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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

1 Kings 20:10

And Benhadad sent unto him and said, in the rage of a tyrant who finds himself foiled, 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! His intention was so utterly to destroy the city that the dust of the ruins would not even suffice for the purpose mentioned by him.

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See also 1 Kings 20:10 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Kings 20:10. _IF THE DUST OF SAMARIA SHALL SUFFICE_] This is variously understood. Jonathan translates thus: "If the dust of Shomeron shall be sufficient for the soles of the feet of the peopl...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IF THE DUST OF SAMARIA SHALL SUFFICE FOR HANDFULS ... - In its general sense this phrase is undoubtedly a boast that the number of Ben-hadad’s troops was such as to make resistance vain and foolish. W...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. KING AHAB: HIS WICKED REIGN AND END CHAPTER 20 Ahab's War with the Syrians and His Victory _ 1. The siege and relief of Samaria (1 Kings 20:1)_ 2. The victory at Aphek (1 Kings 20:22) 3. A prop...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    AHAB'S VICTORY OVER BEN-HADAD. Chs. 20 and 22 come from another source. Elijah does not appear, the religious interest is less prominent, and Ahab is presented in a far less hostile light. He acts as...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me_ i.e. I will bring such a host that if each man were but to take with him a handful of earth, Samaria would be all...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    II. THE GREAT MILITARY CRISIS 20:1-43 The account of Elijah's ministry during the reign of Ahab is interrupted by chapter 20 probably because the author is attempting to give a chronological treatment...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THE KING OF ISRAEL ANSWERED AND SAID, MY LORD, O KING, ACCORDING TO THY SAYING, I AM THINE, AND ALL THAT I HAVE._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA The Syrians besiege Samaria, but a sally being made from the city by the direction of a prophet, they are driven off, and the next year are beaten at Aphek. Ahab, having...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S LESSONS FROM HISTORY 1 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 20 GOD ALLOWS AHAB’S ARMY TO DEFEAT THE ARMY FROM SYRIA V1 Benhadad, king of Syria gathered his whole army. Then 32 other kings with the...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE DUST OF SAMARIA — when razed to the ground. The phrase probably implies a threat of destruction, as well as a boast of overwhelming strength. Josephus (_Ant._ viii. 14, 2) has a curious explanatio...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַ יֹּ֕אמֶר...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    AHAB AND BENHADAD 1 Kings 20:1 IN the Septuagint and in Josephus the events narrated in the twentieth chapter of the Book of Kings are placed after the meeting of Elijah with Ahab at the door of Nabo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BOASTING BEFORE THE BATTLE 1 Kings 20:1 Ben-hadad's insolent demand indicated how low Israel had sunk. The worship of Jezebel's gods had wrought moral degeneracy. Let us never forget this lesson. Whe...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A PROSPEROUS NATION 1 Kings 4:1; 1 Kings 20:1; 1 Kings 21:1; 1 Kings 22:1 What a picture is here given of national contentment and

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the actual movement in the downfall of Ahab. Ben-hadad, drunken, profligate, despotic, came in the pride of arms against Samaria. By the voices of prophets Jehovah spoke to Ahab, who, acti...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the (e) dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. (e) Much less will there be found...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Handfuls. Hebrew shohal. The Septuagint, read " shuhal " and render it, "suffice for the foxes, for all the people, (even for) my infantry;" (Haydock) as if his forces were so numerous as to cover the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (7) Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silv...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The days were very dark in Israel. Not only rebellion. And rebellion, always serious, was peculiarly so in Israel, for there it was insubordination in a direct manner against not only God's providence...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    According to the outward history of Israel, that which follows the revelations made to Elijah in Horeb looks like a time of restoration and blessing; and outwardly it was so. Benhadad is overcome and...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND BENHADAD SENT UNTO HIM, AND SAID,.... That is, to Ahab: THE GODS DO SO UNTO ME, AND MORE ALSO; bring greater evils upon me than I can think or express: IF THE DUST OF SAMARIA SHALL SUFFICE FOR H...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 10. _The gods do so to me, and m...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _This thing I may not do_ If I would do it, I cannot; because my people will not suffer it. _If the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls_, &c. If I do not assault thy city with so potent and num...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Benhadad not content with Ahabs hommage, besiegeth Samaria. 13 By the direction of a Prophet, the Syrians are slaine. 22 As the Prophet forewarned Ahab, the Syrians trusting in the valleys, come a...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    AHAB DEFEATS SYRIA (vs.1-22) God's care for His people Israel is still remarkably displayed in this chapter in spite of the unholy character of Ahab. Ben Hadad, king of Syria, marshaled a tremendous...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    FOLLOW ME: _ Heb._ are at my feet...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 Benhadad sent Ahab a very insolent demand. Ahab sent a very disgraceful submission; sin brings men into such straits, by putting them out of the Divine protection. If God do not rule us, our ene...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    If I do not assault thy city with so potent and numerous an army, that shall turn all thy city into a heap of dust, and shall be sufficient to carry it all away, though every soldier take but one hand...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Kings 20:10 Ben-Hadad H1130 sent H7971 (H8799) said H559 (H8799) gods H430 so H6213 (H8799) also...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    WAR WITH BENHADAD KING OF ARAM (1 KINGS 20:1). There is no indication at what point in Ahab's reign these events occurred, but a situation is indicated where the power of the Aramaeans had now grown s...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INITIAL WAR WITH BENHADAD (1 KINGS 20:1). This war would appear to have been occasioned by a refusal by Ahab to pay the tribute due under a vassalage treaty. Because of this Benhadad came with his...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Ahab's Syrian campaigns and victories. His sin in sparing Ben-hadad. CHARACTERS: God, Ahab, Ben-hadad, two prophets. CONCLUSION: Enemies are more than a match for us, but no match for Jeho...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Kings 20:3. _Thy gold thy wives are mine._ The African princes still send similar messages to one another. Mungo Park mentions one who sent an order to a neighbouring prince to have the houses all m...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 20:1 After Elijah’s recruitment of Elisha, one expects to read of his anointing of Hazael as king over Syria and of Jehu as king over Israel (compare 1 Kings 19:15). Instead

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE DEFEAT OF THE SYRIANS CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 1 Kings 20:1. BENHADAD—Son of the king of the same name mentioned (chap. 1 Kings 15:20). THIRTY AND TWO KINGS WITH HIM—Vassals or viceroys w...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE INVASIONS OF ISRAEL BY THE SYRIANS AND THEIR RESULTS.—The insertion of this chapter, which contains an account of two invasions of Israel by the hosts of Syria, and of the utter defeat...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Benhadad who was presently the king of Syria gathered all of his host together: and there were thirty-two kings that went with him, with their horses, and chariots: and they came up and besieged S...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 19:23; 2 Kings 19:24; 2 Samuel 17:12;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And said, &c. — If I do not assault thy city with so numerous an army, as shall turn all thy city into an heap of dust, and shall be sufficient to carry it all away, though every soldier take but one...

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