1. And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
2. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus says Ben-hadad,
3. Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives also and your children, even the fairest, are mine.
4. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to your saying, I am yours, and all that I have.
5. And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben-hadad, saying, Although I have sent unto you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;
6. Yet I will send my servants unto you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.
7. Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeks trouble: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
8. And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.