SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:31
¶ Entonces sus siervos le dijeron: He aquí, hemos oído de los reyes de Israel, que son reyes clementes; pongamos pues ahora sacos en nuestros lomos, y sogas en nuestras cabezas, y salgamos al rey de Israel; por ventura te dará la vida.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 20:31
Verse 31. Put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads] Let us show ourselves humbled in the deepest manner, and let us put ropes about our necks, and go submitting to his mercy, and deprecating his wrath. The citizens of Calais are reported to have acted nearly in the same way when they surrendered their city to Edward III., king of England, in 1346. See at the end.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 31. And his servants said unto him , etc.] Being reduced to the utmost extremity; for if he attempted to go out of the city, he would fall into the hands of the Israelites, and there was no safety in it, the wall of it being fallen down; and it could not be thought he could be concealed long in the chamber where he was, wherefore his servants advised as follows: behold, now, we have heard that the kings of the Israel are merciful kings ; not only the best of them as David and Solomon, but even the worst of them, in comparison of Heathen princes, were kind and humane to those that fell into their hands, and became their captives: let us, I pray thee ; so said one in the name of the rest: put sack cloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads ; and so coming in such a mean and humble manner, and not with their armour on, they might the rather hope to have admittance; so, the Syracusans sent ambassadors to Athens, in filthy garments, with the hair of their heads and beards long, and all in slovenly habits, to move their pity f437 ; and go out to the king of Israel : and be humble supplicants to him: peradventure he will save thy life ; upon a petition to him from him; to which the king agreed, and sent it by them. Ver. 32 . So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads , etc.] Signifying they came to surrender themselves to him as his captives and prisoners, and he might do with them as seemed good to him, hang them up if he pleased, for which they brought ropes with them, as a token that they deserved it, (see Isaiah 20:2-4), and came to the king of Israel, and said, thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee let me live : he that a little while ago insolently demanded his wives, and children, and silver, and gold, as his property, now is his humble servant, and begs, not for his crown and kingdom, but for his life: and he said, is he yet alive? he is my brother ; which was intimating at once, that not only they might expect he would spare his life, who seemed to be so glad that he was alive, but that he would show him more favour, having a great affection for him as his brother; this was a very foolish expression from a king in his circumstances, with respect to one who had given him so much trouble and distress, and had behaved with so much haughtiness and contempt towards him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 31-43 - This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves befor God; Have we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from a apprehension of the mercy of God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most haughty in prosperity often ar most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will thus affect a man in bot these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab, success is il bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophe designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punishe for sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sore punishment should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enem and God's, when God said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy an displeased, not truly penitent, or seeking to undo what he had don amiss; every way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. Alas! man that hear the glad tidings of Christ, are busy and there till the da of salvation is gone __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויאמרו 559 אליו 413 עבדיו 5650 הנה 2009 נא 4994 שׁמענו 8085 כי 3588 מלכי 4428 בית 1004 ישׂראל 3478 כי 3588 מלכי 4428 חסד 2617 הם 1992 נשׂימה 7760 נא 4994 שׂקים 8242 במתנינו 4975 וחבלים 2256 בראשׁנו 7218 ונצא 3318 אל 413 מלך 4428 ישׂראל 3478 אולי 194 יחיה 2421 את 853 נפשׁך׃ 5315
