Definition: The sons of Shelah the son of Judah [were], Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Chronicles 4:21. It's a bit tricky, but we can understand it without getting bogged down in complicated details. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse tells us about the lineage of a very important family – the Shelah family – who lived long ago and were known for their fine linen work. Here's a more detailed explanation: “The sons of Shelah the son of Judah” : This identifies the family as descended from a specific person named Shelah, who was a prominent figure in ancient Israelite history. "Son of Judah" refers to a member of the tribe of Judah, a significant and influential group in the Old Testament. “Er the father of Lecah…” : This means Er was a very important ancestor of someone called Lecah. “Laadah the father of Mareshah…” : Laadah was another important ancestor of someone named Mareshah. “…and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea.” : This is the crucial part! It says that these families were known for creating beautiful and high-quality linen fabrics. "Wrote fine linen" means they were skilled weavers and produced excellent cloth. "House of Ashbea" refers to a specific location – perhaps a city or region in Israel. Putting it all together: The Shelah family, through their descendants like Er, Laadah, and Mareshah, were deeply involved in the production of fine linen fabrics. They had a strong reputation for quality and craftsmanship, and they lived in a place called "Ashbea." Important Note: It’s important to understand this verse within the context of Jewish history and tradition. The Shelah family was a significant group with a long and complex history connected to the Old Testament. --- Disclaimer: I am an AI Chatbot and not a religious scholar. This explanation is based on generally accepted interpretations of biblical texts. If you have more specific questions about this verse, or want to delve deeper into its significance, please let me know. Do you want me to: Explain the significance of the Shelah family? Provide context for the linen industry in ancient Israel?