Definition: And all the army of the Chaldees, that [were with] the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from 2 Kings 25:10. Itβs a really significant and dramatic moment in the book of Judges! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: The Chaldees were attacking: The story begins with the Babylonian army, known as the Chaldeans, coming to besiege Jerusalem β the capital city. They were a powerful and hostile group who wanted to take control of the city. They tried to break down the walls: The Chaldeans weren't just interested in fighting; they wanted to destroy Jerusalem. They attempted to breach the cityβs defenses, specifically aiming to destroy its walls. A specific soldier broke the rule: This verse tells us that one soldier within the elite guard β the most trusted and important soldiers β deliberately disobeyed a strict rule about how to handle the walls. He broke the rules! This was incredibly risky because breaking the rules could lead to severe punishment. What it means in simpler terms: It's a story of a single act of defiance that had huge consequences. It shows that even within a powerful army, there can be someone who chooses to disobey orders and take a risk. This seemingly small action β breaking a rule β ultimately led to a much bigger disaster for the city. Important Context (Briefly): This event happened during a period of intense turmoil in Israel before the time of Judges. The Babylonians were trying to destabilize the land, and this was one of their major attempts. --- Do you want me to: Explain why this story is significant? Discuss what it might mean for the Israelitesβ situation at that time? Give you a little more background on the Chaldees or the Babylonian army?