Definition: And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this Bible verse together. It’s a pretty serious message about God’s judgment. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: This verse describes God’s plan to punish the people of Israel who were led astray by their leaders and disobeyed him. Basically, he's saying he knows exactly what they are planning to do – to harm the Israelites. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord?” – This is a question from Hazael, who was a leader of the northern tribes of Israel. He's asking why God is upset about what's going to happen. It suggests he’s troubled by this impending plan. “And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel.” – This is the main part. God reveals that he knows exactly what the people are planning to do. He's saying he has a clear picture of their actions. “Their strong holds will thou set on fire…” – “Strong holds” means a place of refuge, a community, or a settlement. So this refers to their settlements and communities in Israel. God is saying they’ll be destroyed. “…and wilt slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.” – This is the most shocking part. It describes specific acts of violence: Slain with the sword: They'll be killed by soldiers. Dash their children: They’ll be deliberately harmed or killed by children. Rip up their women with child: This is a particularly brutal detail – they’ll be targeted and killed while pregnant or with babies. Overall Meaning & Context: This verse comes from the Book of 2 Kings, a portion of the Old Testament. It's a warning about the dangers of disobedience and rebellion against God. It’s a time when Israel was experiencing internal strife and instability, and God is showing his displeasure with their actions. It highlights that God is watching over His people and will not tolerate evil. Important Note: This passage is often interpreted as a prophecy about the destruction of Israel, but it's more accurately understood as a warning about the consequences of rejecting God’s guidance and leading a nation away from righteousness. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific event or story in the Bible? Discuss what this verse might be saying about human nature (e.g., our tendency to do wrong)?