32. Thy servant Ben-hadad. Only a short time before it was Ahab who had been the servant and Benhadad the lord ( 20). Boastful Benhadad was no longer boasting, and had good reason to ponder Ahab’s message of the season before, “Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off” ( 11).
Diligently observe. What would Ahab’s answer be? Would it mean life or death? The men were watching for any sign that might indicate Ahab’s reaction. In his addressing Benhadad as “brother,” they had their answer. The suspense was over and the danger past. The victor had committed himself. It would be clemency and friendship, rather than no quarter and death. Ahab’s extraordinary attempt at courtesy is displayed by receiving Benhadad into his own chariot.