It may be supposed that a considerable time had passed in the siege, that the city had been reduced to an extremity, and that ambassadors had been sent by Ahab to ask terms of peace short of absolute surrender, before Ben-hadad would make such a demand. He would expect and intend his demand to be rejected, and this would have left him free to plunder the town, which was evidently what he desired and purposed.
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 20:2
1 Kings 20:2
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,