Definition: And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse. It’s a significant passage from the Old Testament and speaks about a king who made a dangerous deal. Here's a simple explanation: The Basic Story: This verse tells us about King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, who made a bad deal with a woman named Mahalath. He married her to Abihail, daughter of Eliab (who was Jesse, the brother of David). Let's unpack it word by word: “And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David” : This tells us that King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, married a woman named Mahalath. The name "Jerimoth" is important – it means “the one who seeks to take” or “the one who wants to take.” “[and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse” : This tells us that Rehoboam’s wife was Abihail. “Eliab” was David's brother, and "Jesse" was his son. What's the Problem? This is where it gets interesting. The verse says that Rehoboam made a deal with Mahalath. This deal involved her marrying Abihail. The purpose of this deal was to ensure that Abihail would never become queen – she would be a subordinate wife to Rehoboam. The Significance (and why it’s important): This story is often interpreted as a warning about the dangers of making alliances with people who are not trustworthy and might lead to problems for the king or his kingdom. It highlights that even seemingly friendly relationships can have hidden agendas and potential consequences. In short, this verse describes a marriage arrangement that created a situation where power could be misused. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this story in more detail? Talk about its symbolism or meaning within the Bible?