Definition: And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse. It’s a pretty dramatic and important passage from the Old Testament. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Ishbosheth was Kidnapped: The verse tells us that Ishbosheth, a young man who was captured by the Philistines (a people living on the coast of modern-day Israel), was brought to David. He Was an Enemy: Crucially, the Philistines were enemies of Israel. This means they weren’t friends or allies. The Lord Intervened: The key part is that the Lord intervened and avenged Saul’s (David's) wrath. Let’s unpack the meaning piece by piece: “And they brought the head of Ishbosheth…” – This refers to the body of Ishbosheth, which was taken captive. It’s a symbolic representation of his suffering and loss. “…unto David.” - This means it was brought to David, the King of Israel. “And said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth…” – The messenger or someone bringing this head to David was telling him about the tragedy. "...which sought thy life;" - This is a very important part. It means that the Philistines had been actively trying to harm and kill Ishbosheth, seeking to cause him pain and suffering. It’s essentially saying they were deliberately trying to make things difficult for him. "...and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed." – This is where it gets really powerful. "The Lord hath avenged..." means that God did intervene and punish the wrongdoers. “My lord the king” refers to David’s father, Saul. “This day of Saul” means this punishment happened on a specific day - specifically, on the day Saul was killed by the Hebrew priests. "Of his seed" is a reference to Saul's entire line of descendants, signifying that the punishment was for the sins of all those who followed him. Overall Meaning & Significance: This verse is a strong statement about God’s justice and protection. It shows that God doesn’t just tolerate evil; He actively intervenes to punish it and protect His people. It also highlights David's position as a key figure in the story of Israel’s history – he was chosen by God to be King, and this event underscores God’s plan for his nation. Think of it like this: It’s a reminder that even when things seem hopeless or terrible, God is always watching over us and will ultimately deliver justice. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of the verse in more detail? Give you a different perspective on this passage (e.g., its symbolism)? Discuss the historical context of this event?