Chapter 20: Battle of Achav and Ben Hadad

1.      Ben-Hadad wages war against Israel:

• The city of Shomron is placed under siege: Ben-Hadad the king of Aram gathered all his army, and thirty-two kings, and horses and chariots, and he went up and besieged the city of Shomron and waged war with it.
• Ben-Hadad demands all the treasures of Achav and his wives and daughters: Ben-Hadad sent messengers to Achav the king of Israel, to the city and he said to him: “So says Ben-Hadad: Your silver and your gold are mine; your beautiful wives and children are mine.” Achav, the king of Israel answered him that he accepts him as his master, and king [to pay an annual tribute, however, not to literally allow all of his treasures and women to be handed to him^[1]]. “I and all that I own shall belong to you.” The messengers [after relaying the message to their king Ben Hadad] returned back to Achav and said, “So says Ben-Hadad: Your silver and your gold, your wives, and your children you shall give to me. At this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your palace and the houses of your servants, and they will take all your items of value [including your Sefer Torah^[2]].”
• Achav consults with the elders of Israel and declines to the demands: Achav, the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and told them that Ben Hadad is looking to cause harm, and “demands my wives, my sons, and my silver and gold, and therefore I cannot acquiesce to his requests.” All of the elders and all of the people responded to Achav that he should not obey and not consent to Ben Hadad. So, Achav said to the messengers of Ben-Haddad, “Tell your master the king, that while I am willing to abide by the first request [to pay tribute to him as a King, and be under his reign] I cannot agree to the latter demands.” And the messengers went, and they brought back the message to Ben-Haddad.
• The siege begins: Ben-Haddad sent back a message to Achav, “I swear by G-d that the land of Shomron will not have enough space for all my many warriors who will come to battle it.” Achav, the king of Israel replied saying that Ben-Haddad should not be so boastful and assured of his strength that he will win the war. Ben-Haddad received the above message when he and the fellow kings were drinking alcohol inside of the huts [that they had made for shade]. When Ben-Haddad heard this reply he immediately instructed his servants to lay siege to the city, and so the city was put under siege.
• Achav receives a prophecy that he will be victorious in the war: A certain prophet approached Achav, the king of Israel, and told him that he had received a prophecy from Hashem that he should not fear from all of the great multitude that he sees as Hashem will hand them over to his hands in order so he will know that Hashem is G-d. Achav asked the prophet as to who should be on the front line in the battle and the prophet replied that Hashem had told him that it should be led by the sons of the ministers and governors of the lands [whom were under the sovereignty of Achav]. Achav then asked as to who should be the general of the war, and the prophet replied that it should be him.

[1] See Metzudos Dovid 20:4

[2] Rashi 20:6