Definition: And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [shekels] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver [is] with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed [be thou] of the LORD, my son.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Judges 17:2. It’s a really interesting and somewhat surprising passage! Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Core Story: This verse comes from a story about a man named Sheba who was severely wronged by his father, Judges . He was accused of stealing a large amount of silver. His father then cursed him, and Sheba pleaded with his mother to forgive him. Here’s the breakdown: “And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [shekels] of silver that were taken from thee…” – This tells us Sheba was accused of stealing a huge amount of silver. The word “shekels” is an ancient Hebrew unit of currency, and this refers to a massive sum of money. "Taken from thee" means he was robbed or stolen. "...about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears..." – This is where it gets a bit tricky. Sheba’s father cursed him (meaning he made a negative statement about him). He then spoke to her about this curse. “And his mother said, Blessed [be] of the LORD, my son.” - Her mother, seeing the situation, immediately and sincerely blessed him. “Blessed of the LORD” means she was praising God for him. "My son" confirms that it’s his son who is being praised. So, what's the big takeaway? This verse highlights a few things: 1. God's Justice: The Bible shows that God doesn't just passively let wrongs happen. He actively intervenes and takes action to correct things. 2. Divine Protection: Her mother’s blessing is a powerful sign of divine protection for Sheba. It suggests God is watching over him and protecting him from harm. 3. A Shift in Perspective: It's important to understand that the father’s curse was likely a result of his own pride and anger. The blessed mother recognizes that God is working through this situation, even though it wasn't her fault. In short, this verse shows that God doesn’t just punish wrongdoers; He actively protects those who are wronged. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the story? Discuss the significance of the word "shekels"? Or perhaps delve deeper into why this verse is considered significant in biblical interpretation?