1 Kings 20:31-43

New International Version

³¹ His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful.^(A) Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth^(B) around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

³² Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”

The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

³³ The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said.

“Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

³⁴ “I will return the cities^(C) my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad^(D) offered. “You may set up your own market areas^(E) in Damascus,^(F) as my father did in Samaria.”

Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty^(G) I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

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

³⁶ So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion^(J) 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,^(K) 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,”^(L) 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^(M) have set free a man I had determined should die.^[b](N) Therefore it is your life for his life,^(O) your people for his people.’” ⁴³ Sullen and angry,^(P) the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.