1 Kings 20:35-43

New International Version

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

³⁵ By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets^(A) said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.^(B)

³⁶ So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion^(C) will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

³⁷ The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him. ³⁸ Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. ³⁹ As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life,^(D) or you must pay a talent^[a] of silver.’ ⁴⁰ While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

“That is your sentence,”^(E) the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

⁴¹ Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. ⁴² He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You^(F) have set free a man I had determined should die.^[b](G) Therefore it is your life for his life,^(H) your people for his people.’” ⁴³ Sullen and angry,^(I) the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.