Discovery Box1 Kings 20:23 
Context20:23 Now the advisers 1 of the king of Syria said to him: “Their God is a god of the mountains. That’s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them.
1 Kings 20:31
Context20:31 His advisers 2 said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. 3 Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads 4 and surrender 5 to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.”
1 tn Or “servants.”
2 tn Or “servants.”
3 tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.
4 sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.
5 tn Heb “go out.”
