Ahab

29And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.

In Asa's thirty-eighth year as king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel. He ruled in Samaria for twenty-two years.

30And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

Ahab son of Omri did evil in the LORD's sight. He was worse than every king before him.

31And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

Doing Jeroboam's sins was not enough for him. He also married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. Then Ahab served the god Baal and worshiped him.

32And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

Ahab built a temple for Baal in Samaria. Inside it, he set up an altar for Baal.

33And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

Ahab also set up a tall wooden pole for the goddess Asherah. Ahab made the LORD, the God of Israel, angrier than any king before him.

1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

Elijah came from Gilead. He was a prophet, someone who tells people what God says. He said to King Ahab, "The LORD, the God of Israel, is alive. I serve him. No rain or dew will fall for years, until I say so."

2And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

Then God spoke to Elijah. God said:

3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

"Leave this place. Go east. Hide by the little stream called Cherith. It is east of the Jordan River.

4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

You can drink water from the stream. I have told the ravens to bring you food there."

5So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

So Elijah did what God told him to do. He went and lived by the stream called Cherith.

6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Every morning the ravens brought him bread and meat. Every evening they brought bread and meat again. He drank water from the stream.

7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

After some time, the stream dried up. No rain had fallen in the land.

1And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

A long time passed. It was now the third year with no rain. God spoke to Elijah, a prophet who told people what God said. God told him, "Go and let King Ahab see you. Then I will send rain on the land."

2And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

So Elijah went to let Ahab see him. There was very little food in Samaria. People were hungry.

3And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

King Ahab called for a man named Obadiah. Obadiah was in charge of the king's house. Obadiah loved God and obeyed him.

4For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

Earlier, Queen Jezebel had killed many prophets of the LORD. Obadiah had saved a hundred of them. He hid them in two caves, fifty men in each cave. He brought them bread and water.

5And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go all over the land. Check every spring and every stream. Maybe we will find grass. Then our horses and mules can live. We will not lose all our animals."

6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

They split the land between them to search it. Ahab went one way alone. Obadiah went another way alone.

7And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

While Obadiah was walking, Elijah met him. Obadiah knew who he was. He bowed with his face to the ground. He said, "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?"

8And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

Elijah said, "Yes, it is me. Go tell your master the king that Elijah is here."

9And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

Obadiah said, "What have I done wrong? Why would you hand me over to Ahab? He will kill me."

10As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

"I promise you, before the living LORD your God, the king has looked everywhere for you. He sent men to every nation and kingdom. When they said you were not there, he made them promise it was true."

11And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

"And now you tell me to go say to my master, 'Elijah is here!'"

12And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.

"But as soon as I leave, God's Spirit may carry you away. I will not know where. Then I will tell Ahab, and he will not find you. He will kill me. Yet I have obeyed the LORD since I was young."

13Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

"Did no one tell you what I did? When Jezebel was killing the LORD's prophets, I hid a hundred of them. I put fifty in each of two caves. I brought them bread and water."

14And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

"And now you tell me, 'Go say to your master, Elijah is here.' He will kill me!"

15And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

Elijah said, "I promise you, before the living LORD of heaven's armies, whom I serve. I will let Ahab see me today."

16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

So Obadiah went and told Ahab. Then Ahab went out to meet Elijah.

17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, "Is that you? You are the man who brings trouble to Israel."

18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

Elijah answered, "I have not brought trouble to Israel. You have, and your father's family too. You have turned away from God's commands. You have followed the Baals, false gods."

19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

"Now send word to all Israel. Have everyone meet me on Mount Carmel. Bring the 450 prophets of Baal. Bring the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

20So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

So Ahab sent word to all the people of Israel. He gathered the prophets on Mount Carmel.

21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Elijah came to all the people and said, "How long will you go back and forth? If the LORD is God, follow him. If Baal is God, follow him." The people said nothing at all.

22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only prophet of the LORD left here. But Baal has 450 prophets."

23Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

"Bring us two bulls. Let them pick one bull for themselves. Let them cut it up and lay it on the wood. But they must not light a fire. I will get the other bull ready the same way. I will not light a fire either."

24And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

"Then you call on the name of your god. I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers with fire is the real God." All the people said, "That is a good plan."

25And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

Elijah said to Baal's prophets, "You go first, since there are so many of you. Pick a bull and get it ready. Call on the name of your god. But do not light a fire."

26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

They took the bull and got it ready. They called on Baal's name from morning until noon. They shouted, "Baal, answer us!" But no voice came. No one answered. They danced around the altar they had made.

27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

At noon Elijah made fun of them. He said, "Shout louder! He is a god, after all. Maybe he is talking. Maybe he is busy or away on a trip. Maybe he is asleep and needs waking up."

28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

So they shouted louder. They cut themselves with knives and spears, the way they always did. Blood ran down over them.

