Definition: And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that verse from 2 Kings 15:10. It’s a pretty dramatic and important passage about leadership and justice. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: A Problem Arises: A man named Shallum was appointed as a leader (probably a governor or something similar) in a region. Something bad happened to him – he was attacked and killed. Someone Plots Against Him: A man named Jabesh, who was also involved in the area, conspired against Shallum. This means they worked together with the intention of harming him. He’s Killed & Reigned: They managed to kill Shallum before the people saw him. Then, they took over his position and ruled as if he were still there. Putting it Together - A Simple Explanation: “Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.” basically means: They plotted to hurt him. Jabesh and Shallum worked together to do something bad. They killed him. They actually took his life. They held onto the position of leadership. They essentially became the new leader while still pretending that the old one was still in charge. Why is this important? This story highlights a few things: The dangers of scheming: It shows how someone can be plotted against and become a problem, even if they don't directly cause harm initially. Justice and Order: It points to the importance of justice and that those who are in positions of power should be held accountable for their actions. It suggests a need for leadership to act fairly and protect the people. In essence, it’s a story about betrayal and how someone can manipulate events to gain power. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this passage (like when it happened)? Provide some historical background on the region mentioned?