Definition: In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from 1 Kings 16:8. It’s a little complex, but here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: This verse tells us about the beginning of a period in Israel's history – a time called “the twenty and sixth year” – when a man named Elah (from Baasha, a tribe) took over as king of Judah. This happened after Asa, the king of Judah, died. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “In the twenty and sixth year…” : This tells us when this period started – around 2000 years ago. “…of Asa king of Judah…” : This names the person who was ruling at that time, Asa. “…king of Judah…” : This is the name of the people being ruled. “…began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel…” : Elah was a man from the tribe of Baasha. He was appointed to rule over Israel . (Note: “Israel” refers to the Israelites, who were a group of people in ancient times). "...over Israel in Tirzah…" : This is where it gets interesting! Elah ruled in the region of Tirzah – which was near modern-day Lebanon. “…two years.” : This is the duration of his rule. In a nutshell, this verse describes a period of governance that began with Elah and lasted for two years. It’s a little bit about how power shifted and where it started in Israel's history. Important Context: It’s important to remember that this is part of a larger story about the rise and fall of kingdoms in ancient Israel. The story continues with other kings and periods of conflict and change. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Talk more about the historical context (like why this happened)? Discuss what this verse might suggest about the time period?