Definition: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, [and] him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It’s a pretty serious warning from God about a situation in ancient Israel. Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that God is going to punish Jeroboam, the second king of Israel, for disobeying him and causing problems. He’s essentially saying he’ll take away a portion of the people who are left in Israel because of his actions. Let's look at it piece by piece: “Therefore, behold…” : This is a way of introducing a warning or a significant event that’s about to happen. “…I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam…” : God intends to cause harm and trouble to Jeroboam's kingdom. "...and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall…” : This is the key part. "Pisseth against the wall" means he’s breaking a rule or boundary. God is saying Jeroboam has been defiant and disobeyed him – perhaps he's trying to do something that God forbids. "...and [him] that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam…” : God intends to isolate a portion of the people who are left with Jeroboam. He’s essentially saying he'll remove these people from the kingdom, leaving them vulnerable. “…as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.” : This is a powerful metaphor. It compares the situation to taking away dung (which is waste) – God is removing something valuable and necessary. The process continues until everything is gone. What's the message? This verse warns about disobedience and rebellion against God’s authority. It’s a reminder that God values order and obedience, and he will not tolerate those who stray from his path. It highlights that God can be very firm in punishing those who defy him. Important Context (briefly): In the Old Testament, this verse comes before the story of the division of Israel into two kingdoms – one ruled by Solomon, and the other under Jeroboam. It’s a warning about the potential for conflict and instability that could arise from disobedience. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the verse? Talk about the historical context of this passage? Discuss what it might mean in terms of biblical themes (like obedience, justice, or divine judgment)?