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Ben-hadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Boast of Total Annihilation
Commentators unanimously explain Ben-hadad's strange-sounding threat. He is boasting that his army is so massive that if they were to completely pulverize the city of Samaria, there would not be enough dust to provide even a single handful for each of his soldiers. It is a hyperbolic boast meant to communicate overwhelming force and the certainty of Ahab's destruction.
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1 Kings
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5
18th Century
Presbyterian
If the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls... — In its general sense, this phrase is undoubtedly a boast that the number of Ben-hadad’…
19th Century
Anglican
The dust of Samaria —when razed to the ground. The phrase probably implies a threat of destruction, as well as a boast of overwhel…
Baptist
That is to say, "I will bring so many against you that all the dust of the city would not be enough to provide a handful each."
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And Benhadad sent unto him, and said That is, to Ahab:
the gods do so unto me, and more also…
Benhadad sent Ahab a very insolent demand. Ahab sent a very disgraceful submission; sin brings people into such straits, by putting them out of Div…
