Definition: Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 20:9. It's a pretty dramatic and puzzling passage! Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Story: God is talking to a king named Benhadad (likely from the story of Solomon). God is saying He will fulfill a request that Benhadad sent to a servant – but He’s going to hold back. It's like He's saying, "I’m going to help you with this thing, but I won't do it completely." Here’s what it means in simpler terms: “Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad…” : This tells us God is communicating directly with a king. “…Tell my lord the king…” : God is telling Benhadad to tell him exactly what He's going to do. “…All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do.” : This is the core of the message. God is saying, “I will help you with this request, but I’m going to leave it unfinished or stop short of completing it." “And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.” : The messengers went to Benhadad and told him what God was about to do. But, they returned with a new message – that God wasn't going to follow through with everything he promised. Possible Interpretations (it’s not always clear): A Promise Made: It could be that God made a promise to Benhadad, and He didn’t keep it completely. The verse is highlighting that promises are often incomplete. God's Control: The verse suggests a level of divine control – God is intervening in the situation and doesn't allow things to proceed as planned. Important Note: This passage is famously mysterious! It’s been interpreted in many ways throughout history, and it continues to spark debate among theologians and biblical scholars. There isn’t one single, definitive answer. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the story from 1 Kings 20? Discuss a specific interpretation of this verse?