Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 27ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ ΚΖ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

David seeks refuge among the Philistines and builds a precarious life in Ziklag while Saul still hunts him.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms 27 (= 1 Samuel 27 MT) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter narrates David's defection to the Philistine king Αγχους (Achish) of Γεθ (Gath). Despairing of survival under Saul's pursuit, David reasons in his heart (ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, v. 1) that flight to enemy territory is his only safety. He crosses over with four hundred men (οἱ τετρακόσιοι ἄνδρες, v. 2 — the LXX number; cf. MT 'six hundred') and their households, and is granted the town of Σεκελακ (Ziklag), which thereafter belongs to the kings of Judea (vv. 5–6). From this base David raids the Γεσιρι (Geshurites), the Αμαληκίτην (Amalekite — the ancestral foe of Exod 17), and other peoples of the southern wilderness as far as Egypt, slaughtering man and woman alike so that no survivor can report his movements (οὐκ ἐζωογόνει ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα, v. 9; cf. v. 11), while deceiving Achish into believing he raids Judah's own Negev (vv. 10–11). The chapter's irony culminates at v. 12: Achish trusts David completely, persuaded that David has made himself utterly abhorred among his own people Israel (ᾔσχυνται αἰσχυνόμενος ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ) and will therefore be his servant forever. The verb ἐζωογόνει ('keep alive', vv. 9, 11) is the same LXX term used for the midwives' sparing of the Hebrew infants (Exod 1:17–18), here inverted into total extermination. The recurring formula ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ('in the country of the foreigners', vv. 7, 11) frames David's sojourn as life among Israel's archetypal enemies. ἀλλόφυλοι ('those of another tribe / foreigners') is the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים (Philistines).

1

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ λέγων νῦν προστεθήσομαι ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ εἰς χεῖρας Σαουλ καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν μοι ἀγαθόν ἐὰν μὴ σωθῶ εἰς γῆν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἀνῇ Σαουλ τοῦ ζητεῖν με εἰς πᾶν ὅριον Ισραηλ καὶ σωθήσομαι ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ

And David said in his heart, saying, 'Now I shall one day be swept into the hands of Saul; and there is nothing good for me unless I escape into the land of the foreigners, and Saul cease seeking me in every territory of Israel; then I shall be saved out of his hand.'

New narrative episode: David's interior deliberation (soliloquy)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ
The chapter opens with the idiom εἶπεν … ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ('said in his heart'), the standard LXX rendering of אָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ — a marker of interior monologue and strategic calculation rather than spoken address. The redundant participle λέγων ('saying') is a Hebraism (לֵאמֹר) introducing the content of the thought. David's reasoning is a worst-case calculation: continued residence in Israel guarantees eventual capture; only defection to Philistine territory secures escape.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say / speak'; here with ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ the verb denotes inner speech, the LXX idiom for self-deliberation (cf. Gen 17:17; 27:41 LXX); the aorist frames the resolve as a single decisive act of mind.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX of Kingdoms; the protagonist of the chapter, here deliberating his defection.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, idiomatic)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, idiomatic).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίᾳheartDativedative of place (locative: the seat of thought)→ sphere or referenceκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; in Hebrew anthropology the heart is the seat of thought, will, and decision, not merely emotion; εἶπεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ = 'thought to himself / resolved inwardly'.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδίᾳ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying καρδίᾳ).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (Hebraism introducing direct discourse)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptc.): the pleonastic λέγων after a verb of saying is the LXX's standard calque of the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר, functioning as a quotation marker introducing the content of David's thought.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (deliberative 'as things now stand')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; here logical-deliberative rather than strictly temporal — 'as matters now stand', introducing David's assessment of his present peril.
προστεθήσομαιI shall be added / swept awayFut Pass Indic 1 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (David's predicted fate)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι (fut. pass.): lit. 'be added / be put alongside'; the passive here renders the Hebrew sense 'I shall be swept away / perish' (נִסְפֶּה, from סָפָה); the LXX reads the consonants as if from יָסַף ('add'), yielding προστεθήσομαι — David fears he will be 'gathered' into Saul's hand and destroyed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in one day')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'in one day').
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with μιᾷ: 'on a single day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ('on one day') stresses the suddenness and totality of the feared capture — a single day could end everything.
μιᾷoneDativeattributive adjective (numeral modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine dative μιᾷ agrees with ἡμέρᾳ; 'in one day' = 'on some single day', emphasising that disaster could strike at any moment.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into the hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into the hands').
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'into the hands of')→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; εἰς χεῖρας τινος ('into someone's hands') renders בְּיַד, the standard Hebrew idiom for falling under another's power or being delivered up to an enemy.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'hands of Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁאוּל; indeclinable in the LXX; David's relentless pursuer, whose hand he fears to fall into.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): objective negation; here denying the existence of any good in David's present course.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there is not')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be / exist'; the existential οὐκ ἔστιν μοι ἀγαθόν ('there is nothing good for me') renders אֵין … טוֹב, a Hebraic assessment of David's hopeless situation apart from flight.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantage (possessor: 'good for me')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (possessor: 'good for me').
ἀγαθόνgoodNominativepredicate nominative (substantival adjective: 'a good thing')→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; substantival neuter 'a good (thing) / advantage'; renders טוֹב; the negation frames David's reasoning: no good outcome is possible unless he escapes.
ἐὰνif / unlessconditional conjunction (with μή: 'unless')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with μή = 'unless / except'; introduces the condition (escape to Philistia) on which David's safety depends; takes the subjunctive (σωθῶ).
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἐάν: 'unless')→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjective negation used in the conditional clause; ἐὰν μή = 'unless'.
σωθῶI be saved / escapeAor Pass Subj 1 Sg · σῴζωverb of conditional clause (subjunctive after ἐὰν μή)→ verbal action or stateσῴζω (aor. pass. subj.): 'save / rescue / preserve'; renders מָלַט / נִמְלַט ('escape'); the passive 'be saved' brackets the verse with σωθήσομαι at its close, framing David's whole reasoning by the theme of deliverance — ironically sought in enemy territory.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of flight)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of flight).
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; γῆν ἀλλοφύλων = 'land of the Philistines', the destination of David's calculated escape.
ἀλλοφύλωνof foreigners / PhilistinesGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γῆν: 'land of foreigners')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines'), Israel's archetypal enemy; the choice of this generic term subtly underscores the scandal of David seeking refuge among the very people he has been fighting.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second clause of the condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνῇcease / give upAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀνίημιverb of subordinate clause (subjunctive, continuing the condition)→ verbal action or stateἀνίημι (aor. subj.): 'let go / loosen / cease / abandon'; here intransitive 'desist / give up'; renders נוֹאַשׁ / חָדַל ('despair of / cease'); David reasons that defection will make Saul abandon (ἀνῇ) the search across all Israel.
ΣαουλSaulsubject of ἀνῇ (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἀνῇ (indeclinable proper noun).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive ζητεῖν: genitive of separation)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζητεῖνto seekPres Act Inf · ζητέωarticular infinitive (genitive of separation after ἀνῇ: 'cease from seeking')→ verbal action or stateζητέω: 'seek / search for'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; the articular infinitive τοῦ ζητεῖν after ἀνῇ expresses the activity desisted from — Saul's relentless searching for David.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ζητεῖν (1st person pronoun)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ζητεῖν (1st person pronoun).
εἰςin / throughoutpreposition + accusative (extent: 'throughout every territory')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here of spatial extent, 'in / throughout'; renders בְּכָל; the searching ranges over the whole of Israelite territory.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ὅριον: 'every territory')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the neuter πᾶν agrees with ὅριον; underscores the comprehensiveness of Saul's pursuit, from which only departure can free David.
ὅριονterritory / borderAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (extent of the search)→ object specificationὅριον: 'boundary / region / territory'; renders גְּבוּל; πᾶν ὅριον Ισραηλ = 'all the territory of Israel', the full extent of Saul's reach within which David is never safe.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'territory of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here designating the national territory under Saul's control.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the resultant clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σωθήσομαιI shall be savedFut Pass Indic 1 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (resultant outcome of David's reasoning)→ verbal action or stateσῴζω (fut. pass.): the future indicative caps David's calculation: escape to Philistia → Saul desists → 'I shall be saved out of his hand'; the verb forms an inclusio with σωθῶ above, the deliverance-motif bracketing the soliloquy.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'out of his hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'out of his hand').
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ ('out of his hand') renders מִיַּד, the idiom's counterpart to εἰς χεῖρας above — the verse moves from the threat of falling into Saul's hands to the hope of being delivered out of them.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (referring to Saul)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (referring to Saul).
2

καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ τετρακόσιοι ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Αγχους υἱὸν Αμμαχ βασιλέα Γεθ

And David arose, he and the four hundred men with him, and went to Achish son of Ammach, king of Gath.

Narrative action: David enacts the resolve of v.1καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ
The paired verbs ἀνέστη … καὶ ἐπορεύθη ('arose … and went') are a standard LXX narrative idiom (קוּם + הָלַךְ) for decisive initiative; David immediately translates his interior calculation into action. The number τετρακόσιοι ('four hundred') is the LXX reading here (MT 1 Sam 27:2 has 'six hundred'). Αγχους (Achish) is identified by patronymic and title — son of Αμμαχ, king of Γεθ.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (initiative of movement)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (aor. act. intrans.): 'rise up / set out'; renders קוּם; in narrative the paired ἀνέστη … ἐπορεύθη signals resolute action — David moves at once to enact his plan.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the men to David as subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with τετρακόσιοι ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τετρακόσιοιfour hundredNominativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceτετρακόσιοι: 'four hundred'; the LXX figure for David's band here (MT 1 Sam 27:2 reads 'six hundred', cf. 1 Sam 23:13; 25:13); the men are his loyal fighting company accompanying him into exile.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (in apposition to David: 'he and the men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / male / warrior'; renders אִישׁ / אֲנָשִׁים; here David's armed followers, the core of his fighting force.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with / in company with'; μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ = 'with him', marking the men as David's accompanying band.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (referring to David)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (referring to David).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (second verb of the pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwent / journeyedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (movement toward Achish)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go / journey / travel'; renders הָלַךְ; the deponent passive ἐπορεύθη is the standard LXX form; here David crosses over into Philistine territory to Gath.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward a person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward a person).
ΑγχουςAchishaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑγχους: the LXX form of Hebrew אָכִישׁ (Achish), the Philistine king of Gath; indeclinable; David's new overlord and the foil for his deception throughout the chapter.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αγχους (patronymic)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; renders בֶּן; introduces the patronymic identifying Achish as son of Ammach.
ΑμμαχAmmachgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Ammach')→ participant identificationΑμμαχ: the LXX patronymic for Achish's father (cf. MT מָעוֹךְ, Maoch); indeclinable; appears only in this naming formula.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αγχους (title)→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; identifies Achish's royal office over Gath, one of the five Philistine city-states.
Γεθof Gathgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Gath')→ participant identificationΓεθ: the LXX form of Hebrew גַּת (Gath); indeclinable; one of the principal Philistine cities and, ironically, the home of Goliath (1 Sam 17:4) — David now seeks refuge in the city of the giant he killed.
3

καὶ ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ μετὰ Αγχους ἐν Γεθ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ καὶ Δαυιδ καὶ ἀμφότεραι αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτοῦ Αχινααμ ἡ Ιεζραηλῖτις καὶ Αβιγαια ἡ γυνὴ Ναβαλ τοῦ Καρμηλίου

And David dwelt with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, and David and both his wives, Achinaam the Jezreelite and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

Narrative result: David settles in Gath (consequence of v.2)καὶ ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ μετὰ Αγχους
The verb ἐκάθισεν ('settled / took up residence', from καθίζω) marks the move from journey to settled dwelling. The verse catalogues those who came with David: every man with his household (ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ — distributive), and David's two wives, named with their identifying epithets (Αχινααμ the Jezreelite; Αβιγαια the former wife of Nabal the Carmelite, cf. 1 Sam 25).
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενdwelt / settledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (taking up residence)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω (aor.): 'sit / settle / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; here intransitive 'took up residence', marking the transition from David's flight to settled life under Achish's protection in Gath.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
ΑγχουςAchishgenitive object of μετά (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑγχους: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΓεθGathdative of place (indeclinable: 'in Gath')→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of place (indeclinable: 'in Gath').
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (resuming David as subject)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'himself'; resumes David at the head of the list of those who settled — 'he himself and his men', a Hebraizing appositional construction (הוּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (apposition: 'and his men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): David's followers, here settling with their families.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἄνδρες)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἄνδρες).
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativedistributive apposition (each man individually)→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive — the construction ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ ('each man and his household') renders אִישׁ וּבֵיתוֹ, specifying that the men brought their families into exile.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking household to each man)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with οἶκος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκοςhouseholdNominativesubject (apposition: 'and his household')→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house / household / family'; renders בַּיִת; here the family unit — wife, children, dependents — that accompanied each of David's men.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οἶκος)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying οἶκος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (resuming David with his wives)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable; resumed before the naming of his wives)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable; resumed before the naming of his wives).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεραιbothNominativeadjective (modifying γυναῖκες: 'both wives')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι, -αι, -α: 'both'; the feminine plural ἀμφότεραι agrees with γυναῖκες; specifies David's two wives, named in what follows.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with γυναῖκες)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject (apposition: 'both his wives')→ participant prominenceγυνή (pl. γυναῖκες): 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה / נָשִׁים; here David's two wives, named with their identifying epithets.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γυναῖκες)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying γυναῖκες).
ΑχινααμAchinaamnominative in apposition to γυναῖκες (indeclinable, first wife named)→ participant identificationΑχινααμ: the LXX form of Hebrew אֲחִינֹעַם (Ahinoam) of Jezreel; indeclinable; David's wife, mother of Amnon (2 Sam 3:2).
theNominativearticle (substantivizing the gentilic Ιεζραηλῖτις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεζραηλῖτιςJezreelite (woman)Nominativegentilic noun in apposition to Αχινααμ→ participant prominenceΙεζραηλῖτις: feminine gentilic 'the Jezreelitess / woman of Jezreel'; renders הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִית; a declinable Greek formation (-ῖτις) identifying Ahinoam's town of origin (Jezreel of Judah, Josh 15:56).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the second wife)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιγαιαAbigailNominativenominative in apposition to γυναῖκες (second wife named)→ participant prominenceΑβιγαια: the LXX form of Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (Abigail); declined as a first-declension feminine in Greek; formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, she became David's wife after Nabal's death (1 Sam 25).
theNominativearticle (with γυνή, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativeappositional noun (identifying Abigail by former marriage)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'wife'; the phrase ἡ γυνὴ Ναβαλ ('the wife of Nabal') identifies Abigail by her former husband, recalling the narrative of 1 Sam 25 in which David spared Nabal and later married his widow.
Ναβαλof Nabalgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wife of Nabal')→ participant identificationΝαβαλ: the LXX form of Hebrew נָבָל (Nabal, lit. 'fool'); indeclinable; Abigail's first husband, the churlish Carmelite of 1 Sam 25.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the gentilic Καρμηλίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚαρμηλίουCarmeliteGenitivegentilic adjective in apposition to Ναβαλ (genitive)→ relational specificationΚαρμήλιος: 'Carmelite / man of Carmel'; renders הַכַּרְמְלִי; a declinable gentilic identifying Nabal's home, Carmel of Judah (not Mount Carmel), the setting of 1 Sam 25.
4

καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Σαουλ ὅτι πέφευγεν Δαυιδ εἰς Γεθ καὶ οὐ προσέθετο ἔτι ζητεῖν αὐτόν

And it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, and he no longer continued to seek him.

Narrative outcome: David's plan succeeds (fulfilling the goal of v.1)καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Σαουλ
v.4 confirms the success of David's strategy from v.1: the report (ἀνηγγέλη, impersonal passive) of his flight reaches Saul, who consequently abandons the pursuit. The idiom οὐ προσέθετο … ζητεῖν ('did not continue / add to seek') is a Hebraism (לֹא יָסַף לְבַקֵּשׁ) rendering the cessation of repeated action — Saul stops looking for David entirely.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνηγγέληit was reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive: 'it was announced')→ verbal action or stateἀναγγέλλω (aor. pass.): 'announce / report / bring word'; renders הֻגַּד (Hophal of נגד); the impersonal passive 'it was reported to Saul' is the standard LXX construction for news reaching a king.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (with Σαουλ, marking the dative recipient)→ noun-phrase markingthe article τῷ with the otherwise indeclinable Σαουλ supplies the dative case-marking ('to Saul').
ΣαουλSauldative recipient of ἀνηγγέλη (indeclinable, case marked by τῷ)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative recipient of ἀνηγγέλη (indeclinable, case marked by τῷ).
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing reported content)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the substance of the report (David's flight); the standard LXX rendering of כִּי in object-clause function.
πέφευγενhas fledPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωverb of reported clause (perfect: completed flight with standing result)→ verbal action or stateφεύγω (perf.): 'flee / escape'; renders בָּרַח; the perfect πέφευγεν stresses the settled result — David is now gone and remains beyond Saul's reach, which is precisely why Saul gives up the search.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of πέφευγεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of πέφευγεν (indeclinable proper noun).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction of flight)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of flight).
ΓεθGathaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable: 'to Gath')→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς (indeclinable: 'to Gath').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (negating προσέθετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσέθετοhe continued / addedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary in Hebraistic 'continue to' idiom)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι (aor. mid.): lit. 'add / put to'; the idiom οὐ προσέθετο + infinitive ('did not add to do' = 'no longer continued to do') is a calque of the Hebrew לֹא יָסַף + infinitive; here Saul ceases his repeated searching for David.
ἔτιstill / any longertemporal adverb (with the negation: 'no longer')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / any longer'; with οὐ … προσέθετο it reinforces the sense 'no longer at all' — Saul's pursuit is entirely abandoned.
ζητεῖνto seekPres Act Inf · ζητέωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθετο)→ verbal action or stateζητέω: 'seek'; the same verb as in v.1 (τοῦ ζητεῖν με), here closing the loop: David hoped Saul would cease seeking him (v.1), and now Saul indeed stops (v.4).
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ζητεῖν (referring to David)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ζητεῖν (referring to David).
5

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αγχους εἰ δὴ εὕρηκεν ὁ δοῦλός σου χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου δότωσαν δή μοι τόπον ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεων τῶν κατ᾿ ἀγρὸν καὶ καθήσομαι ἐκεῖ καὶ ἵνα τί κάθηται ὁ δοῦλός σου ἐν πόλει βασιλευομένῃ μετὰ σοῦ

And David said to Achish, 'If indeed your servant has found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the country towns, and I will dwell there; for why should your servant dwell in a royal city with you?'

Direct speech: David's deferential request for a separate townκαὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αγχους
David addresses Achish with the deferential court-formula εἰ … εὕρηκεν ὁ δοῦλός σου χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('if your servant has found favor in your eyes'), the standard LXX rendering of אִם מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ. Calling himself ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant') is courteous self-abasement (human master-servant register, not divine). His stated motive — modest reluctance to burden the royal city — masks the real strategic gain: a base of his own from which to operate unobserved.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: here introducing David's spoken petition to Achish (contrast v.1, where he spoke ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΑγχουςAchishaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑγχους: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun).
εἰifconditional particle (introducing courteous protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; opens the deferential conditional petition-formula 'if your servant has found favor', a polite preface to a request before a superior.
δὴindeed / prayemphatic/entreating particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: an enclitic particle of entreaty or emphasis ('pray / indeed'); renders the Hebrew נָא; it softens and intensifies the request, lending a tone of courteous urgency.
εὕρηκενhas foundPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis (perfect: standing condition)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (perf.): 'find'; the idiom εὑρίσκω χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('find favor in the eyes of') renders מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי; the perfect frames the favor as an established standing relationship on which David now presumes to make a request.
theNominativearticle (with δοῦλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders עֶבֶד; David's deferential self-reference before Achish (human master-servant register); the term recurs in v.12 (ἔσται μοι δοῦλος), where Achish reckons David his permanent vassal.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying δοῦλος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying δοῦλος).
χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of εὕρηκεν→ object specificationχάρις: 'favor / goodwill'; renders חֵן; the unearned positive regard of a superior, the precondition for a granted request.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiom: 'in the eyes of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (idiom: 'in the eyes of').
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiom: 'in your eyes' = in your judgment)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός (pl. ὀφθαλμοῖς): 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('in your eyes') renders בְּעֵינֶיךָ, a Hebraism for 'in your estimation / judgment'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὀφθαλμοῖς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ὀφθαλμοῖς).
δότωσανlet them giveAor Act Impv 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (apodosis: third-person imperative request)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (aor. impv. 3 pl.): 'give'; the third-person plural 'let them give' is an impersonal/deferential way of requesting the grant (effectively 'let me be given'), avoiding a blunt direct command to the king; renders the Hebrew jussive.
δήprayentreating particle (with the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: again the particle of entreaty (נָא), reinforcing the politeness of the petition.
μοιto meDativedative of indirect object (recipient of the grant)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (recipient of the grant).
τόπονplaceAccusativedirect object of δότωσαν→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / location'; renders מָקוֹם; here a dwelling-place, specified in what follows as a town in the country rather than the capital.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
μιᾷoneDativesubstantival numeral (object of ἐν: 'in one of')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine dative μιᾷ (sc. πόλει) governs the partitive genitive τῶν πόλεων — 'in one of the cities'.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with πόλεων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcities / townsGenitivepartitive genitive (with μιᾷ: 'one of the towns')→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. pl. πόλεων): 'city / town'; renders עִיר; here the country towns (τῶν κατ᾿ ἀγρόν) David requests, as distinct from the royal capital.
τῶνthe (ones)Genitivearticle (attributive, with the prepositional phrase κατ᾿ ἀγρόν)→ noun-phrase markingthe repeated article τῶν substantivizes the following phrase: 'the cities, namely those in the country'.
κατ᾿in / throughoutpreposition + accusative (distributive/locative, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'in / throughout (the country)'; κατ᾿ ἀγρόν = 'in the country / rural districts', distinguishing provincial towns from the capital.
ἀγρὸνcountry / fieldAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (the countryside)→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field / country / open land'; renders שָׂדֶה; the term recurs in vv.7, 11 (ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων) framing David's whole sojourn as life in the rural Philistine hinterland.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καθήσομαιI will dwellFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (David's stated intention)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι (fut.): 'sit / dwell / settle'; renders יָשַׁב; David proposes to take up residence (καθήσομαι ἐκεῖ) in the granted town.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locative adverb referring back to the requested country town.
καὶfor / andcoordinate conjunction (introducing the rhetorical justification)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative phrase component (with τί: 'for what reason')→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: lit. 'in order that what?' = 'why? / for what purpose?'; an idiomatic interrogative rendering לָמָּה; David's deferential rhetorical question implying he ought not to burden the royal city.
τίwhat / whyNominativeinterrogative pronoun (component of ἵνα τί: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative 'what / why'; the neuter τί with ἵνα forms the idiomatic 'why?'
κάθηταιshould dwellPres Mid Subj 3 Sg · κάθημαιverb of deliberative question (subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι (pres. subj.): the deliberative subjunctive in the rhetorical question 'why should your servant dwell …?' frames David's modest disclaimer — he professes unwillingness to impose on the royal seat.
theNominativearticle (with δοῦλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject of κάθηται (deferential self-reference)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: David's repeated self-designation as 'your servant' (human register), heightening the courtly deference of the petition.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying δοῦλος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying δοῦλος).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative: 'in a royal city')→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. πόλει): 'city'; here the royal city (πόλει βασιλευομένῃ) — the seat of Achish's rule, contrasted with the provincial town David requests.
βασιλευομένῃroyal / kinglyPres Pass Ptc Dat Sg Fem · βασιλεύωattributive participle (modifying πόλει: 'a city under royal rule')→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω (pres. pass. ptc.): 'reign / be ruled as a kingdom'; the passive participle πόλει βασιλευομένῃ = 'a royal city / a city that is a king's seat'; David tactfully declines to dwell in the capital alongside the king.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Achish)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (Achish).
6

καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὴν Σεκελακ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη Σεκελακ τῷ βασιλεῖ τῆς Ιουδαίας ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης

And he gave him on that day Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the king of Judea until this day.

Narrative grant with etiological asideκαὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ … τὴν Σεκελακ
Achish grants David Σεκελακ (Ziklag) 'on that day'. The narrator then adds an etiological note in the present-of-the-narrator's-time: διὰ τοῦτο … ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('therefore … until this day'), the standard LXX formula (עַל כֵּן … עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה) explaining a present reality (Ziklag's belonging to the Judean crown) by a past event. This aside reveals the narrative's vantage point in the era of the Judahite monarchy.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενhe gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (Achish's grant)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (aor.): 'give'; renders נָתַן; Achish (the unexpressed subject, resumed from v.5) bestows the town on David — the pivotal grant that gives David his own base of operations.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (David as recipient)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (David as recipient).
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐκείνῃ: 'on that day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') renders בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, a standard LXX temporal formula; the immediacy of the grant signals Achish's ready trust in David.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative pointing to the specific day of the grant.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Σεκελακ, supplying the accusative case-marking)→ noun-phrase markingthe feminine article τήν with the indeclinable Σεκελακ marks the town as the direct object (accusative).
ΣεκελακZiklagdirect object of ἔδωκεν (indeclinable place-name, case marked by τήν)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: the LXX form of Hebrew צִקְלַג (Ziklag); indeclinable; a town in the Negev that becomes David's base and later the place from which he hears of Saul's death and is acclaimed (1 Sam 30; 2 Sam 1).
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (causal: 'on account of this')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of'; διὰ τοῦτο = 'therefore / for this reason', introducing the etiological explanation.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative object of διά (causal idiom: 'therefore')→ participant referenceοὗτος: the neuter τοῦτο in διὰ τοῦτο points back to the grant as the cause of the present state of affairs.
ἐγενήθηbecame / has belongedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (etiological statement of ownership)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'become / come to be'; ἐγενήθη … τῷ βασιλεῖ ('came to belong to the king', dative of possession) renders הָיָה לְ; with ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης it asserts an enduring institutional fact down to the narrator's day.
ΣεκελακZiklagsubject of ἐγενήθη (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἐγενήθη (indeclinable place-name).
τῷtheDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative of possession (with ἐγενήθη: 'belonged to the king')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεῖ: meaning 'king'; it serves as dative of possession (with ἐγενήθη: 'belonged to the king').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Ιουδαίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιουδαίαςof JudeaGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying βασιλεῖ: 'king of Judea')→ relational specificationΙουδαίας: meaning 'of Judea'; it serves as genitive of relationship (modifying βασιλεῖ: 'king of Judea').
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal extent: 'until')→ spatial or relational framingἕως + gen.: 'until / up to'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('until this day') renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, the formulaic close of an etiological note.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. ἡμέρας): 'day'; with ταύτης = 'this (present) day', the narrator's own time.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationοὗτος: the genitive feminine ταύτης ('this'), pointing to the narrator's present as the terminus of the etiological note.
7

καὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν ὧν ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τέσσαρας μῆνας

And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the foreigners was four months.

