Definition: And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 11:9. It’s a really surprising and unsettling passage about betrayal and revenge. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: This verse describes a situation where the Israelites (the people God chose to rule) were being harassed by the people of Jabeshgilead – a group from the region of Lebanon. They were constantly bothering them, causing problems, and even threatening them. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And they said unto the messengers that came…” This means the Israelites' leaders decided to send messengers to warn Jabeshgilead about the trouble they were having. “…that time” This refers to a specific moment in time – likely shortly after a particularly difficult episode. "...the sun be hot..." This is a crucial part. The sun was incredibly hot, and it was happening during this time. "...ye shall have help." This means that because of the heat, Jabeshgilead would suddenly become very strong and dangerous. They were about to become a formidable force. “…And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh…” This is where it gets really strange. The messengers showed the men of Jabeshgilead the situation – they revealed the threat they posed. "...and they were glad.” This is a strange and unsettling part. The people of Jabeshgilead, who had been bothering the Israelites, were happy about this threat! They saw it as a victory, a way to become powerful. So, what’s the big takeaway? This verse describes a situation where a small group of people (Jabeshgilead) deliberately and maliciously threatened the Israelites. The messengers' action of revealing this threat – combined with the heat – led to Jabeshgilead becoming incredibly strong and dangerous. It was a clear act of betrayal, as they were benefiting from the Israelites’ troubles. Important Note: This story is rooted in a very old text, and it’s important to remember that it's a narrative about conflict and revenge. It doesn't necessarily offer a comfortable or hopeful message. --- To help me explain it further, could you tell me: What specifically are you interested in knowing about this verse? (e.g., its historical context, its meaning, its theological significance?)