KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Ben-Hadad sent a message to him, saying, 'May the gods strike me down and do even worse to me if there's enough dust left in Samaria to fill the hands of all the soldiers who follow me.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Ben-Hadad is making an arrogant threat, boasting that his army is so massive they'll completely destroy Samaria until nothing but dust remains.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during a siege of Samaria (the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel) by Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, around 850 BC. Ben-Hadad had formed a coalition with 32 other kings and was threatening King Ahab of Israel. This boastful threat was meant to intimidate Israel into surrender by emphasizing the overwhelming size of his army.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.
Share or Save