Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 20:39

"And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king; and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver." — 1 Kings 20:39 (ASV)

Your servant. —The parable is, of course, designed (like those of 2 Samuel 12:1–4; 2 Samuel 14:5–11) to make Ahab condemn himself. In Ahab, however, it excites no compunction, but characteristic sullenness of displeasure, like that of 1 Kings 21:4.