3 This was his message: “Ben-Hadad says, ‘You must give me your silver and gold and the best of your wives and children.’”
4 Ahab king of Israel answered, “My master and king, I agree to what you say. I and everything I have belongs to you.”
5 Then the messengers came to Ahab again. They said, “Ben-Hadad says, ‘I told you before that you must give me your silver and gold, your wives and your children.
6 About this time tomorrow I am going to send my men to you. They are to search everywhere in your palace. And they are to search the homes of the men who rule under you. My men will take anything they want.’”
7 So Ahab called a meeting of all the elders of his country. He said, “Ben-Hadad is looking for trouble. First he said I had to give him my wives, my children, my silver and my gold. I agreed to that.”
8 But the elders and all the people said, “Pay no attention to him. Don’t do what he says.”
9 So Ahab said to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my master the king this: ‘I will do what you said at first. But I will not obey your second command.’” So King Ben-Hadad’s men carried the message back to him.