Definition: In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from 1 Kings 15:33. It's a little tricky, but here’s what it means in simple terms: Basically, Asa the king of Judah was ruling over a small area called Tirzah – which is essentially a kind of exile or outpost. Here’s a breakdown of each part: “In the third year…” : This tells us this event happened during a specific period. “King of Judah” : Asa was the king of the people who lived in Judah, which is a region of Israel. “Baasha the son of Ahijah” : Baasha was a man named. He was appointed to rule over all Israel (meaning all Israelites) in Tirzah. "The son of" means he was Asa's son. “to reign over all Israel…” : This is the key part! He was given this important responsibility to lead and oversee everyone living in Tirzah. “…in Tirzah, twenty and four years” : He ruled there for a long time – twenty-four whole years. So, what’s the big takeaway? This passage tells us that Asa was a very powerful king, but he made a mistake by establishing a large and isolated settlement called Tirzah. It wasn't a thriving place, and it ultimately led to problems. It suggests a period of instability and perhaps a lack of strong leadership. Important Note: This story is often interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of isolation and neglecting the needs of your people. --- Do you want me to explain any of these points in more detail, or would you like me to focus on a specific aspect of this verse? For example, we could talk about: The context of Tirzah in ancient times What might have caused Asa to make this decision The significance of the long period of rule