Definition: Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Chronicles 28:4. It's a really important and significant passage in the Bible about God’s plan for Israel. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes how God decided who would be the leader of Israel after Moses. It’s saying that God had already chosen one person to rule over all of Israel – and He specifically chose Judah. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Howbeit the LORD God of Israel…” - This means “But the Lord God of Israel…” It’s introducing a specific, important decision made by God. “…chose me before all the house of my father…” – This is a bit tricky, but it means that God had already decided before any time who would be king. It wasn't something He was deciding later ; it was a definite choice. “…to be king over Israel for ever:” - This is the key part! God chose this person to rule over Israel forever – from the very beginning of their history. Think of it as a lifelong position. “for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father…” - This clarifies who Judah is. "Judah" was a specific branch of Israel – a tribe that was very important in the history of the nation. God chose this Judah to rule. “and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel:” - This means God decided that this particular Judah would be the leader of all of Israel – every single person and every place under their rule. In a nutshell: God chose one man, Judah, to be the leader of Israel from the very beginning. He specifically chose him to rule over everything. Why is this important? This verse establishes a foundational principle about God's plan for Israel. It shows that He has a definite purpose and a specific path for His people – and that this path is established before any time. It highlights the importance of following God’s will and being entrusted with leadership. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Give you some historical context (like when this happened in Israel's history)? Answer a specific question you might have about it?