3. ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine.’ ”
4. And the king of Israel answered and said, “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I have are yours.”
5. Then the messengers came back and said, “Thus speaks Ben-Hadad, saying, ‘Indeed I have sent to you, saying, “You shall deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children”;
6. but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants. And it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hands and take it.’ ”
7. So the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Notice, please, and see how this man seeks trouble, for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not deny him.”
8. And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.”
9. Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ”And the messengers departed and brought back word to him.