1 kings 20:3 - ‘Your silver and your gold is mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’”

Generated Verse: 1 kings 20:3

What does "1 kings 20:3" mean?


The verse "‘Your silver and your gold is mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine,’” (1 Kings 20:3) is a declaration of total dominance and ownership by Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria), to Ahab, the king of Israel. Let's break down what it means:

"Your silver and your gold is mine": This represents Ahab's wealth and economic power. Ben-Hadad is claiming ownership of all of Ahab's resources.

"Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine": This is a claim to Ahab's family, indicating ownership of his household and lineage. Taking wives and children, especially the "best," was a way to humiliate and subjugate the conquered ruler and take the finest members of his family into servitude or as hostages. It shows complete power over Ahab's personal life and future.

In Summary:

This verse is a harsh and absolute demand for surrender. Ben-Hadad is not just asking for tribute; he's demanding total control of Ahab's wealth, family, and, by extension, his kingdom. It's a statement of complete subjugation and a demonstration of Ben-Hadad's overwhelming power in this particular situation. Ben-hadad is essentially saying "You are mine".

Context is Important:

Remember to read this verse in the broader context of 1 Kings 20. Ben-Hadad had already besieged Samaria (the capital of Israel) with a vast army. This verse is part of his initial demands to Ahab, designed to force a swift and humiliating surrender without a fight. It is, in fact, accepted by Ahab in the following verse (1 Kings 20:4), which means it is an offer of surrender. Then Ben-Hadad gets greedier (1 Kings 20:5-6), which forces Ahab to resist and eventually defeat Ben-Hadad.

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