And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king
With a loud voice, signifying he had something to say unto him, at which he stopped:
and he said, thy servant went out into the midst of the battle;
this was not real, but fictitious, an apologue, fable, or parable, by which he would represent to Ahab his own case, and bring him under conviction of his folly, just as Nathan dealt with David:
and, behold, a man turned aside;
a superior officer in the army:
and brought a man unto me;
he had made a prisoner of:
and said, keep this man;
do not let him escape:
if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or
else thou shalt pay a talent of silver;
if he let him go willingly, or by any means he should get out of his hands, then he should either die for it, or be fined a talent of silver, which of our money is three hundred and seventy five pounds; and to this it seems he agreed.