1 Kings 20:10

Translations

Modern

Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”

Traditional

And Ben–hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

Literal

And Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “Thus may the gods do to me, and thus more, if the dust of Samaria is left for handfuls for all the people who are at my feet.”

Latin

Reversique nuntii retulerunt ei. Qui remisit, et ait: Hæc faciant mihi dii, et hæc addant, si suffecerit pulvis Samariæ pugillis omnis populi qui sequitur me.

Original

Hebrew

English

Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”

Notes

1 Kings 20:10–11

Ben-hadad’s third group gave an ultimatum: Surrender or die. His harsh threat to plunder Samaria was reinforced with a curse. This was a form of psychological warfare common in the ancient Near East (see 2 Kings 18:19–35).
Ahab’s third response to Ben-hadad included wise sayings. The conflict's outcome was still uncertain.

Theme notes and profiles

Ahab Arameans Jezebel

Related verses

1 Kings 19:2
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!”
Exodus 11:8
And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.
Judges 4:10
…where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
Acts 23:12
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Isaiah 37:24–25
Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.
2 Samuel 17:12–13
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.
2 Kings 19:23–24
Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest outposts, the densest of its forests.
Isaiah 10:13–14
For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.

People

Ben-hadad: King of Aram, contemporary of Asa and Baasha

Places

Samaria: Capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel; Samaritan inhabitants

Glossary

Ahab (King) Kings, Books of First and Second Samaria

Topics

Ancient Samaria: Samaria the Capital of Besieged by Benhadad Boasting: Ben-Hadad Presumption: Ben-Hadad Syria: Benhadad King of, Besieged Samaria Trust of the Wicked: Benhadad

1 Kings 20:10

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