While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, &#8220;Invade<n id="1" /> at such and such<n id="2" /> a place.&#8221;

But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, &#8220;Make sure you don&#8217;t pass through this place because Syria is invading there.&#8221;

So he threw a big banquet<n id="1" /> for them and they ate and drank. Then he sent them back<n id="2" /> to their master. After that no Syrian raiding parties again invaded the land of Israel.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Later King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled his entire army and attacked<n id="1" /> and besieged Samaria.<n id="2" />

So they tracked them<n id="1" /> as far as the Jordan. The road was filled with clothes and equipment that the Syrians had discarded in their haste.<n id="2" /> The scouts<n id="3" /> went back and told the king.

Then the people went out and looted the Syrian camp. A seah<n id="1" /> of finely milled flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, just as the <sc>Lordsc> had said they would.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Elisha traveled to Damascus while King Ben Hadad of Syria was sick. The king<n id="1" /> was told, &#8220;The prophet<n id="2" /> has come here.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">He joined Ahab&#8217;s son Joram in a battle against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead in which the Syrians defeated Joram.

<p class="bodytext">At that time King Hazael of Syria attacked<n id="1" /> Gath and captured it. Hazael then decided to attack Jerusalem.<n id="2" />

The <sc>Lordsc> was furious with<n id="1" /> Israel and handed them over to<n id="2" /> King Hazael of Syria and to Hazael&#8217;s son Ben Hadad for many years.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Jehoahaz asked for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s mercy<n id="1" /> and the <sc>Lordsc> responded favorably,<n id="2" /> for he saw that Israel was oppressed by the king of Syria.<n id="3" />

The <sc>Lordsc> provided a deliverer<n id="1" /> for Israel and they were freed from Syria&#8217;s power.<n id="2" /> The Israelites once more lived in security.<n id="3" />

In those days the <sc>Lordsc> prompted King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah to attack Judah.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">At that time King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem.<n id="1" /> They besieged Ahaz,<n id="2" /> but were unable to conquer him.<n id="3" />

The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.

David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus;<n id="1" /> the Arameans became David&#8217;s subjects and brought tribute. The <sc>Lordsc> protected<n id="2" /> David wherever he campaigned.<n id="3" />

When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel&#8217;s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.<n id="1" />

Joab<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;If the Arameans start to overpower me,<n id="2" /> you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,<n id="3" /> I will come to your rescue.

When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab&#8217;s<n id="1" /> brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem.<n id="2" />p>