Definition: And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Joshua 7:17. It's a really important and dramatic part of the story of Israel’s defeat during the time of the Assyrian Empire. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Situation: The Assyrians are coming: The Assyrians were a powerful, vast empire that controlled much of the Middle East at this point. They were planning to invade and conquer Israel. They're targeting Judah: Joshua was leading the Israelites into battle, but the Assyrians decided to focus their attack on Judah – a specific region within Israel. They’re taking families: The Assyrians didn't just want to kill people; they wanted to capture families. They were essentially taking entire families and holding them captive. What Happened Next? They brought the family of Judah: The Assyrians took the families of Judah – a group of Israelites who were under Joshua’s command – and took them away. They took the family of the Zarhites: This is where it gets really significant. The Zarhites were another group of Israelites, and they were being taken too. They captured families man by man: This is the key part! They didn't just send them away; they carried each family individually . This meant that every single person from Judah and the Zarhites was taken one by one. The Result – Zabdi Was Taken: Zabdi was taken: The final, and perhaps most chilling detail, is that the entire family of the Zarhites – a specific group of Israelites who were considered rebellious – were taken one by one . What's the Significance? This event is significant because it demonstrates: Extreme Brutality: It shows a level of violence and cruelty that was shocking to the world at the time. A Symbolic Punishment: The capture of these families can be seen as a symbolic punishment for the rebellion of the Zarhites. It’s like a very harsh, individualized act of retribution. In short, this verse describes a terrifying and deliberate act of capturing individuals – families – to demonstrate the Assyrians' power and their desire for complete control. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this in more detail? Provide context about the history surrounding this event? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme?