Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 30ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ Λ′

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 recovers the plunder and captives of Ziklag, renewing Judah through victory and generous distribution.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 30 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 the Amalekite raid on Ziklag (Σεκελακ) during David's three-day absence with Achish: the town is burned with fire and all its women and children — including David's two wives, Achinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite (v. 5) — are carried off captive, though none are killed (vv. 1–6). David, in extreme distress as the people speak of stoning him (λιθοβολῆσαι αὐτόν, v. 6), strengthens himself in the LORD his God (ἐκραταιώθη Δαυιδ ἐν κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτοῦ) and inquires by the ephod through Abiathar the priest, receiving the assurance καταλαμβάνων καταλήμψῃ καὶ ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελῇ ('pursuing you shall overtake and rescuing you shall rescue', v. 8), a doubled cognate-construction rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute. David pursues with six hundred men, two hundred of whom are too exhausted (ἐκλυθέντας) to cross the brook Besor (ὁ χειμάρρους Βοσορ) and remain behind (vv. 9–10). An abandoned Egyptian slave, revived with bread, a cake of figs (κλάσμα παλάθης) and water after three days, guides the pursuit on oath (vv. 11–15). David finds the Amalekites scattered and feasting over the great plunder, strikes them from dawn to evening, and recovers everyone and everything: 'nothing was missing' (οὐ διεφώνησεν αὐτοῖς … τὰ πάντα ἐπέστρεψεν Δαυιδ, v. 19). Returning to the two hundred at Besor, David overrules the 'evil and worthless men' (πᾶς ἀνὴρ λοιμὸς καὶ πονηρός, v. 22) and establishes the equal-share statute — the portion of the one who goes down to battle and the portion of the one who stays by the baggage shall be the same (κατὰ τὴν μερίδα τοῦ καταβαίνοντος εἰς πόλεμον … οὕτως ἔσται ἡ μερὶς τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τὰ σκεύη, v. 24) — which became a πρόσταγμα καὶ δικαίωμα for Israel 'to this day' (vv. 21–25). Finally David sends portions of the spoil 'from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD' (ἀπὸ τῶν σκύλων τῶν ἐχθρῶν κυρίου, v. 26) to the elders of Judah in a long list of southern towns (vv. 26–31). The place-names of vv. 27–31 are largely indeclinable transliterations of Hebrew toponyms. NOTE: the reference text of v. 28 carried an inline editorial marker after Εσθιε which has been stripped from the verse text; no word object corresponds to it.

1

καὶ ἐγενήθη εἰσελθόντος Δαυιδ καὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν αὐτοῦ εἰς Σεκελακ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ Αμαληκ ἐπέθετο ἐπὶ τὸν νότον καὶ ἐπὶ Σεκελακ καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὴν Σεκελακ καὶ ἐνεπύρισεν αὐτὴν ἐν πυρί

And it came to pass, when David and his men entered Ziklag on the third day, that Amalek had made a raid upon the south and upon Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire.

