Put ropes is literally “ropes.” Revised Standard Version adds the verb put as required by the context.
Pray, let me live: The particle of entreaty, Pray, is important and should somehow be reflected in translation if at all possible. Good News Translation, like New American Bible, attempts to do so by using the verb “pleads,” while certain other versions have “Please” (New International Version, New Century Version, Anchor Bible). But in many languages it may be better translated by introducing the request with the words “I beg you….”
Let me live is literally “let my soul live.” See the comments on 1 Kgs 1.12 regarding the Hebrew noun for “soul,” which is nephesh. In certain languages this may be more naturally rendered negatively as “don’t kill me.”
Since the words of Benhadad’s officials contain a quotation within another quotation, they may be more naturally rendered by changing the embedded quotation into indirect speech. Good News Translation provides one possible model. An alternative model is “Our king Benhadad is your servant. He begs you to let him remain alive.”
He said may be rendered “Ahab answered” (Good News Translation).
Does he still live?: This question probably should be taken as a real question of surprise by Ahab. He would have thought Benhadad had died during the battle or when the wall of Aphek had collapsed. In some languages this question may be rendered “Is he really still living?”
He is my brother: For brother see the comments on 1 Kgs 9.13. In this verse the word is certainly not to be understood in its literal sense. For this reason it is acceptable to translate “Benhadad is like a brother to me” (Contemporary English Version). Translators may wish to include a footnote stating that the word brother was used in treaties to indicate that the rulers making the treaties were equal in status.
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 .