Definition: And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who [was] a Levite, and he sojourned there.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that verse from Judges 17:7. Here's what it means in simple terms: Basically, this verse tells us about a person who was a member of the Jewish community (the Levites) but left Bethlehem. Here’s a little more detail: “Judges 17”: This is a specific passage from the Old Testament. It's part of a larger story about the judges – people who were responsible for leading Israel through times of trouble. “And there was a young man…” This refers to a specific individual. “…out of Bethlehem…judah of the family of Judah…” This tells us where this person came from: Bethlehem, which is a city in Judea (which is now part of Israel). The person is named Judah, and he’s Jewish – meaning he's part of the community of Israelites. “Judah of the family of Judah” means he was a member of the Levite community, who were priests and scholars dedicated to studying and teaching the Torah (the Law) and other religious texts. “…who [was] a Levite…” This is important! A “Levite” was specifically a member of this Jewish group. They were responsible for keeping the Sabbath, performing rituals, and were often involved in religious leadership. “and he sojourned there.” This means he spent some time living in Bethlehem. So, what’s the big takeaway? This verse describes a person who was part of the Jewish community but chose to leave Bethlehem for some reason – likely due to conflict or hardship. It highlights that even within a close-knit group, people can make choices and move away from their home. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific aspect of this verse in more detail? (e.g., its historical context?) Give you some potential reasons why someone might have left Bethlehem? Compare it to another Bible story that uses similar ideas?