The men refers to Benhadad’s officials (verse 31).

The words were watching for an omen translate a single Hebrew verb that sometimes means “to seek an omen through divination.” In this context, however, the officials were not practicing some form of divination. Rather, they were paying careful attention to what King Ahab said, looking for something that would indicate whether or not he would act favorably toward Benhadad, the defeated king of Syria. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “divined his meaning.” The meaning here is that the messengers were attempting to find out if Ahab really meant what he had said in using the word “brother.”

They quickly took it up from him: The meaning of the Hebrew here is uncertain. The Hebrew verb rendered took … up occurs only here in the Old Testament. It apparently means “to declare valid” or “to accept as a convincing explanation.”

The initial letter of the Hebrew word translated from him seems to be an interrogative (question) particle, which makes little sense here. The reading in the margin of the Masoretic Text indicates that this initial letter is a pronominal suffix (it) and is to be read as the final letter of the previous word.

For quickly took it up from him, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “quickly caught the word from him.” Other renderings include “quickly accepted his offer” and “were eager to take Ahab at his word” (La Bible du Semeur).

Your brother Ben-hadad: See the comments on the term brother in 1 Kgs 9.13.

He caused him to come up into the chariot means Ahab caused Benhadad to get into Ahab’s chariot. The Hebrew verb here is a causative form of the verb translated “went up” in verses 1 and 26. Benhadad had “come up” against Samaria and Aphek, yet it was the king of Israel who caused the Syrian king “to come up” into his chariot. But a more natural equivalent in many languages may be something like “Ahab invited him into his chariot” (Revised English Bible) or “Ahab made him step into the chariot” (Moffatt). Others may prefer to say “Ahab helped him up into his chariot.”

For the word chariot, see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.5.

Since Benhadad had been hiding, he would have to go find Ahab before he could get into Ahab’s chariot. In some languages this implicit information will need to be made explicit. Compare Parole de Vie for the last half of the verse: “Ben-Hadad left his hiding place. He went to find Ahab, who had him climb into his chariot.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .