And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
Zichri, a powerful warrior from the tribe of Ephraim, killed three important leaders: Maaseiah (the king's son), Azrikam (who managed the royal palace), and Elkanah (who was the king's second-in-command).
This verse describes how a warrior named Zichri killed three high-ranking officials in King Ahaz's government during a devastating military defeat.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah (around 735-715 BC), who had turned away from God and embraced idol worship. As a result, God allowed Israel (the northern kingdom) to inflict a crushing defeat on Judah, killing 120,000 soldiers in one day. This was part of God's judgment on Judah for their unfaithfulness and rejection of His ways.
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