Ben-hadad spared

Ahab and Ben-hadad · 1 Kings 20

Story guide: Ben-hadad's servants, wearing sackcloth and ropes, plead before Ahab, who answers with a treaty; the passage doesn't describe the setting or anyone's expression.

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31His servants said to him, “We have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Please let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32So they tied sackcloth around their waists, put ropes on their heads, and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” The king replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33The men were watching for a favorable sign and quickly seized on his words. “Ben-hadad is your brother,” they said. “Bring him here,” Ahab replied. Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him get into his chariot.

34Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father, and you may establish trading districts for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab replied, “Under this treaty I will let you go.” So he made a treaty with him and let him go.

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