Narrative summary: duration of David's Philistine sojournκαὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν
A summary chronological notice closing the Ziklag-grant unit: David's residence ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ('in the country of the foreigners') totalled τέσσαρας μῆνας ('four months'). The phrase ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων recurs at v.11, framing the raiding narrative; the periphrasis ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν ('the number of the days') is a Hebraic way of expressing duration (מִסְפַּר הַיָּמִים).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηwas / amounted toAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (copular: 'the number was')→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): here copular 'was / amounted to'; ἐγενήθη ὁ ἀριθμός … = 'the number … was', a Hebraistic way of stating a sum or duration.
theNominativearticle (with ἀριθμός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀριθμὸςnumberNominativesubject (the count of days)→ participant prominenceἀριθμός: 'number / count'; renders מִסְפָּר; the periphrasis ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν ('the number of the days') is a Semitic idiom for the duration of David's stay.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμερῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμερῶνdaysGenitivepartitive/objective genitive (with ἀριθμός: 'number of days')→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. pl. ἡμερῶν): 'day'; the days of David's sojourn, summed as four months.
ὧνwhich / thatGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction to ἡμερῶν)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun, here genitive by attraction to its antecedent ἡμερῶν ('the days during which David dwelt').
ἐκάθισενdweltAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωverb of relative clause (David's dwelling)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω (aor.): 'sit / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; here the duration of David's settled residence in Philistine territory.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ἐκάθισεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἐκάθισεν (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷcountryDativedative of place (locative: 'in the country')→ sphere or referenceἀγρός (dat. ἀγρῷ): 'field / country / rural territory'; ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ('in the country of the foreigners') frames David's whole Philistine residence (cf. v.11).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνof foreigners / PhilistinesGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀγρῷ)→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: the LXX's standard term for the Philistines (פְּלִשְׁתִּים); the genitive marks the territory as theirs — David lives among Israel's enemies.
τέσσαραςfourAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying μῆνας; accusative of extent of time)→ object specificationτέσσαρες (acc. τέσσαρας): 'four'; the numeral quantifying the months of David's sojourn.
μῆναςmonthsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (predicate: 'four months')→ object specificationμήν (acc. pl. μῆνας): 'month'; renders חֳדָשִׁים; the accusative of duration gives the total length of David's residence in Philistine country.
8

καὶ ἀνέβαινεν Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπετίθεντο ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν Γεσιρι καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Αμαληκίτην καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ κατῳκεῖτο ἀπὸ ἀνηκόντων ἡ ἀπὸ Γελαμψουρ τετειχισμένων καὶ ἕως γῆς Αἰγύπτου

And David and his men would go up and raid all the Geshurites and the Amalekite; and behold, the land was inhabited, from those reaching from Gelampsour — fortified places — even as far as the land of Egypt.

Narrative shift to iterative raiding activityκαὶ ἀνέβαινεν Δαυιδ … καὶ ἐπετίθεντο
The imperfects ἀνέβαινεν … ἐπετίθεντο ('would go up … kept raiding') mark a shift from the punctiliar grant-narrative to David's habitual, repeated raiding from his Ziklag base. The targets are Israel's ancestral southern enemies: the Γεσιρι (Geshurites) and the Αμαληκίτην (Amalekite, the foe of Exod 17). The geographical note (ἀπὸ Γελαμψουρ … ἕως γῆς Αἰγύπτου) maps the long-settled inhabited zone reaching toward Egypt; the syntax is somewhat opaque in the LXX (ἀπὸ ἀνηκόντων, 'from those reaching/belonging').
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβαινενwould go upImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (iterative imperfect: habitual raiding expeditions)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω (impf.): 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the imperfect denotes repeated raiding sorties; 'going up' is the standard idiom for a military expedition against a place or people.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining his men to the subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (apposition: 'and his men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): David's fighting band, his partners in the raids.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἄνδρες)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἄνδρες).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (second verb)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπετίθεντοwould raid / set uponImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (iterative imperfect: repeated attacks)→ verbal action or stateἐπιτίθημι (impf. mid.): in the middle 'set upon / attack / make a raid against' (+ ἐπί); renders פָּשַׁט ('raid'); the iterative imperfect depicts David's repeated assaults on the southern peoples; cf. the cognate noun-sense at v.10 (ἐπέθεσθε).
ἐπὶupon / againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'against', marking the object of a hostile raid.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τὸν Γεσιρι: 'all the Geshurites')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the masculine accusative πάντα stresses the comprehensiveness of the raids against the Geshurite territory.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the gentilic Γεσιρι, supplying case-marking)→ noun-phrase markingthe masculine article τόν marks the otherwise indeclinable gentilic as accusative object of ἐπί.
ΓεσιριGeshurite(s)accusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable gentilic, case marked by τόν)→ participant identificationΓεσιρι: the LXX transliteration of the gentilic הַגְּשׁוּרִי ('the Geshurite'); indeclinable here; a people of the southern wilderness near Philistia (distinct from the Geshur of Aram), among the old inhabitants David exterminates.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, repeated)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction, repeated).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Αμαληκίτην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμαληκίτηνAmalekiteAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (declinable gentilic)→ object specificationἈμαληκίτης (acc. Ἀμαληκίτην): 'the Amalekite'; a declinable Greek gentilic for עֲמָלֵקִי; Amalek is Israel's archetypal enemy (Exod 17:8–16; Deut 25:17–19; 1 Sam 15) — David's raids here accomplish against Amalek what Saul failed to complete.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the descriptive aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a presentative marker introducing the descriptive note about the inhabited land — fixing the reader's attention on the geographical scope.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of κατῳκεῖτο→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land / region'; here the inhabited southern territory David raided, described as long-settled.
κατῳκεῖτοwas inhabitedImpf Pass Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωverb of descriptive clause (passive: 'was settled/inhabited')→ verbal action or stateκατοικέω (impf. pass.): 'inhabit / settle / dwell in'; renders יָשַׁב; the passive 'was inhabited' describes the land as anciently populated — these were long-established peoples, not transient nomads.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point of geographical extent)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the construction ἀπὸ … ἕως ('from … as far as') maps the geographical extent of the inhabited zone.
ἀνηκόντωνthose reaching / extendingPres Act Ptc Gen Pl · ἀνήκωsubstantival participle (genitive object of ἀπό: obscure in the LXX)→ verbal action or stateἀνήκω (pres. ptc.): 'reach up to / pertain / belong'; the substantival genitive plural ἀπὸ ἀνηκόντων is syntactically opaque in the LXX, perhaps 'from (the territories) extending/belonging'; it reflects a difficult or corrupt underlying Hebrew, the translator rendering word-for-word.
the (one)Nominativearticle (loosely attached, marking the following phrase)→ noun-phrase markingthe article ἡ here loosely substantivizes the following geographical descriptor; the construction is grammatically rough, reflecting a literal rendering of the Hebrew.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (specifying starting place)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (specifying starting place).
ΓελαμψουρGelampsourgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓελαμψουρ: an indeclinable LXX place-name (probably reflecting a corruption/conflation of the Hebrew, which speaks of the land 'as you go to Shur'); the starting point of the inhabited region toward Egypt.
τετειχισμένωνfortified (places)Perf Pass Ptc Gen Pl · τειχίζωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'fortified places')→ verbal action or stateτειχίζω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'wall / fortify'; the perfect passive participle τετειχισμένων = 'fortified / walled (places)'; describes the settlements of the region as defended strongholds — making David's total conquest the more striking.
καὶand / evencoordinate conjunction (with ἕως: 'even as far as')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (end-point of geographical extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως + gen.: 'as far as / up to'; completes the ἀπό … ἕως span, reaching the border of Egypt.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (with Αἰγύπτου: 'the land of Egypt')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'land'; γῆς Αἰγύπτου = 'the land of Egypt', the southern terminus of the inhabited zone David raided.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γῆς)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; declinable; here marking the far southern boundary of the raided territory.
9

