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1 Kings 20:10

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And Benhadad 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.

And Benhadad {H1130} sent {H7971} unto him, and said {H559}, The gods {H430} do so {H6213} unto me, and more also {H3254}, if the dust {H6083} of Samaria {H8111} shall suffice {H5606} for handfuls {H8168} for all the people {H5971} that follow {H7272} me.

Ben-Hadad then sent this message to him: "May the gods do terrible things to me and worse ones as well if there's enough dust in Shomron to give each of my followers a handful!"

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.”

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.

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 20:10

This verse captures a pivotal moment during the siege of Samaria by Ben-Hadad, the powerful King of Syria, against Ahab, King of Israel. After initial demands for tribute (silver, gold, wives, and children) were met by Ahab, Ben-Hadad escalated his arrogance, demanding the right to plunder Samaria freely. Ahab, upon consulting his elders, refused this second, more humiliating demand. This verse is Ben-Hadad's bombastic response, a direct challenge and threat against Ahab and the city of Samaria, revealing his immense overconfidence in his military might.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Arrogance and Boastfulness: Ben-Hadad's declaration is a classic example of human pride and overconfidence in one's own strength. He believes his army is so vast that Samaria's very dust would be insufficient for each soldier to take a mere handful.
  • Oath and Implied Vengeance: The phrase "The gods do so unto me, and more also" is a common form of a self-imprecatory oath in ancient Near Eastern cultures. It signifies a solemn vow, invoking divine punishment upon oneself if the boast or promise is not fulfilled. Here, it underscores Ben-Hadad's absolute certainty of victory and utter destruction of Samaria.
  • Human Might vs. Divine Sovereignty: This dramatic boast sets the stage for God's intervention. The subsequent narrative in 1 Kings 20 highlights God's power to deliver His people, not through superior human strength, but by His own hand, often through unexpected means, thus humbling the proud and demonstrating His sovereignty over all nations and armies. For a similar principle, consider Psalm 33:16, which states that no king is saved by the multitude of an host.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "The gods do so unto me, and more also" is a literal translation of a common Hebrew oath formula, often rendered as "May God do so to me, and more also." It's a powerful and binding declaration, designed to convey absolute determination and certainty. The use of "gods" here reflects Ben-Hadad's polytheistic worldview, in contrast to Israel's monotheistic worship of Yahweh. The imagery of "the dust of Samaria" not sufficing "for handfuls for all the people that follow me" vividly portrays the Syrian king's conviction that his forces were overwhelmingly numerous, capable of utterly pulverizing and consuming the city.

Practical Application and Reflection

Ben-Hadad's boast serves as a timeless warning against pride and reliance on one's own resources or strength. In life, whether in personal endeavors or national conflicts, overconfidence can lead to misjudgment and ultimately, failure. This verse reminds us that true victory and security come from a place of humility and trust in a power greater than ourselves. Just as Proverbs 16:18 warns that "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall," Ben-Hadad's arrogance ultimately led to his defeat, as detailed later in 1 Kings 20:20.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 19:2 (5 votes)

    Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

  • Exodus 11:8 (3 votes)

    And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

  • Isaiah 37:24 (2 votes)

    By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, [and] the forest of his Carmel.

  • Isaiah 37:25 (2 votes)

    I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

  • Acts 23:12 (2 votes)

    ¶ And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

  • 2 Samuel 17:12 (2 votes)

    So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that [are] with him there shall not be left so much as one.

  • 2 Samuel 17:13 (2 votes)

    Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.