Bible Strands
1 Kings 20:28
Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans have said that the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — A man of God approaches King Ahab of Israel during the standoff between the Israelite and Aramean armies. He delivers a divine declaration regarding the upcoming battle.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּגַּשׁ (va.yiggash) translates literally as "he drew near," describing the prophet's physical movement toward the royal tent. The phrase אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים ('ish ha'elohim) literally means "man of God," identifying the speaker's prophetic authority.
The thread — This confrontation echoes the earlier prophetic warning in 1 Kings 20:13 and recalls the title "man of God" used for Elijah in 1 Kings 17:18. The theme of God's sovereignty over specific geography also resonates with the psalmist's challenge to the nations in Psalm 79:10.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine power is not confined to elevated terrain but operates across all landscapes. It requires the reader to acknowledge that historical outcomes are determined by God's direct intervention rather than human military advantage.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there came a man of God, 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, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 20:13 Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
- 1 Kings 17:18 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
- Psalms 79:10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
- Ezekiel 12:16 But I will spare a few of them from sword and famine and plague, so that in the nations to which they go, they can recount all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
- Ezekiel 36:21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.
- Exodus 6:7 I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
- Exodus 7:5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”
- Exodus 8:22 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land.
- Deuteronomy 29:6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 32:27 if I had not dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest their adversaries misunderstand and say: ‘Our own hand has prevailed; it was not the LORD who did all this.’”