1 Kings 20:31

And his servants [Possibly the very same men who ( 1 Kings 20:23 ) had counselled this second expedition] said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings [As no doubt they were when compared with contemporary pagan sovereigns]: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins [in token of humiliation and contrition, שַׂק is identical, radically, with σάκκος , saccus, and our sack ] , and ropes upon our heads [ i.e; round our necks. To show how completely they were at Ahab's mercy. Bähr shows that this custom still exists in China hut the well-known story of the citizens of Calais, after its siege by Edward III ; supplies a closer illustration], and go out [Heb. go ] to the king of Israel [It would appear from the language of verse 33 am if Ahab's army was now besieging the place. He himself may have kept at a safe distance from it]: peradventure he will save thy life. [ LXX . our lives, τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν .]