22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: doest thou not smite them that thou hast taken with thy sword, and with thy bow? but set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.

23 And he made great preparation for them: and when they had eaten and drunken, he sent them away: and they went to their master. So the bands of Aram came [a]no more into the land of Israel.

24 But afterward Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his host, and went up and besieged Samaria.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 6:23 For this gentle entreaty and the miracle wrought by the Prophet, did more prevail for common quietness, than if they had been overcome in battle: for they returned no more at that time to fight against Israel, or in that King’s days.

22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured(A) with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands(B) from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

Famine in Besieged Samaria

24 Some time later, Ben-Hadad(C) king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege(D) to Samaria.

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