14. Ahab asked, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says Adonai: By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.” Then he asked, “Who should begin the battle?” “You!” he answered.
15. So he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces. There were 232. After them he mustered all the people of all the children of Israel, 7,000.
16. They marched out at noon, while Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths—he and the 32 kings allied with him.
17. The young men of the rulers of the provinces marched out first. Ben-Hadad sent out scouts, who reported to him saying, “There are men coming out from Samaria.”
18. He said, “Whether they are coming out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are coming out for battle, take them alive.”
19. Now when the young men of the rulers of the provinces marched out of the city, with the army following them,
20. each man struck down his foe. Then the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but King Ben-Hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.
21. Then the king of Israel went out, struck the horses and chariots, and inflicted on the Arameans a great defeat.