22.那先知來見以色列王,對他說:「你當自強,留心怎樣防備;因為到明年這時候,亞蘭王必上來攻擊你。」
Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, 「Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.」
23.亞蘭王的臣僕對亞蘭王說:「以色列人的神是山神,所以他們勝過我們;但在平原與他們打仗,我們必定得勝。
Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, 「Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.
24.王當這樣行:把諸王革去,派軍長代替他們,
Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers.
25.又照著王喪失軍兵之數,再招募一軍,馬補馬,車補車,我們在平原與他們打仗,必定得勝。」王便聽臣僕的話去行。
You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.」 He agreed with them and acted accordingly.