Definition: And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God [was] with him.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 15:9. It's a really important passage about God’s protection and faithfulness. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is showing that He’s protecting His people, specifically Judah (a group of tribes in Israel) and the descendants of Benjamin (another group of tribes), even when they are being tempted to turn away from Him. He’s gathering them together because they're leaving Israel behind. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin…” – This refers to a specific group of people who were divided into two parts: Judah (the southern tribes) and Benjamin (the northern tribes). It was a time of division in the history of Israel. “…and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh…” - This is where it gets interesting. “Strangers” means people from other nations – like Egypt, Assyria, etc. These people were leaving Israel. “…and out of Simeon:” - Finally, there’s a group left behind: the descendants of Simeon. “for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance…” – This is the key part! “Fell to him” means they abandoned or left completely. They were so drawn to other things that they turned away from God. The word "abundance" emphasizes how much they left behind. “…when they saw that the LORD his God [was] with him.” – This is what’s happening. God was present and powerful in their midst, even as they were wandering away. What's the Big Message? The verse says that God is actively protecting His people from being drawn away from Him. He’s using these gatherings of people to show that He’s with them, offering them strength and protection. It’s a reminder that even when we make mistakes, God will always be watching over us. In a nutshell: God was gathering his people – both those who were in Israel and those who were leaving – to demonstrate His presence and protect them from straying away. Does this help you understand the verse better? Would you like me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Connect it to a story or example?