Narrative opening (temporal frame for new episode)καὶ ἐγενήθη
The chapter opens with the Hebraizing macro-syntactic marker καὶ ἐγενήθη (rendering וַיְהִי), which sets a temporal frame filled by the genitive absolute εἰσελθόντος Δαυιδ … and resolved by the main clause καὶ Αμαληκ ἐπέθετο. The clause structure juxtaposes David's homecoming with the disaster already accomplished in his absence.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal macro-syntactic marker)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'come to be / happen'; here impersonal καὶ ἐγενήθη renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי ('and it came to pass'), a stock LXX device opening a new episode and introducing a temporal circumstance.
εἰσελθόντοςwhen … enteredAor Act Part Gen Masc Sg · εἰσέρχομαιgenitive absolute (temporal: 'when David entered')→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the aorist participle in a genitive absolute (with Δαυιδ as its subject) renders the Hebrew temporal infinitive construct (בְּבֹא), framing the moment of arrival against which the discovered disaster is set.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of the genitive-absolute participle (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the Kingdoms books of the LXX; the head figure of the entire chapter, here returning to a ruined Ziklag.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitivegenitive (co-subject of the genitive absolute, with Δαυιδ)→ relational specificationἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / warrior'; renders אִישׁ / אֲנָשִׁים; David's band of fighting men, here sharing the genitive-absolute frame.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of entry)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of entry).
ΣεκελακZiklagaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: transliteration of Hebrew צִקְלַג (Ziklag), the Negev town given to David by Achish (1 Kgdms 27:6); indeclinable in the LXX; here the destination of the homecoming and the object of the Amalekite raid.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the dative of time τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ ('on the third day') marks the duration of David's absence with Achish, during which the raid occurred.
τῇtheDativearticle (attributive, second-position)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτῃthirdDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; renders שְׁלִישִׁי; the third day of the journey back from the Philistine muster at Aphek (29:11).
καὶandconjunction (introducing the resolving main clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑμαληκAmaleksubject of ἐπέθετο (indeclinable national name)→ participant identificationΑμαληκ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲמָלֵק; indeclinable; the perennial desert enemy of Israel (Exod 17; 1 Kgdms 15); here the raiding party as a collective.
ἐπέθετοmade a raidAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (the accomplished raid)→ verbal action or stateἐπιτίθημι (mid. ἐπέθετο): 'set upon / attack / make an assault'; the middle ἐπιτίθεμαι + ἐπί renders Hebrew פָּשַׁט עַל ('raid / make an incursion against'); the aorist reports the raid as already accomplished while David was away.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object of attack)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of attack).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νότονsouth / NegevAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (region attacked)→ object specificationνότος: 'south / south wind'; in the LXX of the historical books ὁ νότος regularly renders הַנֶּגֶב, the arid southern region of Judah; here the territory raided by Amalek.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (second object of attack)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (second object of attack).
ΣεκελακZiklagaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable place-name).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the blow against the town)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; standard LXX rendering of נָכָה (Hiphil); the verb of military assault, here of striking down the town of Ziklag itself.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable place-name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣεκελακZiklagdirect object of ἐπάταξεν (indeclinable, marked feminine by article)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνεπύρισενburnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπυρίζωmain verb (the burning of the town)→ verbal action or stateἐμπυρίζω: 'set on fire / burn up'; renders שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ; the pleonastic ἐνεπύρισεν … ἐν πυρί ('burned with fire') reflects the Hebrew idiom and underscores total destruction.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (resuming Σεκελακ)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (resuming Σεκελακ).
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental Hebraism).
πυρίfireDativedative of means (instrumental: 'with fire')→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; the instrumental ἐν πυρί renders Hebrew בָּאֵשׁ; the ἐν + dative for instrument is a common LXX Semitism.
2

καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου οὐκ ἐθανάτωσαν ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα ἀλλ᾿ ᾐχμαλώτευσαν καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῶν

And the women and all that were in it, from small to great, they did not kill, neither man nor woman, but took them captive, and went on their way.

Continuation: the fate of the inhabitants (specifying the raid of v.1)καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας
v.2 specifies that the raid was a capture, not a massacre: the fronted objects (τὰς γυναῖκας … πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ) and the merism ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου stress totality, while the contrast οὐκ ἐθανάτωσαν … ἀλλ᾿ ᾐχμαλώτευσαν establishes the narrative premise that the captives are recoverable alive.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαςwomenAccusativedirect object of ᾐχμαλώτευσαν (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationγυνή (pl. γυναῖκας): 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the women of Ziklag, including David's two wives (v. 5), are the primary objects of the capture.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativesubstantival adjective (object: 'all things/people')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / everything'; the neuter plural πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ('all that were in it') sweeps up the whole population and contents of the town.
τὰthe (things)Accusativearticle substantivizing the prepositional phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (the town)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν (the town).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό … ἕως: the construction ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου ('from small to great') is a totality-merism rendering Hebrew מִקָּטֹן וְעַד גָּדוֹל.
μικροῦsmallGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (lower pole of merism)→ relational specificationμικρός: 'small / little'; here substantival, of persons of low status or young age — the lower pole of the social-age merism.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (end of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (end of merism).
μεγάλουgreatGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (upper pole of merism)→ relational specificationμέγας: 'great / large'; here substantival, the upper pole of the merism — 'great' in age or rank.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐθανάτωσαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθανάτωσανthey killedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θανατόωmain verb (negated: the raiders did not kill)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders הֵמִית (Hiphil of מוּת); the negation οὐκ ἐθανάτωσαν establishes the crucial premise — the captives are alive and so recoverable.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of ἐθανάτωσαν (distributive: 'any man')→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the pair ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα ('man and woman') with the negation is a merism for 'no one at all.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativedirect object (paired with ἄνδρα)→ object specificationγυναῖκα: meaning 'woman'; it serves as direct object (paired with ἄνδρα).
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative (elided ἀλλά)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but / rather'; the strong adversative pivots from what the raiders did not do (kill) to what they did (take captive).
ᾐχμαλώτευσανthey took captiveAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αἰχμαλωτεύωmain verb (the positive counterpart to the negated killing)→ verbal action or stateαἰχμαλωτεύω: 'take captive / lead away as prisoner of war'; renders שָׁבָה; from αἰχμή ('spear-point') + ἁλίσκομαι ('be caught'); the key verb of the chapter's crisis, recurring at vv. 3, 5.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθονthey went awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (departure of the raiders)→ verbal action or stateἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; the raiders withdraw with their captives, setting up the pursuit.
εἰςonpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνwayAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'on their way')→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῶν ('on their way') renders לְדַרְכָּם, an idiom for resuming a journey.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
3