καὶ ἔτυπτε τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἐζωογόνει ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα καὶ ἐλάμβανεν ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια καὶ ὄνους καὶ καμήλους καὶ ἱματισμόν καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς Αγχους

And he would strike the land and keep alive neither man nor woman, and he would take flocks and herds and donkeys and camels and clothing; and they returned and came to Achish.

Narrative continuation: the method of the raids (total slaughter and plunder)καὶ ἔτυπτε τὴν γῆν
A chain of iterative imperfects (ἔτυπτε … ἐζωογόνει … ἐλάμβανεν) details David's raiding method: total slaughter of the population (ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα — a merism for everyone) and seizure of all movable wealth (flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, clothing). The verb ἐζωογόνει ('keep alive', also v.11) is the LXX term used of the midwives sparing Hebrew infants (Exod 1:17) — here grimly inverted into extermination, whose strategic purpose (no surviving witness) emerges in v.11.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτυπτεwould strikeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · τύπτωmain verb (iterative imperfect: repeated striking of the land)→ verbal action or stateτύπτω (impf.): 'strike / smite / beat'; renders הִכָּה (Hiphil of נכה); the imperfect denotes David's repeated devastation of the raided territory — 'he kept striking the land'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἔτυπτε→ object specificationγῆ (acc. γῆν): 'land'; metonymy for the inhabitants of the raided region whom David strikes down.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐζωογόνει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐζωογόνειwould keep aliveImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ζωογονέωmain verb (iterative imperfect, negated: 'kept none alive')→ verbal action or stateζωογονέω (impf.): 'preserve alive / let live'; the same verb used of the midwives sparing the Hebrew boys (Exod 1:17–18) and in the herem-laws (Deut 20:16); here negated and iterative — David left no survivor; the choice of this loaded verb makes the slaughter resonate with both extermination and the strategic silencing of witnesses (v.11).
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of ἐζωογόνει (first member of merism)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. ἄνδρα): 'man / male'; with γυναῖκα forms the merism 'man and woman' = the entire population, sparing none.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the merism pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativedirect object of ἐζωογόνει (second member of merism)→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'woman'; ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα ('man and woman') is a merism for the whole population — David's slaughter is comprehensive.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (shifting to plunder)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάμβανενwould takeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (iterative imperfect: repeated seizure of plunder)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (impf.): 'take / seize / carry off'; renders לָקַח; the imperfect depicts David's regular seizure of livestock and goods as spoil from each raid.
ποίμνιαflocksAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν (first item of plunder)→ object specificationποίμνιον: 'flock (of sheep/goats)'; renders צֹאן; the first of a list of seized livestock and goods.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (plunder list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βουκόλιαherdsAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν (item of plunder)→ object specificationβουκόλιον: 'herd (of cattle)'; renders בָּקָר; the cattle-herds taken as spoil, paired with the sheep-flocks (ποίμνια).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (plunder list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄνουςdonkeysAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν (item of plunder)→ object specificationὄνος (acc. pl. ὄνους): 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; beasts of burden seized in the raids.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (plunder list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καμήλουςcamelsAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν (item of plunder)→ object specificationκάμηλος (acc. pl. καμήλους): 'camel'; renders גָּמָל; the camels mark the desert-edge, semi-nomadic economy of the raided peoples (Amalekites, etc.).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (plunder list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἱματισμόνclothingAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν (final item of plunder)→ object specificationἱματισμός: 'clothing / garments / apparel'; renders בְּגָדִים / שְׂמָלוֹת; portable cloth-wealth, the last item of the spoil-list.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (shifting to return)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψανthey returnedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (plural: David and his men return)→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω (aor.): 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the shift to the plural (David and his men) and to the aorist closes each raid-cycle: they return from the raid to report to Achish.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤρχοντοwould comeImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (iterative imperfect: habitual coming to Achish)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (impf.): 'come / go'; the imperfect ἤρχοντο πρὸς Αγχους ('they would come to Achish') marks the recurring pattern: after each raid David presents himself to Achish — the setting for the deception of vv.10–11.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward a person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward a person).
ΑγχουςAchishaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑγχους: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun).
10

καὶ εἶπεν Αγχους πρὸς Δαυιδ ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπέθεσθε σήμερον καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αγχους κατὰ νότον τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ κατὰ νότον Ιεσμεγα καὶ κατὰ νότον τοῦ Κενεζι

And Achish said to David, 'Against whom did you make a raid today?' And David said to Achish, 'Against the south of Judea and against the south of Iesmega and against the south of the Kenizzite.'