29And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

Noon went by. They kept shouting until the time of the evening offering. But no voice came. No one answered. No one paid attention.

30And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come close to me." They all came close. He fixed the LORD's altar, which had been torn down.

31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

Elijah took twelve stones, one for each family group of Jacob's sons. God had spoken to Jacob and said, "Your name will be Israel."

32And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

He built an altar with those stones to honor the LORD. Then he dug a ditch around the altar. It was big enough to hold a lot of seed.

33And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

He laid the wood in order. He cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said, "Fill four big jars with water. Pour it on the offering and on the wood."

34And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

He said, "Do it again." They did it again. He said, "Do it a third time." They did it a third time.

35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

The water ran down all around the altar. It even filled the ditch.

36And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came close. He prayed, "LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Show everyone today that you are God in Israel. Show them I am your servant. Show them I did all this because you told me to."

37Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

"Answer me, LORD. Answer me. Then these people will know that you are the LORD God. They will know you are turning their hearts back to you."

38Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

Then fire from the LORD came down. It burned up the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt. It even dried up the water in the ditch.

39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

When the people saw it, they bowed with their faces to the ground. They said, "The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!"

40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Elijah said, "Grab the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them get away." So they grabbed them. Elijah took them down to the Kishon brook and killed them there.

41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up and eat and drink. I hear the sound of heavy rain coming."

42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

So Ahab went up to eat and drink. Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. He bent down low to the ground and put his face between his knees.

43And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

He said to his helper, "Go up and look toward the sea." The helper went and looked. He said, "There is nothing there." Elijah said, "Go and look again." He said this seven times.

44And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

The seventh time the helper said, "I see a little cloud coming up from the sea. It is as small as a man's hand." Elijah said, "Go tell Ahab to hitch up his chariot and go down. The rain will stop him if he waits."

45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

Soon the sky turned black with clouds and wind. Heavy rain began to fall. Ahab climbed into his chariot and rode to Jezreel.

46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

The LORD's power came on Elijah. He tucked his long robe into his belt. Then he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

1And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

Ben-hadad was the king of Syria. He gathered his whole army. Thirty-two other kings came with him, with horses and chariots. He marched to the city of Samaria, surrounded it, and attacked it.

2And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,

He sent messengers into the city to Ahab, the king of Israel. They gave Ahab this message from Ben-hadad:

3Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.

"Your silver and your gold belong to me. Your best wives and your children belong to me too."

4And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.

The king of Israel answered, "It is just as you say, my lord the king. I am yours, and so is everything I own."

5And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;

The messengers came back again. They said, "Ben-hadad says this: I already told you to hand over your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.

6Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.

But tomorrow, about this time, I will send my servants to you. They will search your palace and your servants' houses. They will take away anything you love."

7Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.

Then the king of Israel called all the leaders of the land together. He said, "Look at how this man is looking for trouble. He asked me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I said yes."

8And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.

All the leaders and all the people told him, "Do not listen to him. Do not agree."

9Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

So Ahab told Ben-hadad's messengers, "Tell my lord the king this. I will do everything you asked the first time. But this new thing I cannot do." The messengers went back and told Ben-hadad.

10And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

Then Ben-hadad sent Ahab another message. He said, "May the gods punish me if there is enough dust left of Samaria for each of my men to grab a handful."

11And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

The king of Israel answered, "Tell him this. A man putting on his armor should not brag like a man taking it off."

12And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

Ben-hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents. He told his servants, "Get ready to attack." So they got in place around the city.

13And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

Then a prophet came to Ahab, king of Israel. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says. He said, "The LORD says this. Do you see that huge army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

14And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.

Ahab asked, "Who will do it?" The prophet said, "The LORD says this. The young officers who serve the leaders of the districts will do it." Ahab asked, "Who should start the battle?" The prophet answered, "You will."

15Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

So Ahab called the young officers who served the district leaders. There were 232 of them. Then he called the rest of the men of Israel. There were 7,000.

16And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.

They marched out at noon. At that time Ben-hadad was in his tent getting drunk. The thirty-two kings who helped him were drinking too.

17And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.

The young officers marched out first. Ben-hadad had sent out men to watch. They reported to him, "Men are coming out of Samaria."

18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

He said, "If they are coming to talk peace, take them alive. If they are coming to fight, take them alive."

19So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.

So the young officers marched out of the city. The army came out behind them.

20And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

Each man struck down the enemy in front of him. The Syrians ran away, and Israel chased them. Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, got away on a horse with some of his riders.

21And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

Then the king of Israel marched out. He attacked the horses and chariots. Many, many Syrians were killed that day.

22And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

Later the prophet came to the king of Israel. He said, "Go and make your army stronger. Think carefully about what you must do. Next spring the king of Syria will come to attack you again."

23And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

Meanwhile the servants of the king of Syria talked to him. They said, "Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they beat us. Let us fight them on flat land instead. Then we will surely be stronger.

