Definition: And three hundred shields [made he of] beaten gold: three hundred [shekels] of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse together. It's a fascinating and somewhat mysterious passage from the Old Testament! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a massive display of wealth – gold and precious jewels – dedicated to one specific shield. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And three hundred shields [made he of] beaten gold” : This refers to a huge number of shields, each made entirely of solid gold. The word “made he” is a bit tricky; it means the king created or commissioned these shields. It's not just that they were made; they were perfectly made and incredibly valuable. “Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield” : “Shekels” is a Hebrew word for coins, and “hundreds” means "a group of hundreds." So, this means the king gave one shield 300 coins (shekels). This is a huge amount of money! “And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.” : This is the really interesting part. The king wasn’t just displaying the wealth; he was keeping it safe . He placed these gold shields, filled with precious jewels, inside a large, fortified structure – the “house of the forest of Lebanon” – located near the border of Lebanon. This suggests a very important and secure location for this treasure. What does it all mean? Historians believe this story is about a massive tax levied by the king of Judah (a region in ancient Israel) on the people of Lebanon, who were known for their rich agricultural produce and trade. The king used these gold shields as a symbol of his power and generosity to the people of Lebanon. It was a way to show off his wealth and secure his kingdom’s borders. In short: This verse tells us about a tremendous display of wealth – a huge number of gold shields, all made of gold and worth a fortune – that was strategically placed in a fortified location near Lebanon. Do you want me to explain any part of this in more detail? For example, I could go into more detail about the historical context or the symbolism behind the story?