Definition: And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the kingâs daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in [these] times.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It’s a bit complex, but we can understand it as a prophecy about the future – specifically, about the rise and fall of empires. Here's a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is talking about a very long time in the future (likely centuries), when there will be two powerful kingdoms: The South: This kingdom will be located in the south, and it’s ruled by a woman. The North: This kingdom will be located in the north, and it’s ruled by a man. Let's unpack each part: “And in the end of years they shall join themselves together…” : This suggests that these two kingdoms will eventually merge or become one. It’s about a coming union. “…for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement.” : This is the key part. A female ruler (the “king’s daughter” in this case) from the South will travel North to meet with the King of the North. “But she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in [these] times.” : This is where it gets a little more symbolic. It means that the South’s ruler will give up power to the North. Here’s what that implies: “She shall not retain the power of the arm” : This is a big one! The "arm" refers to the military strength of the kingdom. It suggests that the South's power will diminish over time, and it won't be able to defend itself effectively. “neither shall he stand, nor his arm:” - The North’s power (represented by the King) will become dominant. "but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in [these] times.” : This is where it gets really poetic. The people who helped create or support this South's ruler (the ones who brought her to the North) – those individuals and their lineage – will become very important later on when the two kingdoms unite. “Strengthened in these times” means they will be vital during a time of significant transition. In simpler terms: The prophecy says that a woman from the South (the one with power) will eventually give up her authority to a man from the North, and this will create a shift in power that leads to a final union of these two kingdoms. Important Note: This is a complex passage from the Bible and has been interpreted in many ways throughout history. It’s often seen as a warning about potential conflicts between nations. --- Do you want me to explain any of these points further, or would you like me to focus on a specific aspect of this verse? For example: Are you curious about the symbolism behind the "arm"? Would you like a more detailed explanation of what “strengthened her in these times” means?