BibleWord.ai› Bible› 1 Kings› Chapter 20› Verse 28

1 Kings 20:28

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 20:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
1 Kings 20:28 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
29And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.
30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
31And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
← 1 Kings 20:271 Kings 20:29 →
← Full Chapter 20 1 Kings Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there came a man of God, etc.] The same as before, (<112013>1 Kings 20:13,22) or had come f435 before the little army went out to meet the Syrians; though he might go to Ahab when encamped, for his encouragement: and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, thus saith the Lord, because the Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys; (see Gill on “<112023>1 Kings 20:23”). therefore will I deliver, all this great multitude into thine hand; not for Ahab’s sake would the Lord do this, who does not appear thankful to God for the former victory, nor to be reformed from his idolatry, and the better for it, but for the honour of his own name, which had been…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A man of God - Evidently not the prophet who had spoken to Ahab the year before 1 Kings 20:13, 1 Kings 20:22. He probably dwelt in the neighborhood of Samaria. Now that Ahab and his army had marched out into the Trans-Jordanic territory, another prophet, a native probably of that region, announced God’s will to them. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“there came: Kg1 20:13, Kg1 20:22, Kg1 13:1, Kg1 17:18; Ch2 20:14-20 Because: Kg1 20:23; Isa 37:29-37 therefore will: Kg1 20:13; Deu 32:27; Jos 7:8, Jos 7:9; Job 12:16-19; Psa 58:10, Psa 58:11, Psa 79:10; Isa 37:29, Isa 37:35; Jer 14:7; Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 36:21-23, Eze 36:32 ye shall know: Kg1 20:13; Exo 6:7, Exo 7:5, Exo 8:22; Deu 29:6; Eze 6:14, Eze 11:12, Eze 12:16, Eze 36:22, Eze 39:7 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:29”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then the man of God (the prophet mentioned in Kg1 20:13, Kg1 20:22) came again to Ahab with the word of God: "Because the Syrians have said Jehovah is a mountain-God and not a God of the valleys, I will give this great multitude into thy hand, that ye may know that I am Jehovah." 3 Kings (1 Kings) 20:29”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read 1 Kings 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification