KJV ORIGINAL
Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Look, the LORD will strike your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions with a terrible disaster.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is warning that God will bring severe judgment that will affect not just the king personally, but everyone and everything connected to him.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a letter from the prophet Elijah to King Jehoram of Judah, who had turned away from God and led his people into idol worship. Jehoram had killed his own brothers and married into the wicked family of Ahab, bringing Baal worship into Judah. The letter was a divine warning of the consequences that would follow his evil reign.
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