Definition: And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this Bible passage together. It’s a really important verse from the Old Testament, and it speaks about a period of testing and discernment. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where God is testing Israel (the people of Israel) to see if they will follow his laws and instructions. It's like a trial or an examination. Let’s unpack the parts: "Judges 3:4" : This tells us where this is happening – in the story of the Judges, a group of leaders who were ruling over Israel during a time of trouble. “And they were to prove Israel…” : This means the Judges were tasked with putting Israel through a test. They needed to see if they would respond to God’s laws and commands. “…by them” : This is key! The judges weren't testing them directly. They were testing Israel – their people, their actions, and their response to God. “to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD…” : This is a fancy way of saying "whether or not they would obey God’s rules." “Hearken” means to listen carefully and follow. "Commandments" refers to God's laws, rules, and instructions. “which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.” This is where it gets really important: God gave these laws (the commandments) to the Israelites through Moses. It’s like saying, “These rules were given to Moses, and we need to see if they follow them.” In short: The Judges were testing Israel’s obedience to God's laws by setting a challenge – forcing them to answer whether they would listen to what God told them through Moses. It was a way for God to see if the people were truly committed to following his will. Why is this important? This passage highlights that God doesn't just give us rules; He also expects us to follow them. It’s about responsibility, obedience, and staying true to what’s right. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of the verse in more detail? Give an example of how this story might be interpreted today?