37. Then the prophet met another man and said, “Strike me.” The man struck him a blow and wounded him.
38. The prophet went on and waited for the king on the road, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39. As the king was passing, he called out to the king and said: “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and suddenly someone turned and brought me a man and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, you shall have to pay for his life with your life or pay out a talent of silver.’
40. But while your servant was occupied here and there, the man disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him, “That is your sentence. You have decided it yourself.”
41. He quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42. He said to him: “The Lord says, Because you have set free the man I put under the ban, your life shall pay for his life, your people for his people.”
43. Disturbed and angry, the king of Israel set off for home and entered Samaria.