In the spring, the Syrian king, Benhadad and his army marched to attack Israel. The Israelites also prepared to fight and marched out to meet the Syrians. The 2 armies camped across from each other and the Syrians filled the countryside, while the Israelites looked like two little flocks of goats. A prophet went to king Ahab and told him that the Lord would help them so he would know the Lord was in control. The 2 armies stayed in their places for 6 days and on the 7th fighting broke out. The Syrians were defeated and the king, Benhadad, ran and hid in the town nearby, while his officials went to king Ahab to ask him to spare his life. Ahab told them that Benhadad was like a brother to him and asked where he was. They brought him out, the two had a nice reunion, and Benhadad went back home.
The Lord commanded another prophet to have his friend hit him. When the friend refused, the prophet told him that a lion would kill him as soon as he walked away. When the friend left, a lion suddenly appeared and killed him. The prophet found someone else who would pummel him so he could pass for a soldier who had been fighting. He went to Ahab and told him a story that he had been in battle and had been given a prisoner to guard, with instructions that if he lost him he would be killed or forced to pay 75 pounds of silver. He told Ahab he lost track of him. Ahab said he would be punished as he had been told. The prophet tore the bandage off his face and told Ahab that because he didn't follow the commandment of the Lord and kill Benhadad, he would die in his place. Ahab went home angry and sad.
A man named Naboth owned a vineyard which was next to Ahab's palace and he wanted the land. When he asked Naboth for it Naboth refused him and he went home, lay down on his bed, stared at the wall and refused to eat. Jezebel his wife found him and asked him what was wrong, so he told her. She said not to worry, that she'd take care of it. She set up Naboth to be killed by having two liars swear they had heard him curse the Lord and the king. When the people heard it they dragged Naboth outside the town and stoned him to death. They sent word to Jezebel that Naboth was dead and she told Ahab he could have his vineyard. While Naboth was in his new vineyard, Elijah went to him and told him he would die and dogs would lick his blood from the same spot where he'd had Naboth murdered. Elijah added that all the men and boys in his family would be wiped out as well, and Jezebel too. Ahab was sad at hearing this and he tore his clothes and refused to eat. Then the Lord told Elijah how he had seen the way Ahab suffered, so He wouldn't punish his family while he was alive. Ahab and Jezebel did evil just as the Amorites did before Israel came.
Three years of peace passed and Jehoshaphat came to visit Ahab. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to get a town back from the Syrians. Jehoshaphat said he would help, but first they needed to ask God. Ahab sent for about 400 prophets and asked them what they should do. All the prophets told them to attack the Syrians. Then they had a prophet named Micaiah come forward and tell them his prophecy, because he always told Ahab something bad. When Micaiah told him the same thing as the other prophets he didn't believe him. Ahab told him to tell him the truth and Micaiah told him that the Israelites should go home and not fight. Then he told him his vision of the Lord seated on his throne surrounded with every creature and asked them who could trick Ahab to go to the town and be killed. They discussed it for a while and a spirit came forward and said that they would make the prophets lie. Then it was done. Another man slapped Micaiah because he was jealous that the Lord spoke to Micaiah and not him. Then Ahab put Micaiah in prison.
So the two leaders took their armies into battle. Ahab disguised himself, so the other army thought Jehosehapt was Ahab and attacked him. When they found out he wasn't, they stopped. A soldier shot an arrow without aiming and it pierced Ahab in a joint of his armor. He was propped up in his chariot so he could see. He bled so much from his wound the bottom of the chariot was covered with blood and by evening he was dead. At sunset an Israelite shouted to retreat and go back home.
Tomorrow finish 1Kings read 2Kings1-4:28
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