army looked like two small flocks of goats.
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27. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were numbered H6485 , and were all present H3557 , and went H1980 against H7121 them : and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 pitched H2583 before H5048 them like two H8147 little flocks H2835 of kids H5795 ; but the Syrians H758 filled H4390 H853 the country H776 .
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28. A man of God came to the king of Israel with this message: "The Lord said, 'The people of Aram said that I, the Lord, am a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys. So I will let you defeat this great army. Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!'"
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28. And there came H5066 a man H376 of God H430 , and spoke H559 unto H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 , and said H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , Because H3282 H834 the Syrians H758 have said H559 , The LORD H3068 is God H430 of the hills H2022 , but he H1931 is not H3808 God H430 of the valleys H6010 , therefore will I deliver H5414 H853 all H3605 this H2088 great H1419 multitude H1995 into thine hand H3027 , and ye shall know H3045 that H3588 I H589 am the LORD H3068 .
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29. The armies were camped across from each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean soldiers in one day.
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29. And they pitched H2583 one H428 over against H5227 the other H428 seven H7651 days H3117 . And so it was H1961 , that in the seventh H7637 day H3117 the battle H4421 was joined H7126 : and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 slew H5221 of H853 the Syrians H758 a hundred H3967 thousand H505 footmen H7273 in one H259 day H3117 .
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30. The survivors ran away to the city of Aphek. The wall of the city fell on 27,000 of those soldiers. Ben-Hadad also ran away to the city and hid in a room.
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30. But the rest H3498 fled H5127 to Aphek H663 , into H413 the city H5892 ; and there a wall H2346 fell H5307 upon H5921 twenty H6242 and seven H7651 thousand H505 of the men H376 that were left H3498 . And Ben H1130 -hadad fled H5127 , and came H935 into H413 the city H5892 , into an inner chamber H2315 H2315 .
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31. His servants said to him, "We heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let's dress in rough cloth with ropes on our heads. Then let's go to the king of Israel. Maybe he will let us live."
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31. And his servants H5650 said H559 unto H413 him, Behold H2009 now H4994 , we have heard H8085 that H3588 the kings H4428 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 are merciful H2617 kings H4428 : let us , I pray thee H4994 , put H7760 sackcloth H8242 on our loins H4975 , and ropes H2256 upon our heads H7218 , and go out H3318 to H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 : peradventure H194 he will save H2421 H853 thy life H5315 .
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32. They dressed in rough cloth with ropes on their heads. They came to the king of Israel. They said, "Your servant, Ben-Hadad, says, 'Please let me live.'" Ahab said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother. "
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32. So they girded H2296 sackcloth H8242 on their loins H4975 , and put ropes H2256 on their heads H7218 , and came H935 to H413 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 , and said H559 , Thy servant H5650 Ben H1130 -hadad saith H559 , I pray thee H4994 , let me H5315 live H2421 . And he said H559 , Is he yet H5750 alive H2416 ? he H1931 is my brother H251 .
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33. Ben-Hadad's men wanted King Ahab to say something to show that he would not kill King Ben-Hadad. When Ahab called Ben-Hadad his brother, the advisors quickly said, "Yes! Ben-Hadad is your brother." Ahab said, "Bring him to me." So Ben- Hadad came to King Ahab. King Ahab asked him to get in the chariot with him.
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33. Now the men H376 did diligently observe H5172 whether any thing would come from H4480 him , and did hastily H4116 catch H2480 it : and they said H559 , Thy brother H251 Ben H1130 -hadad . Then he said H559 , Go H935 ye, bring H3947 him . Then Ben H1130 -hadad came forth H3318 to H413 him ; and he caused him to come up H5927 into H5921 the chariot H4818 .
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34. Ben-Hadad said to him, "Ahab, I will give you the towns that my father took from your father. And you can put shops in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Ahab answered, "If you agree to this, I will let you go free." So the two kings made a peace agreement. Then King Ahab let King Ben-Hadad go free.
