Let us—put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes, &c.— The approaching persons, with a sword hanging to the neck, is, in the East, thought to be a very humble and submissive manner of coming before them. So William of Tyre, describing the great solemnity and humiliation with which the governor of Egypt under the caliph of that country appeared before his master, tells us, that he prostrated himself on the ground thrice, with his sword hanging to his neck, which, at the third prostration, he took off and laid down. Thevenot has mentioned this circumstance in the account he has given of the taking of Bagdat by the Turks in 1638, extracted from the letter of a person of distinction in the Turkish army, to one of the Sangiacks of Egypt; for upon the besieged begging quarter we are told, that the lieutenant, and principal officer of the governor of Bagdat, went to the grand vizier with a scarf about his neck, and his sword wreathed in it, (which, says he, is an ignominious mark of submission,) and begged, both in his own and his master's name, aman, that is to say, pardon and mercy; and having obtained it, the governor came and was introduced to the grand signior, and obtained not only a confirmation of the promise of life which had been made him, but also divers presents of value. Thevenot supposed, that the hanging the sword about the neck was an ignominious mark of submission; but its being used by the governor of Egypt, when he appeared before his master, shews, that though it was an expression of humiliation and perfect submission, it was not an ignominious one; but a token it undoubtedly was of such respect as was thought proper for the conquered to pay to the victor, when they begged their lives; and as such was used, I suppose, by Ben-hadad: for those ropes about the necks of his servants were, I should imagine, what they suspended their swords with, if the customs of later times may be thought explanatory of those of ancient days, as in the East, particularly, they often are. Observations, p. 354.
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 20:31
1 Kings 20:31-32
31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.