Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 20:33

"Now the men observed diligently, and hasted to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot." — 1 Kings 20:33 (ASV)

Now the men. —There has been much discussion of the meaning here, and some proposals of slight emendations of the reading. But the general sense seems accurately rendered by our version. “The men watched” (“as for augury,” says the Septuagint), “and hasted, and caught up” (so as to make it sure) “what fell from him.”

What follows may be a question, “Is Ben-hadad your brother?” but probably the simple acceptance of the title is better. The whole description is graphic. The Syrians speak of “your slave Ben-hadad.” Ahab, in compassion or show of magnanimity, says, “my brother.” Eagerly the ambassadors catch up the word, which, according to Eastern custom, implied a pledge of amity not to be recalled; and Ahab accepts their inference, and seals it publicly by taking the conquered king into his chariot. (Compare to 2 Kings 10:15–16.)