1 Kings 20:31-34

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.