And Ben-hadad said to him, "The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." And Ahab said, "I will let you go on these terms." So he made a covenant with him and let him go. – 1 Kings 20:34 (ESV)
Since Ahab did not devote Ben-Hadad to destruction before the Lord, the Lord promised to end Ahab's reign. This message came by a cunning (if not somewhat masochistic) prophet, who turned the tables on Ahab by his very own words, much like Nathan did to King David (2 Samuel 12). Ahab's 'kindness' to Ben-Hadad was probably more politically or financially motivated, rather than a commitment to follow the Word of the Lord. We must guard against that which would turn us from following God – even partial disobedience can result in awful consequences. Ahab's deviation will cost him is very life (1 Kings 20:42).