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34. And Ben-hadad said H559 unto H413 him , The cities H5892 , which H834 my father H1 took H3947 from H4480 H854 thy father H1 , I will restore H7725 ; and thou shalt make H7760 streets H2351 for thee in Damascus H1834 , as H834 my father H1 made H7760 in Samaria H8111 . Then said Ahab , I H589 will send thee away H7971 with this covenant H1285 . So he made H3772 a covenant H1285 with him , and sent him away H7971 .
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35. One of the prophets told another prophet, "Hit me!" He said that because the Lord had commanded it. But the other prophet refused to hit him.
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35. And a certain H259 man H376 of the sons H4480 H1121 of the prophets H5030 said H559 unto H413 his neighbor H7453 in the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 , Smite H5221 me , I pray thee H4994 . And the man H376 refused H3985 to smite H5221 him.
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36. So the first prophet said, "You did not obey the Lord's command. So a lion will kill you when you leave this place." When the second prophet left there, a lion killed him.
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36. Then said H559 he unto him, Because H3282 H834 thou hast not H3808 obeyed H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 , behold H2009 , as soon as thou art departed H1980 from H4480 H853 me , a lion H738 shall slay H5221 thee . And as soon as he was departed H1980 from H4480 H681 him , a lion H738 found H4672 him , and slew H5221 him.
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37. The first prophet went to another man and said, "Hit me!" This man hit him and hurt the prophet.
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37. Then he found H4672 another H312 man H376 , and said H559 , Smite H5221 me , I pray thee H4994 . And the man H376 smote H5221 him , so that in smiting H5221 he wounded H6481 him .
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38. So the prophet wrapped his face with a cloth. This way no one could see who he was. The prophet went and waited for the king by the road.
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38. So the prophet H5030 departed H1980 , and waited H5975 for the king H4428 by H5921 the way H1870 , and disguised himself H2664 with ashes H666 upon H5921 his face H5869 .
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39. The king came by and the prophet said to him, "I went to fight in the battle. One of our men brought an enemy soldier to me. The man said, 'Guard this man. If he runs away, you will have to give your life in his place or you will have to pay a fine of 75 pounds of silver.'
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39. And as H1961 the king H4428 passed by H5674 , he H1931 cried H6817 unto H413 the king H4428 : and he said H559 , Thy servant H5650 went out H3318 into the midst H7130 of the battle H4421 ; and, behold H2009 , a man H376 turned aside H5493 , and brought H935 a man H376 unto H413 me , and said H559 , Keep H8104 H853 this H2088 man H376 : if H518 by any means he be missing H6485 H6485 , then shall thy life H5315 be H1961 for H8478 his life H5315 , or H176 else thou shalt pay H8254 a talent H3603 of silver H3701 .
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40. While I was busy doing other things, the man ran away." The king of Israel answered, "You admitted that you are guilty, so you know the answer. You must do what the man said."
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40. And as thy servant H5650 was H1961 busy H6213 here H2008 and there H2008 , he H1931 was gone H369 . And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto H413 him, So H3651 shall thy judgment H4941 be ; thyself H859 hast decided H2782 it .
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41. Then the prophet quickly took the cloth from his face, and the king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets.
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41. And he hasted H4116 , and took H5493 H853 the ashes H666 away from H4480 H5921 his face H5869 ; and the king H4428 of Israel H3478 discerned H5234 him that H3588 he H1931 was of the prophets H4480 H5030 .
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42. Then the prophet said to the king, "The Lord says to you, 'You set free the man I said should die. So you will take his place�you and your people will die!'"
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42. And he said H559 unto H413 him, Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , Because H3282 thou hast let go H7971 out of thy hand H4480 H3027 H853 a man H376 whom I appointed to utter destruction H2764 , therefore thy life H5315 shall go H1961 for H8478 his life H5315 , and thy people H5971 for H8478 his people H5971 .
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43. Then the king went back home to Samaria. He was worried and upset.
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43. And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 went H1980 to H5921 his house H1004 heavy H5620 and displeased H2198 , and came H935 to Samaria H8111 .
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