καὶ ἦλθεν Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐμπεπύρισται ἐν πυρί αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτῶν ᾐχμαλωτευμένοι

And David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

Resumptive narrative (the discovery of the disaster)καὶ ἦλθεν Δαυιδ
v.3 narrates the discovery from David's perspective, the presentative ἰδού ('behold') marking the shocking sight. The perfect ἐμπεπύρισται and the periphrastic perfect participle ᾐχμαλωτευμένοι present both ruin and captivity as accomplished, abiding states confronting the returning men.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival at the town)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the singular verb with compound subject (Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες) follows the common Hebrew/LXX agreement with the first-named subject.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativeco-subject (with Δαυιδ)→ participant prominenceἄνδρες: meaning 'men'; it serves as co-subject (with Δαυιδ).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationπόλις: 'city / town'; renders עִיר; here Ziklag, named in vv. 1–2 and now simply 'the city.'
καὶandconjunction (introducing presentative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (dramatizing the discovery)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a deictic interjection drawing the reader into David's shocked perspective at the sight of the ruin.
ἐμπεπύρισταιit had been burnedPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπυρίζωmain verb (resultative perfect: standing ruin)→ verbal action or stateἐμπυρίζω (perf. pass.): 'be burned up'; the perfect ἐμπεπύρισται presents the burning of v.1 as a settled, present condition confronting David — the town stands in ruins.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
πυρίfireDativedative of means (instrumental Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; the instrumental ἐν πυρί again renders בָּאֵשׁ, echoing v.1 and confirming the totality of the burning.
αἱtheNominativearticle (subject of the second clause)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲandnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle; here shifting attention from the burned town to the captured families.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject of the periphrastic participle ᾐχμαλωτευμένοι→ participant prominenceγυνή (pl. γυναῖκες): 'wife / woman'; here the men's wives, leading the triad wives–sons–daughters.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativeco-subject (second member of the triad)→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; renders בֵּן; the sons of David's men, captured along with the women.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativeco-subject (third member of the triad)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ (pl. θυγατέρες): 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the third member of the family triad, completing the picture of total domestic loss.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ᾐχμαλωτευμένοιhad been taken captivePerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Masc Pl · αἰχμαλωτεύωpredicate participle (periphrastic perfect, with ἰδού supplying the copular force)→ verbal action or stateαἰχμαλωτεύω (perf. pass. part.): 'having been taken captive'; the perfect participle (masculine plural by constructio ad sensum over the mixed group) presents the captivity as an accomplished, ongoing condition — the families are gone, and the rest of the chapter is their recovery.
4

καὶ ἦρεν Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκλαυσαν ἕως ὅτου οὐκ ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἰσχὺς ἔτι κλαίειν

And David and his men lifted up their voice and wept, until there was no strength in them to weep any more.

