And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
Ben-hadad said to him, 'I will give back the cities that my father took from your father, and you can set up marketplaces for yourself in Damascus, just like my father did in Samaria.' Then Ahab said, 'I will let you go free based on this agreement.' So he made a treaty with him and let him go.
Ben-hadad offers to return captured cities and give trade rights to Israel, and King Ahab accepts this deal and releases him instead of executing him.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after Israel's surprising victory over the Syrian army led by Ben-hadad II. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, defeated kings were typically executed, but Ben-hadad is negotiating for his life by offering territorial and economic concessions. The mention of 'streets' refers to commercial quarters or marketplaces that would give Israel trading rights in Damascus, the Syrian capital.
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