4. The king of Israel accepted the terms: “As you say, distinguished lord; I and everything I have is yours.”
7. The king of Israel called a meeting of all his tribal elders. He said, “Look at this—outrageous! He’s just looking for trouble. He means to clean me out, demanding all my women and children. And after I already agreed to pay him off handsomely!”
8. The elders, backed by the people, said, “Don’t cave in to him. Don’t give an inch.”
9. So he sent an envoy to Ben-Hadad, “Tell my distinguished lord, ‘I agreed to the terms you delivered the first time, but this I can’t do—this I won’t do!’”The envoy went back and delivered the answer.
10. Ben-Hadad shot back his response: “May the gods do their worst to me, and then worse again, if there’ll be anything left of Samaria but rubble.”
11. The king of Israel countered, “Think about it—it’s easier to start a fight than end one.”
12. It happened that when Ben-Hadad heard this retort he was into some heavy drinking, boozing it up with the sheiks in their field shelters. Drunkenly, he ordered his henchmen, “Go after them!” And they attacked the city.