1 Kings 20:31-34

20:31 His advisers ¹  said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. ²  Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads ³  and surrender ⁴  to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.” 20:32 So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant ⁵  Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab ⁶  replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” ⁷  20:33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab ⁸  then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 20:34 Ben Hadad ⁹  said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets ¹⁰  in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” ¹¹  Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” ¹²  So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.

¹ tn Or “servants.”

² tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.

³ sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.

⁴ tn Heb “go out.”

⁵ sn Your servant. By referring to Ben Hadad as Ahab’s servant, they are suggesting that Ahab make him a subject in a vassal treaty arrangement.

⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ sn He is my brother. Ahab’s response indicates that he wants to make a parity treaty and treat Ben Hadad as an equal partner.

⁸ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁰ tn Heb “streets,” but this must refer to streets set up with stalls for merchants to sell their goods. See HALOT 299 s.v. חוּץ.

¹¹ map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.

¹² tn Heb “I will send you away with a treaty.” The words “Ahab then said” are supplied in the translation. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate that the speaker has changed from Ben Hadad to Ahab. Some suggest adding “and he said” before “I will send you away.” Others prefer to maintain Ben Hadad as the speaker and change the statement to, “Please send me away with a treaty.”