Narrative continuation (the communal lament)καὶ ἦρεν Δαυιδ
v.4 records the communal lament with the Hebraic idiom ἦρεν … τὴν φωνήν ('lifted up the voice'); the hyperbolic ἕως ὅτου οὐκ ἦν … ἰσχὺς ἔτι κλαίειν ('until there was no strength left to weep') conveys the depth of grief and prepares for the people's turn against David in v.6.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦρενlifted upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (idiom: 'lifted up the voice')→ verbal action or stateαἴρω: 'lift / raise / take up'; the idiom ἦρεν … τὴν φωνήν renders נָשָׂא קוֹל ('lift up the voice'), a Hebraism for loud weeping or crying out (cf. Gen 21:16; 27:38).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativeco-subject→ participant prominenceἄνδρες: meaning 'men'; it serves as co-subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνὴνvoiceAccusativedirect object of ἦρεν (part of the idiom)→ object specificationφωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; the singular collective 'their voice' (τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν) treats the whole company's lament as one cry.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαυσανthey weptAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κλαίωmain verb (the weeping)→ verbal action or stateκλαίω: 'weep / wail'; renders בָּכָה; the loud lament of mourning, here pushed to the point of exhaustion.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ὅτου: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως ὅτου: 'until / until the point that'; a compound temporal conjunction (ἕως + gen. of ὅστις) introducing the limit of the weeping.
ὅτουwhich timeGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive, with ἕως)→ relational specificationὅστις (gen. ὅτου): indefinite relative; in the fixed phrase ἕως ὅτου it loses independent force, functioning as 'until.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the temporal clause (existential: 'there was no strength')→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be / exist'; the existential ἦν with οὐκ renders the Hebrew אֵין ('there is not') in a past frame — no strength remained.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in them')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in them').
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the weeping men)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν (the weeping men).
ἰσχὺςstrengthNominativesubject of ἦν (existential subject)→ participant prominenceἰσχύς: 'strength / power'; renders כֹּחַ; the failure of bodily strength to continue weeping is a vivid measure of grief.
ἔτιany moreadverb (temporal: 'still / further')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / any longer'; renders עוֹד; here 'no strength to weep any longer.'
κλαίεινto weepPres Act Inf · κλαίωcomplementary infinitive (epexegetic with ἰσχύς: strength 'to weep')→ verbal action or stateκλαίω (pres. inf.): the epexegetic infinitive specifies the action for which strength was lacking; the present aspect frames continued weeping as the exhausted capacity.
5

καὶ ἀμφότεραι αἱ γυναῖκες Δαυιδ ᾐχμαλωτεύθησαν Αχινοομ ἡ Ιεζραηλῖτις καὶ Αβιγαια ἡ γυνὴ Ναβαλ τοῦ Καρμηλίου

And both of David's wives had been taken captive, Achinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

Specifying parenthesis (David's own wives among the captives)καὶ ἀμφότεραι αἱ γυναῖκες Δαυιδ
v.5 personalizes the disaster by naming David's two wives among the captives, the emphatic ἀμφότεραι ('both') stressing his total domestic loss. The named gentilics (Ιεζραηλῖτις, Καρμηλίου) anchor the women in the earlier narrative (1 Kgdms 25; 27:3) and raise the personal stakes of the pursuit.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεραιbothNominativeattributive adjective (modifying αἱ γυναῖκες: 'both wives')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both / the two'; the feminine plural ἀμφότεραι stresses that not one but both of David's wives were taken — his loss is complete.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject of ᾐχμαλωτεύθησαν→ participant prominenceγυνή (pl. γυναῖκες): 'wife'; David's two wives, named in apposition below.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's wives')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's wives').
ᾐχμαλωτεύθησανhad been taken captiveAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · αἰχμαλωτεύωmain verb (passive: the wives were captured)→ verbal action or stateαἰχμαλωτεύω (aor. pass.): 'be taken captive'; the passive here turns the verb of vv. 2–3 onto David's own household, the third occurrence of the key captivity-verb.
ΑχινοομAchinoamnominative in apposition to αἱ γυναῖκες (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑχινοομ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲחִינֹעַם (Ahinoam); indeclinable; David's wife from Jezreel (1 Kgdms 25:43).
theNominativearticle (substantivizing the gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεζραηλῖτιςJezreelitessNominativeappositional gentilic (feminine: 'the woman of Jezreel')→ participant prominenceΙεζραηλῖτις: 'Jezreelitess / woman of Jezreel'; a declinable feminine gentilic adjective (from the town Ιεζραηλ); identifies Achinoam's origin.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιγαιαAbigailNominativenominative in apposition (second wife)→ participant prominenceΑβιγαια: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (Abigail); inflected as a first-declension feminine in Greek (nom. -α); the former wife of Nabal, married by David in 1 Kgdms 25.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativeappositional noun ('the wife of Nabal')→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'wife'; here in the sense 'former wife / widow of Nabal,' identifying Abigail by her prior marriage.
Ναβαλof Nabalgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΝαβαλ: transliteration of Hebrew נָבָל (Nabal, 'fool'); indeclinable; Abigail's first husband, who died in 1 Kgdms 25:38.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚαρμηλίουCarmeliteGenitiveappositional gentilic (genitive, modifying Ναβαλ)→ relational specificationΚαρμήλιος: 'Carmelite / of Carmel'; a declinable masculine gentilic (from Carmel in Judah, not the northern mountain); identifies Nabal's home.
6