24And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:

Do this too. Take the kings out of their commands. Put army captains in their places.

25And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

Then build an army as big as the one you lost. Get a horse for every horse and a chariot for every chariot. We will fight them on flat land, and we will surely win." The king listened to them and did what they said.

26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

In the spring, Ben-hadad counted his Syrian soldiers. He marched to a town called Aphek to fight Israel.

27And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

The men of Israel were counted too. They gathered supplies and marched out to meet the Syrians. Israel's camp looked like two small flocks of goats. The Syrians spread out over the whole countryside.

28And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Then a man of God came to the king of Israel. He said, "The LORD says this. The Syrians say the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys. So I will hand this huge army over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

29And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

The two armies camped across from each other for seven days. On the seventh day the fighting began. That day Israel killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers.

30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

The rest ran into the city of Aphek. There a wall fell on 27,000 of the men who were left. Ben-hadad also ran into the city and hid in a back room.

31And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

His servants said to him, "We have heard that the kings of Israel are kind kings. Let us go to the king of Israel wearing rough cloth and ropes. Maybe he will let you live."

32So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

So they tied rough cloth around their waists and ropes around their heads. They went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, Please let me live." Ahab said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."

33Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

The men were watching for any sign of hope. They quickly took hold of that word. They said, "Yes, your brother Ben-hadad." Ahab said, "Go and bring him here." When Ben-hadad came out, Ahab had him ride up into his chariot.

34And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

Ben-hadad said, "I will give back the cities my father took from your father. You may set up your own markets in Damascus, like my father did in Samaria." Ahab said, "With this agreement I will let you go." So he made an agreement with him and sent him away.

35And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

One of the young prophets spoke to a friend. The LORD had told him what to say. He said, "Please hit me." But the man would not hit him.

36Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

So the prophet said, "You did not obey the LORD. As soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you." The man left, and a lion found him and killed him.

37Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.

Then the prophet found another man. He said, "Please hit me." So the man hit him and hurt him.

38So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

Then the prophet went and waited for the king beside the road. He covered his eyes with a cloth so no one would know him.

39And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

As the king came by, the prophet called out to him. He said, "I went out into the middle of the battle. A man brought me a prisoner. He said, Guard this man. If he gets away, you will die in his place, or you will pay a talent of silver.

40And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

But while I was busy with this and that, the man got away." The king of Israel told him, "That is your punishment, then. You have said it yourself."

41And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.

Then the prophet quickly pulled the cloth off his eyes. The king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets.

42And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

The prophet said to him, "The LORD says this. You let go the man I had set apart to be destroyed. So your life will be taken in place of his life. Your people will be taken in place of his people."

43And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

The king of Israel went home to Samaria. He was upset and angry.

1And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

Some time later, a man named Naboth owned a vineyard. A vineyard is a field where grapes grow. It was in Jezreel, right beside the palace of Ahab, the king.

2And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard. I want it for a vegetable garden. It is close to my house. I will give you a better vineyard instead. Or I will pay you silver for it, if you like."

3And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

Naboth said, "No. May the LORD keep me from doing that. This land came to me from my family. I will not give it to you."

4And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

Ahab went home angry and gloomy. He kept thinking about what Naboth said. Naboth had told him, "I will not give you my family's land." Ahab lay down on his bed. He turned his face to the wall. He would not eat.

5But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?

His wife Jezebel came in and asked him a question. "Why are you so gloomy? Why will you not eat?"

6And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.

He said, "I talked to Naboth the Jezreelite. I said I would buy his vineyard with silver. I said I would trade him another vineyard instead. But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"

7And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

Jezebel said, "Are you not the king of Israel? Get up. Eat some food. Cheer up. I will get you Naboth's vineyard."

8So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

So Jezebel wrote letters and signed Ahab's name. She stamped them with his seal to show they came from the king. She sent them to the leaders and important men in Naboth's town.

9And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

This is what she wrote in the letters. "Tell everyone to hold a fast, a day when people go without food. Give Naboth a special seat where all can see him."

10And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

"Then put two bad men in front of him. Have them say, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take Naboth out of town and throw stones at him until he dies."

11And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

The leaders and important men of Naboth's town did what Jezebel said. They followed the orders in her letters.

12They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

They told everyone to hold a fast. They gave Naboth a special seat where all could see him.

13And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

Two bad men came in and sat across from Naboth. In front of everyone, they said, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So the people took Naboth outside the town. They threw stones at him until he died.

14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

Then they sent word to Jezebel. They said, "Naboth has been stoned. He is dead."

15And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

When Jezebel heard the news, she spoke to Ahab. "Get up. Go and take Naboth's vineyard. He would not sell it to you. But he is not alive now. He is dead."

16And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up. He went down to Naboth's vineyard to take it for himself.