Definition: And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It’s a pretty significant event in the history of Israel! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: This verse tells us about King Jehoash of Israel making a big move – he took his son, Amaziah, who was the son of Jehoash’s brother, Jehoash the son of Ahaziah. They traveled to Jerusalem and broke down the walls of Jerusalem! Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And Jehoash king of Israel…” : This establishes who is involved – King Jehoash was a ruler in Israel. “…took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah.” : This identifies Amaziah as a specific son of Jehoash, and he's from Judah, which was another region in Israel. “at Bethshemesh…” : Bethshemesh is a city near Jerusalem. It’s where they went to meet with his brother. “…and came to Jerusalem…” : They traveled to the capital of Israel – Jerusalem! “…broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate…” : This is the really important part. They completely dismantled the walls of Jerusalem. It wasn't just a little bit; they took them down completely. The "gate of Ephraim" and "corner gate" are specific locations, and it was a huge deal because the walls were a vital defensive structure for the city. “four hundred cubits.” : This is a measure of length – four hundred cubits (which is about 100 feet) - This shows how much they took down! What does this all mean? This event suggests several things: Power and Control: King Jehoash was showing off his power and control over the region. He wasn’t just visiting; he was actively taking what he wanted. A Shift in Power: It suggests a shift in who held authority in Judah after Jehoash's brother. This could be a move to consolidate his own position and perhaps weaken Judah's independence. Important Note: The Bible doesn’t always give us a lot of detail about why this was done, but it does indicate a significant act of defiance or a strategic maneuver by King Jehoash. --- Do you have any specific questions about this verse that I can answer for you? For example, would you like me to: Explain the historical context of Judah and Israel at this time? Discuss the significance of breaking down the walls? Compare it to other stories in the Bible?