καὶ ἐθλίβη Δαυιδ σφόδρα ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς λιθοβολῆσαι αὐτόν ὅτι κατώδυνος ψυχὴ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ ἑκάστου ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκραταιώθη Δαυιδ ἐν κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτοῦ

And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was embittered, each over his sons and over his daughters; but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Climactic crisis and theological pivotκαὶ ἐθλίβη Δαυιδ σφόδρα
v.6 is the hinge of the chapter: a double ὅτι-clause explains David's distress (the people's mutinous talk of stoning, itself grounded in their embittered grief), and the closing καὶ ἐκραταιώθη Δαυιδ ἐν κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτοῦ ('but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God') turns the narrative from despair to action — the spiritual root of all that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθλίβηwas distressedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θλίβωmain verb (David's distress)→ verbal action or stateθλίβω (aor. pass. ἐθλίβη): 'press / oppress / afflict'; the passive renders Hebrew יָצַר ('be in straits / distressed'); θλῖψις-language captures David's psychological crushing as the people turn on him.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
σφόδραgreatlyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐθλίβη)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / greatly'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; marks the extremity of David's distress.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (first ὅτι: ground of distress)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders כִּי; introduces the first cause of David's distress — the people's talk of stoning.
εἶπενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of causal clause (the people's mutinous speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say / speak'; here with the infinitive λιθοβολῆσαι it means 'spoke of / proposed' stoning — the people's threat against their leader.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; here David's own men and their dependents, turned mutinous in grief.
λιθοβολῆσαιto stoneAor Act Inf · λιθοβολέωcomplementary infinitive (content of the people's speech)→ verbal action or stateλιθοβολέω: 'stone / pelt with stones'; renders סָקַל / רָגַם; the infinitive expresses the deadly proposal — communal execution of David as scapegoat for the catastrophe.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of λιθοβολῆσαι (David)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of λιθοβολῆσαι (David).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (second ὅτι: ground of the threat)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: the second causal clause explains the threat — the people's grief and bitterness over their lost children.
κατώδυνοςembittered / in anguishNominativepredicate adjective (with implied ἦν: 'was in anguish')→ participant prominenceκατώδυνος: 'deeply pained / full of anguish'; a rare compound (κατά + ὀδύνη) rendering מָרָה ('bitter'); describes the soul of the people as crushed with grief.
ψυχὴsoulNominativesubject of the predicate-adjective clause→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / life / inner self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; the seat of emotion — the people's very being is in anguish.
παντὸςof allGenitiveattributive (modifying τοῦ λαοῦ)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the genitive παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ ('of all the people') universalizes the grief.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of possession (whose soul is in anguish)→ relational specificationλαοῦ: meaning 'people'; it serves as genitive of possession (whose soul is in anguish).
ἑκάστουeachGenitivedistributive apposition ('each one')→ relational specificationἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; the distributive ἑκάστου individualizes the collective grief — every man mourns his own children.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (cause of grief)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here causal/objective, 'over / on account of'; the grief is directed toward the lost children.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (object of grief)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the captured sons over whom the people grieve.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (distributive: 'each one's')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (distributive: 'each one's').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (cause of grief, parallel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (cause of grief, parallel).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (object of grief, parallel to υἱούς)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the captured daughters complete the parental grief.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative force: the turn)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with adversative nuance ('but'), marking the decisive contrast between the people's despair and David's faith-response.
ἐκραταιώθηstrengthened himselfAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κραταιόωmain verb (the theological pivot)→ verbal action or stateκραταιόω (aor. pass.): 'be strong / strengthen oneself'; renders חָזַק (Hithpael, reflexive 'strengthened himself'); the passive form bears reflexive force — David finds resolve not in himself but ἐν κυρίῳ, the spiritual core of the chapter.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/object of trust)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/object of trust).
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐν (the ground of David's strength)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; ἐν κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτοῦ ('in the LORD his God') locates David's strength in covenant relationship with YHWH, not in circumstances or his men.
θεῷGodDativeappositional dative (with κυρίῳ: 'the LORD his God')→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; in apposition to κυρίῳ, the phrase κύριος θεός renders the covenantal יהוה אֱלֹהָיו ('the LORD his God').
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (David's God)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (David's God).
7

