The man of God came up and told the king of Israel,“ This is what the Lord says:‘ Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day.The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek, where the wall collapsed on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room. (niv)
The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind themand each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen.The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans. (niv)
Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master.Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.“ And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.But didn’t you drive out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.“ As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them.Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him.God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them.Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpetsand the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. (niv)
Why will your warriors be laid low? They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.They will stumble repeatedly; they will fall over each other. They will say,‘ Get up, let us go back to our own people and our native lands, away from the sword of the oppressor.’ (niv)
Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced,“ This is what the Lord says:‘ Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’” (niv)