Dialogue: Achish's question and David's deceptive answerκαὶ εἶπεν Αγχους πρὸς Δαυιδ
The dialogue exposes David's deception. Achish asks the routine debriefing question ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπέθεσθε σήμερον ('against whom did you raid today?'). David's answer names regions of Judah's own Negev — κατὰ νότον τῆς Ιουδαίας ('against the south of Judea'), the Jerahmeelite/Kenizzite south — implying he has been attacking his own people and their allies, when in fact (vv.8–9) he struck Israel's enemies. The threefold κατὰ νότον ('against the south of') rhetorically reinforces the false claim.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: here introducing Achish's interrogation of David after the raid.
ΑγχουςAchishsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑγχους: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against whom')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; with the interrogative τίνα forms 'against whom (did you raid)?'
τίναwhomAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐπί)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative 'who / what'; the accusative τίνα is the object of the raid Achish inquires about.
ἐπέθεσθεdid you raid / set uponAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb of question (2nd plural: David and his men)→ verbal action or stateἐπιτίθημι (aor. mid.): 'set upon / attack / raid' (+ ἐπί); the same verb as the iterative ἐπετίθεντο in v.8, here aorist in Achish's specific inquiry: 'whom did you attack today?'
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; locates Achish's question in the immediate aftermath of the latest raid.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing David's reply)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (David's deceptive reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introducing David's false report — a verbal deception matching the physical concealment (no survivors) of v.11.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΑγχουςAchishaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑγχους: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun).
κατὰagainst / towardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'against the south of')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: here directional 'against / toward'; κατὰ νότον = 'against the Negev/south (of)', David's false claim of raiding Judah's own territory.
νότονsouth / NegevAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (the southern region)→ object specificationνότον: meaning 'south'; it serves as accusative object of κατά (the southern region).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Ιουδαίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιουδαίαςof JudeaGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying νότον: 'the south of Judea')→ relational specificationΙουδαίας: meaning 'of Judea'; it serves as genitive of relationship (modifying νότον: 'the south of Judea').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰagainstpreposition + accusative (repeated: 'against the south of')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (repeated: 'against the south of').
νότονsouthAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (second region)→ object specificationνότον: meaning 'south'; it serves as accusative object of κατά (second region).
ΙεσμεγαIesmegagenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'south of Iesmega')→ participant identificationΙεσμεγα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'south of Iesmega').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰagainstpreposition + accusative (repeated: 'against the south of')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (repeated: 'against the south of').
νότονsouthAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (third region)→ object specificationνότον: meaning 'south'; it serves as accusative object of κατά (third region).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the gentilic Κενεζι, supplying case-marking)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚενεζιKenizzitegenitive of relationship (indeclinable gentilic, case marked by τοῦ)→ participant identificationΚενεζι: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable gentilic, case marked by τοῦ).
11

καὶ ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα οὐκ ἐζωογόνησεν τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῖν εἰς Γεθ λέγων μὴ ἀναγγείλωσιν εἰς Γεθ καθ᾿ ἡμῶν λέγοντες τάδε Δαυιδ ποιεῖ καὶ τόδε τὸ δικαίωμα αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἃς ἐκάθητο Δαυιδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων

And neither man nor woman did he keep alive to bring to Gath, saying, 'Lest they report against us in Gath, saying, "Thus David does."' And this was his practice all the days that David dwelt in the country of the foreigners.

Explanatory motive: the strategic reason for the total slaughterκαὶ ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα οὐκ ἐζωογόνησεν
v.11 supplies the motive behind the slaughter of v.9: David spared no one (the aorist ἐζωογόνησεν now summarizing the whole campaign) precisely so that no captive could be brought to Gath to expose the truth (μὴ ἀναγγείλωσιν … καθ᾿ ἡμῶν, 'lest they report against us'). The slaughter is thus a deliberate strategy of concealment. The closing clause (τὸ δικαίωμα αὐτοῦ … πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας) generalizes this as David's settled practice throughout his Philistine sojourn.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of ἐζωογόνησεν (fronted; first of merism)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. ἄνδρα): 'man'; fronted before the verb for emphasis; with γυναῖκα, the merism 'man and woman' = the entire captured population.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking merism pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativedirect object of ἐζωογόνησεν (second of merism)→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'woman'; completes the merism — David spared neither sex, leaving no potential informant.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐζωογόνησεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐζωογόνησενhe kept aliveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ζωογονέωmain verb (negated aorist summarizing the policy)→ verbal action or stateζωογονέω (aor.): 'preserve alive'; the aorist (vs. the iterative imperfect ἐζωογόνει in v.9) summarizes the entire campaign: David kept no one alive at all; the purpose follows in the articular infinitive and the negated clause — to prevent any witness reaching Gath.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive εἰσαγαγεῖν: purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσαγαγεῖνto bring inAor Act Inf · εἰσάγωarticular infinitive of purpose (genitive τοῦ + infinitive)→ verbal action or stateεἰσάγω (aor. inf.): 'bring in / lead in'; the articular infinitive τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῖν expresses the purpose for which captives might have been kept alive ('so as to bring [them] to Gath') — a purpose David deliberately forecloses by killing all.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΓεθGathaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable: 'to Gath')→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς (indeclinable: 'to Gath').
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing David's reasoning)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptc.): the participle introduces David's stated rationale (whether spoken or thought); here giving the motive clause that follows.
μὴlestnegative conjunction (introducing clause of apprehension/purpose)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: 'lest / that not'; with the subjunctive ἀναγγείλωσιν introduces a negative purpose/fear clause — 'lest they report'.
ἀναγγείλωσινthey should reportAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωverb of negative purpose clause (subjunctive after μή)→ verbal action or stateἀναγγέλλω (aor. subj.): 'report / announce'; the same root as ἀνηγγέλη (v.4); David fears any survivor would 'report against us in Gath' the truth of his actual targets — hence the total slaughter.
εἰςin / topreposition + accusative (direction: to/at Gath)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: to/at Gath).
ΓεθGathaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable: 'to/at Gath')→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς (indeclinable: 'to/at Gath').
καθ᾿againstpreposition + genitive (hostile: 'against us', elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'against'; καθ᾿ ἡμῶν = 'against us', i.e. testimony exposing David and his men's true raids.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of κατά (David and his men)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of κατά (David and his men).
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing the feared report's content)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptc. pl.): introduces the content of the feared report — what survivors might say in Gath: 'Thus David does'.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative object of ποιεῖ (content of the report)→ object specificationὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this'; the neuter plural τάδε ('these things / thus') anticipates the damning report of David's real conduct.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ποιεῖ (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ποιεῖ (indeclinable proper noun).
ποιεῖdoesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of reported content (present: David's habitual conduct)→ verbal action or stateποιέω (pres.): 'do / make'; τάδε Δαυιδ ποιεῖ ('thus David does') is the feared exposure of David's true raiding pattern — the present tense generalizing his conduct.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the narrator's generalizing comment)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τόδεthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject/predicate: 'this was his practice')→ participant referenceὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this'; the neuter τόδε resumes the foregoing as the substance of David's habitual policy.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with δικαίωμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαίωμαpractice / customNominativepredicate nominative ('this was his custom')→ participant prominenceδικαίωμα: usually 'ordinance / statute / just requirement', but here in the LXX idiom 'manner / custom / settled practice' (rendering מִשְׁפָּט in its sense of 'customary way'); τὸ δικαίωμα αὐτοῦ = 'his regular practice', generalizing the slaughter-policy across his whole stay.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying δικαίωμα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying δικαίωμα).
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἡμέρας; accusative of extent of time)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. fem. πάσας): 'all'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας = 'all the days', the accusative of duration covering David's entire Philistine residence.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (duration of the practice)→ object specificationἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the days throughout which David maintained this concealing slaughter.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative of duration, modifying ἡμέρας)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. pl. fem. ἅς): relative 'which'; here accusative of extent ('during which days David dwelt').
ἐκάθητοdweltImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιverb of relative clause (David's residence)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι (impf.): 'sit / dwell'; the imperfect ἐκάθητο depicts David's continuing residence in Philistine country (cf. ἐκάθισεν, v.7), the span throughout which the deception held.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ἐκάθητο (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἐκάθητο (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷcountryDativedative of place (locative: 'in the country')→ sphere or referenceἀγρός (dat. ἀγρῷ): 'country / rural territory'; ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων repeats the framing phrase of v.7, bracketing the raid-narrative within David's Philistine sojourn.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνof foreigners / PhilistinesGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀγρῷ)→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: the LXX term for the Philistines; closing the inclusio with v.7 (ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων), framing David's whole exile among Israel's enemies.
12

