or to me, thy servant at first, I will
do: but this thing I cannot do.

20:10. And the messengers returning brought him word. And he sent
again, and said: Such and such things may the gods do to me, and more
may they add, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all
the people that follow me.

20:11. And the king of Israel answering, said: Tell him: Let not the
girded boast himself as the ungirded.

Let not the girded, etc... Let him not boast before the victory: it will
then be time to glory when he putteth off his armour, having overcome
his adversary.

20:12. And it came to pass, when Benadad heard this word, that he and
the kings were drinking in pavilions, and he said to his servants: Beset
the city. And they beset it.

20:13. And behold a prophet coming to Achab, king of Israel, said to
him: Thus saith the Lord: Hast thou seen all this exceeding great
multitude? behold I will deliver them into thy hand this day: that thou
mayst know that I am the Lord.

20:14. And Achab said: By whom? And he said to him: Thus saith the Lord:
By the servants of the princes of the provinces. And he said: Who shall
begin to fight? And he said: Thou.

20:15. So he mustered the servants of the princes of the provinces, and
he found the number of two hundred and thirty-two: and he mustered
after them the people, all the children of Israel, seven thousand:

20:16. And they went out at noon. But Benadad was drinking himself drunk
in his pavilion, and the two and thirty kings with him, who were come to
help him.

20:17. And the servants of the princes of the provinces went out first.
And Benadad sent. And they told him, saying: There are men come out of
Samaria.

20:18. And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or
whether they come to fight, take them alive.

20:19. So the servants of the princes of the provinces went out, and the
rest of the army followed:

20:20. And every one slew the man that came against him: and the Syrians
fled, and Israel pursued after them. And Benadad, king of Syria, fled
away on horseback with his horsemen.

20:21. But the king of Israel going out overthrew the horses and
chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

20:22. (And a prophet coming to the king of Israel, said to him: Go, and
strengthen thyself, and know, and see what thou dost: for the next year
the king of Syria will come up against thee.)

20:23. But the servants of the king of Syri