1 Kings 20:30-35

English Standard Version

³⁰ And the rest fled into the city of ^(A)Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.

Ben-hadad also fled and entered ^(B)an inner chamber in the city. ³¹ And his servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us ^(C)put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.” ³² So they ^(D)tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said, “Does he still live? He is my brother.” ³³ Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. ³⁴ And Ben-hadad said to him, ^(E)“The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in ^(F)Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.

A Prophet Condemns Ben-hadad's Release

³⁵ And a certain man of ^(G)the sons of the prophets said to his fellow ^(H)at the command of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.