31. His officials went to him and said, “We have heard that the Israelite kings are merciful. Give us permission to go to the king of Israel with sackcloth round our waists and ropes round our necks, and maybe he will spare your life.”
32. So they wrapped sackcloth round their waists and ropes round their necks, went to Ahab and said, “Your servant Benhadad pleads with you for his life.”Ahab answered, “Is he still alive? Good! He's like a brother to me!”
33. Benhadad's officials were watching for a good sign, and when Ahab said “brother”, they took it up at once, and said, “As you say, Benhadad is your brother!”“Bring him to me,” Ahab ordered. When Benhadad arrived, Ahab invited him to get in the chariot with him.
34. Benhadad said to him, “I will restore to you the towns my father took from your father, and you may set up a commercial centre for yourself in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.”Ahab replied, “On these terms, then, I will set you free.” He made a treaty with him and let him go.
35. At the Lord's command a member of a group of prophets ordered a fellow-prophet to hit him. But he refused,
36. so he said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord's command, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And as soon as he left, a lion came along and killed him.