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αβιαθαρ τὸν ἱερέα υἱὸν Αχιμελεχ προσάγαγε τὸ εφουδ

And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Achimelech, 'Bring me the ephod.'

Consequence of v.6: David acts on his renewed strengthκαὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αβιαθαρ
v.7 is the first fruit of David's strengthening himself in the LORD: he summons the priestly oracle. The full identification 'Abiathar the priest, son of Achimelech' recalls the massacre at Nob (1 Kgdms 22), making Abiathar's ephod the surviving means of legitimate divine inquiry. The aorist imperative προσάγαγε commissions the consultation that follows in v.8.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces David's command to the priest, the practical outworking of his renewed faith.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΑβιαθαρAbiatharaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβιαθαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶבְיָתָר (Abiathar); indeclinable; the priest who escaped Saul's massacre at Nob and joined David with the ephod (1 Kgdms 22:20–23; 23:6).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with appositional ἱερέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeappositional noun (identifying Abiathar)→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; Abiathar's priestly office is what qualifies him to handle the ephod and mediate the oracle.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeappositional noun (patronymic: 'son of Achimelech')→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic links Abiathar to his father Achimelech, slain by Saul at Nob — heightening the contrast between Saul (who killed the priests) and David (who consults them).
Αχιμελεχof Achimelechgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑχιμελεχ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲחִימֶלֶךְ (Ahimelech); indeclinable; the priest of Nob killed by Doeg at Saul's order (1 Kgdms 22:18).
προσάγαγεbringAor Act Impv 2 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (David's command)→ verbal action or stateπροσάγω: 'bring near / bring forward'; renders הִגִּישׁ / הַגִּישָׁה; the imperative commands the priest to present the ephod for the consultation of v.8.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable εφουδ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εφουδephoddirect object of προσάγαγε (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionεφουδ: transliteration of Hebrew אֵפוֹד (ephod); indeclinable; the priestly garment/object used for seeking oracular guidance (cf. 1 Kgdms 23:9), here the means of David's inquiry of the LORD.
8

καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν Δαυιδ διὰ τοῦ κυρίου λέγων εἰ καταδιώξω ὀπίσω τοῦ γεδδουρ τούτου εἰ καταλήμψομαι αὐτούς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ καταδίωκε ὅτι καταλαμβάνων καταλήμψῃ καὶ ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελῇ

And David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I pursue after this raiding band? Shall I overtake them?' And he said to him, 'Pursue, for overtaking you shall overtake, and rescuing you shall rescue.'

