Definition: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And [then] carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
Explanation: Okay, letβs break down this verse from 1 Kings 21:10 together. It's a really significant and dramatic passage in the Bible about a king and his rebellion. Hereβs what it means in simple terms: The Basic Situation: King David is being punished. The verse tells us that King David was being severely punished by God for his arrogance and disobedience. Two men are assigned as witnesses. Two men named Belial were appointed to stand before David and formally accuse him of sin. Theyβre essentially saying, βWe saw you do this, and we believe you have broken the rules.β They proclaim a terrible offense: They declare that David has blasphemed God β meaning he's spoken about God in a disrespectful or incorrect way β and that he has disobeyed the king. The plan for his death is laid out. The men are instructed to take David out of the palace and stone him (kill him). This was a very harsh punishment intended to be a final, irreversible act. Putting it all together β Simple Explanation: This verse describes a moment of intense betrayal and injustice. David, who was already struggling with his own pride and ambition, was found guilty of serious sins by two men named Belial. They formally accused him of blaspheming God and defying the king. They then took action to deliver David β essentially, they planned to kill him. Important Note: This verse is a bit disturbing because it details a brutal act of execution. Itβs a stark example of how even powerful leaders can be punished for their actions. --- Do you want me to explain any specific part of this verse in more detail? For example, we could delve deeper into: The context of the time β what was going on in David's kingdom at this point? The meaning of "blasphemery" - what does it mean to blaspheme God? Why this punishment was so severe?