30. The rest of the Syrian army ran back to Aphek, but the town wall fell and crushed twenty-seven thousand of them.Benhadad also escaped to Aphek and hid in the back room of a house.
31. His officials said, “Your Majesty, we've heard that Israel's kings keep their agreements. We will wrap sackcloth around our waists, put ropes around our heads, and ask Ahab to let you live.”
32. They dressed in sackcloth and put ropes on their heads, then they went to Ahab and said, “Your servant Benhadad asks you to let him live.”“Is he still alive?” Ahab asked. “Benhadad is like a brother to me.”
33. Benhadad's officials were trying to understand what Ahab was thinking, and when he said “brother”, they quickly replied, “You're right! You and Benhadad are like brothers.”“Go and get him,” Ahab said.When Benhadad came out, Ahab asked him to climb up into his chariot.
34. Benhadad said, “I'll give back the towns my father took from your father. And you can have shops in Damascus, just as my father had in Samaria.”Ahab replied, “If you do these things, I'll let you go free.” Then they signed a peace treaty, and Ahab let Benhadad go.
35. About this time the Lord commanded a prophet to say to a friend, “Hit me!” But the friend refused,