Definition: He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which [was] of Gathhepher.
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this Bible verse together. Itās a bit complex, but we can understand it in simpler terms. Here's what it means: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a significant act of giving back land to Israel after a period of prosperity. Letās unpack it piece by piece: āHe restored the coast of Israelā¦ā : This refers to a specific area along the coast of Israel, likely near Hamath (a coastal city). It's about reclaiming something that was lost or diminished. āā¦from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plainā¦ā : This gives us a geographical starting point. "Entering" means being conquered or taken over. āThe sea of the plainā is a vast area, probably the coastal plains south of Israel. So, itās about returning land that was lost to enemies. āā¦according to the word of the LORD God of Israelā¦ā : This is crucial ā it's not just any land being returned. Itās specifically done by God Himself, using a person named Jonah. āā¦which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophetā¦ā : This tells us who did this. "Jonah" was a prophet, and āthe hand of his servantā means someone who was assigned to carry out this task. Putting it all together ā Whatās happening? God, through his servant Jonah, decided that Israel needed land back. He sent Jonah to return some land back to Israel. He did this by using a person named Jonah and gave him instructions to do so. Important Context (Why is this significant?) This verse is part of a larger story in the Bible about Godās plan for Israel. It's a reminder that God often works through people and gives back what He gives away to those who are truly faithful. In short, itās a story about God restoring land to his people, and it highlights His care and faithfulness. --- Do you want me to: Explain why this verse is important in the Bible? Give you a slightly more detailed explanation of Jonah's role?