Definition: Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, [even] all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Kings 22:16. It's a pretty dramatic and ominous statement about impending disaster. Here’s a simple explanation: The Core Idea: This verse is telling us that God is going to bring terrible consequences to the people of Judah (a kingdom in Israel) based on something they’ve read – specifically, the words of the book of the law. Let's unpack it word by word: “Thus saith the LORD” : This means God is speaking directly to us. It’s a significant and authoritative voice. “Behold, I will bring evil upon this place…” : This is a warning – God intends for something bad to happen here . “Evil” isn't just any kind of trouble; it suggests something malicious and destructive. “…and upon the inhabitants thereof, [even] all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:” This is where it gets more specific. "The king of Judah" refers to King Josiah, who ruled during this time. “All the words of the book” means everything – every law, instruction, and story in the entire biblical text. “Which the king of Judah hath read” means he’s been consuming the whole Bible! So, what's happening? God is saying that because King Josiah was reading the entire Bible, He will bring a devastating judgment upon the people of Judah. This isn’t just about a single event; it signifies a widespread and serious crisis. Important Context: This verse comes from a time of great upheaval in Israel's history. Josiah had been trying to purify the kingdom through religious reforms, but he was failing. God was displeased with this lack of repentance and determined to punish Judah for its disobedience. In short, it’s a warning about the consequences of ignoring God’s word and failing to follow His commands. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the significance of this passage in the Bible? Talk about why this verse is considered significant?