Definition: And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 15:9: “And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned over Judah.” Here's a simple explanation: “In the twentieth year…” This tells us this is about a specific period – a decade, which was roughly 10 years. “…of Jeroboam…” Jeroboam was a powerful king who ruled in Israel during this time. He was known for being a bit of a rebel and challenging God’s laws. “King of Israel…” This means he was the ruler of all the Israelites, which is a group of people living near Jerusalem. “Reigned over Judah…” "Judah" refers to a specific region in Israel – a part that was under Jeroboam’s control. So, basically, this verse says: During the 10th year of Jeroboam's reign, the king of Israel (Jeroboam) was the ruler of the area that included the people who lived near Jerusalem. Important Context - It’s a Bit Complicated! This is a really tricky part of the Bible because it highlights a significant conflict between Jeroboam and God. Jeroboam tried to make his own god, which is against God's law and plan for Israel. The verse shows that King Jeroboam was in charge during a time when he was challenging God’s will. In short, this verse describes a period of conflict where one king ruled over a group of people, and it points to a significant disagreement between the king and God. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you some background information about the time period? Discuss what this verse might mean in terms of biblical storytelling?