1 Kings 20:28

26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.

27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

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.

29 And they pitched 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 an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think 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.’”
KJV
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.
WEB
A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “The LORD says, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’”
ASV
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.
DARBY
And the man of God drew near, and spoke to the king of Israel and said, Thus saith Jehovah: Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the mountains, but he is not a god of the valleys, I will give all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
BLB
And came a man of God and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Because that the Aramaeans have said [that] YHWH [is] God of the hills, and He [is] not God of the valleys, therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you⁺ shall know that I [am] YHWH.’”
ÅB
Da trådte den Guds mann fram og sa til Israels konge: Så sier Herren, sa han: Fordi syrerne har sagt: Herren er en fjellgud og ikke en dalgud, så vil jeg gi hele denne store mengde i din hånd, og dere skal kjenne at jeg er Herren.
OTB
Da kom en Guds mann og sa til Israels konge, "Dette sier Herren: Fordi arameerne har sagt, 'Herren er en gud av høydene, men ikke en gud av dalene,' vil jeg overgi denne store hæren i dine hender, og du skal vite at jeg er Herren."
B1930
Da trådte den Guds mann frem og sa til Israels konge: Så sier Herren, sa han: Fordi syrerne har sagt: Herren er en fjellgud og ikke en dalgud, så vil jeg gi hele denne store mengde i din hånd, og I skal kjenne at jeg er Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 20:13

    And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 17:18

    And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 36:21–23

    But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 12:16

    But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 79:10

    Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 7:8–9

    O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 20:22–23

    And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 7:5

    And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

    Read in context