November 3, 2019

1 KINGS 19:19 – 20:13
19:19 And he went from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat. And he was plowing with twelve yokes before him, and he was with the twelfth. And Elijah went over to him and threw his mantle upon him.
19:20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, Let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you. And he said to him, Go back again; for what have I done to you?
19:21 And he returned from him and took the yoke of oxen and slaughtered them; and he boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. And he rose up and went after Elijah and ministered to him.
20:1 And Ben-hadad the king of Syria assembled all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, as well as horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.
20:2 And he sent messengers to the city to Ahab the king of Israel and said to him, Thus says Ben-hadad,
20:3 Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.
20:4 And the king of Israel answered and said, As you say, O my lord the king, I and all that I have are yours.
20:5 And the messengers came again and said, Thus speaks Ben-hadad, saying, I sent word to you, saying, You shall give me your silver and your gold and your wives and your children;
20:6 But tomorrow at this time I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and your servants’ houses; and whatever is pleasant in your sight, they will put in their hand and take away.
20:7 And the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Look now, and see how this man seeks trouble; for he sent word to me for my wives and my children and my silver and my gold; and I did not deny him.
20:8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, Do not listen to him, nor shall you give consent.
20:9 And he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I cannot do. And the messengers departed and brought word back to him.
20:10 And Ben-hadad sent word to him and said, The gods do so to me and even more, if the dust of Samaria will provide even a handful for all the people who follow me!
20:11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him who puts on his armor boast like him who takes it off.
20:12 And when he heard this word, as he and the kings in the tents were drinking, he said to his servants, Set yourselves in position. And they set themselves in position against the city.
20:13 Then at that moment a certain prophet approached Ahab the king of Israel and said, Thus says Jehovah, Have you seen all this great multitude? I am now delivering it into your hand today, and you will know that I am Jehovah.