1 Kings 22 The War Against the Syrians and the Death of Ahab

 1 Kings 22

The War Against the Syrians and the Death of Ahab

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.

30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go to battle; but you put on your clothes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went to battle.

31 And the king of Syria commanded the thirty-two captains of the chariots, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, but only with the king of Israel."

32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely this is the king of Israel. And they drew near to fight with him, but Jehoshaphat shouted.

33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

34 Then a man drew his bow in his simplicity and struck the king of Israel between his buckles and his breastplate. Then he said to his charioteer, “Turn your hand and take me out of the army, for I am badly wounded.” 

35 The battle grew fierce that day, and the king stood in his chariot opposite the Syrians. But he died in the evening, and the blood from his wound ran down into the bottom of his chariot. 

36 After sunset, a proclamation was made throughout the army, “Every man to his city and every man to his land.” 

37 So the king died, and they brought him to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria. 

38 When the chariot was washed in the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood (now the prostitutes used to wash there), according to the word of the Lord which he had spoken. 

39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the house of ivory which he built, and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

40 So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.