Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 21:27

"And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly." — 1 Kings 21:27 (ASV)

And went softly. —The translation seems correct; the meaning is variously conjectured. The Septuagint (in some MSS.) has “bent down” in sorrow; the Vulgate similarly “with head bent down;” the Eastern versions and Josephus, “barefooted,” which seems far the most probable meaning.