καὶ ἐπιστεύθη Δαυιδ ἐν τῷ Αγχους σφόδρα λέγων ᾔσχυνται αἰσχυνόμενος ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ ἔσται μοι δοῦλος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

And David was trusted by Achish exceedingly, who said, 'He has utterly disgraced himself among his people, among Israel, and he shall be my servant forever.'

Climactic résumé: Achish's complete and deceived trustκαὶ ἐπιστεύθη Δαυιδ ἐν τῷ Αγχους σφόδρα
The chapter's ironic climax: David ἐπιστεύθη … σφόδρα ('was trusted exceedingly') by Achish, who reasons (λέγων) that David has made himself utterly odious to his own people. The cognate construction ᾔσχυνται αἰσχυνόμενος ('he has been put to shame, shaming himself' = 'he has utterly disgraced himself') is a Hebraism rendering the infinitive absolute, expressing the intensity of David's supposed self-ruin among Israel. Achish concludes that David, with no homeland to return to, will be his vassal εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ('forever') — a conclusion the reader knows to be entirely mistaken.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιστεύθηwas trustedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πιστεύωmain verb (passive: David was the object of trust)→ verbal action or stateπιστεύω (aor. pass.): 'trust / believe / entrust'; the passive ἐπιστεύθη Δαυιδ ('David was trusted') with ἐν τῷ Αγχους (Hebraistic 'trusted by/in Achish', rendering אָמַן בְּ) marks the success of the deception — Achish's confidence in David is total (σφόδρα).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ἐπιστεύθη (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἐπιστεύθη (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐνby / inpreposition + dative (Hebraistic agent/sphere of trust)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here a Hebraism (בְּ) marking the one in whom trust is placed — 'trusted in/by Achish'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Αγχους, supplying the dative case-marking)→ noun-phrase markingthe article τῷ marks the indeclinable Αγχους as dative ('in/by Achish').
ΑγχουςAchishdative object of ἐν (indeclinable, case marked by τῷ)→ participant identificationΑγχους: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative object of ἐν (indeclinable, case marked by τῷ).
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐπιστεύθη)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; underscores the totality of Achish's misplaced confidence in David.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing Achish's reasoning)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptc.): the participle introduces Achish's internal reasoning that grounds his trust — he believes David is irrevocably alienated from Israel.
ᾔσχυνταιhe has been disgracedPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · αἰσχύνωmain verb of Achish's reasoning (perfect: standing state of disgrace)→ verbal action or stateαἰσχύνω (perf. pass.): 'shame / disgrace'; the perfect ᾔσχυνται ('he has been put to shame / become disgraced') paired with the cognate participle αἰσχυνόμενος forms a Hebraistic intensive (infinitive absolute calque): 'he has utterly disgraced himself' — Achish's conviction that David is beyond reconciliation with Israel.
αἰσχυνόμενοςbeing shamed / utterlyPres Mid Ptc Nom Sg Masc · αἰσχύνωcognate participle (intensifying ᾔσχυνται: Hebraism)→ verbal action or stateαἰσχύνω (pres. mid. ptc.): the cognate participle reinforcing the finite ᾔσχυνται renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute (e.g. הַבְאֵשׁ הִבְאִישׁ, 'he has made himself utterly odious'); the construction expresses the completeness of David's supposed self-ruin among his people.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among his people')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'among his people').
τῷtheDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative of sphere (with ἐν: 'among his people')→ sphere or referenceλαός (dat. λαῷ): 'people'; renders עַם; David's own people, Israel — among whom Achish believes David has become irredeemably hateful.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying λαῷ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying λαῷ).
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (appositional sphere: 'among Israel')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (appositional sphere: 'among Israel').
ΙσραηλIsraeldative in apposition to λαῷ (indeclinable: 'among Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; in apposition to τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ, identifying David's people explicitly as Israel — the nation Achish wrongly believes David has irrevocably betrayed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing Achish's conclusion)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιhe shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of Achish's conclusion (future)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut.): 'be'; ἔσται μοι δοῦλος ('he shall be a servant to me', dative of possession) is Achish's mistaken conclusion — that David, cut off from Israel, will serve him permanently.
μοιto me / myDativedative of possession (with ἔσται: 'my servant')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession (with ἔσται: 'my servant').
δοῦλοςservantNominativepredicate nominative ('he shall be a servant')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant / vassal'; renders עֶבֶד; the same word David applied to himself in v.5 (ὁ δοῦλός σου), now in Achish's mouth as his conviction of David's permanent vassalage — the deception's ironic capstone.
εἰςfor / untopreposition + accusative (temporal extent: 'forever')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: of temporal extent; εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα = 'forever / for all time'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with αἰῶνα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶναage / everAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'forever')→ object specificationαἰών (acc. αἰῶνα): 'age / long duration'; εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ('forever') renders לְעוֹלָם; Achish's confident 'forever' is heavy with dramatic irony — David's true loyalty lies wholly elsewhere.