Oracular consultation and divine answerκαὶ ἐπηρώτησεν Δαυιδ διὰ τοῦ κυρίου
v.8 records the inquiry-and-answer in characteristic LXX form: a double deliberative question (εἰ … εἰ …) and an emphatic affirmative oracle built on two cognate figura-etymologica constructions, καταλαμβάνων καταλήμψῃ ('overtaking you shall overtake') and ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελῇ ('rescuing you shall rescue'), each rendering a Hebrew infinitive-absolute and guaranteeing both pursuit-success and full rescue.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπηρώτησενinquiredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπερωτάωmain verb (oracular inquiry)→ verbal action or stateἐπερωτάω: 'ask / inquire of'; renders שָׁאַל (here of consulting YHWH); the verb regularly denotes oracular consultation in the Kingdoms books (cf. 1 Kgdms 23:2, 4).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
διὰof / throughpreposition + genitive (means/mediation of inquiry)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'through / by means of'; ἐπηρώτησεν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ('inquired by/of the LORD') marks YHWH as the source consulted through the ephod.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of διά (the one consulted)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine source of the oracle David seeks through Abiathar's ephod.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct question)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part.): the Hebraizing redundant participle λέγων (rendering לֵאמֹר) introduces the content of the inquiry.
εἰshall I (whether)interrogative particle (introducing deliberative question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if / whether'; in oracular inquiry εἰ introduces a direct deliberative question ('Shall I …?'), rendering Hebrew הֲ; standard in LXX consultation formulas.
καταδιώξωshall I pursueAor Act Subj 1 Sg · καταδιώκωdeliberative subjunctive (the question proper)→ verbal action or stateκαταδιώκω: 'pursue closely / chase down'; the intensive compound (κατά + διώκω) renders רָדַף; the deliberative subjunctive asks whether David should give chase.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; functions as a preposition with genitive (ὀπίσω τοῦ γεδδουρ), rendering אַחֲרֵי ('after').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with indeclinable γεδδουρ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεδδουρraiding bandgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionγεδδουρ: transliteration of Hebrew גְּדוּד ('marauding band / raiding troop'); left untranslated and indeclinable in the LXX, treated as a quasi-proper noun for the Amalekite raiders (recurs vv. 15, 23).
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying γεδδουρ)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative τούτου ('this band') points to the specific raiders who struck Ziklag.
εἰwhetherinterrogative particle (second deliberative question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: introduces the second half of the inquiry — not only pursuit but overtaking.
καταλήμψομαιshall I overtakeFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · καταλαμβάνωverb of the second deliberative question→ verbal action or stateκαταλαμβάνω: 'overtake / lay hold of / catch'; the compound (κατά + λαμβάνω) renders נָשַׂג / הִשִּׂיג ('overtake'); David asks whether the pursuit will succeed.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of καταλήμψομαι (the raiders)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καταλήμψομαι (the raiders).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the divine answer)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): the LORD's answer through the oracle, given in the third person.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (to David)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (to David).
καταδίωκεpursuePres Act Impv 2 Sg · καταδιώκωmain verb (divine command answering the inquiry)→ verbal action or stateκαταδιώκω (pres. impv.): 'pursue!'; the present imperative grants the request of καταδιώξω, commanding sustained pursuit.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground of the command)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the double assurance grounding the command to pursue.
καταλαμβάνωνovertakingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · καταλαμβάνωcognate participle (figura etymologica with καταλήμψῃ: Hebraism)→ verbal action or stateκαταλαμβάνω (pres. part.): the participle + finite verb καταλαμβάνων καταλήμψῃ ('overtaking you shall overtake') is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute (הַשֵּׂג תַּשִּׂיג), expressing certainty — you will surely overtake them.
καταλήμψῃyou shall overtakeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · καταλαμβάνωmain verb of the assurance (with cognate participle)→ verbal action or stateκαταλαμβάνω (fut. mid.): the finite member of the cognate construction; the future assures David of certain overtaking, answering his question καταλήμψομαι affirmatively.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second assurance)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαιρούμενοςrescuingPres Mid Part Nom Masc Sg · ἐξαιρέωcognate participle (figura etymologica with ἐξελῇ)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξαιρέομαι, pres. part.): 'rescue / deliver / snatch out'; the second cognate pair ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελῇ ('rescuing you shall rescue') renders הַצֵּל תַּצִּיל, guaranteeing not merely overtaking but full recovery of the captives.
ἐξελῇyou shall rescueFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb of the second assurance→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (fut. mid. ἐξελῇ): the finite member of the second cognate construction; the future promises certain rescue — the oracle that drives the whole recovery narrative.
9

καὶ ἐπορεύθη Δαυιδ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρχονται ἕως τοῦ χειμάρρου Βοσορ καὶ οἱ περισσοὶ ἔστησαν

And David went, he and the six hundred men with him, and they came as far as the brook Besor, and the rest stayed behind.

Execution of the oracle (the pursuit begins)καὶ ἐπορεύθη Δαυιδ
v.9 begins the pursuit commanded in v.8; the intensive αὐτός underlines David's personal leadership. The shift from aorist ἐπορεύθη to the historic present ἔρχονται quickens the narrative pace, and the closing οἱ περισσοὶ ἔστησαν ('the rest stayed') anticipates the explicit split of forces in v.10.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (David sets out)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep. ἐπορεύθη): 'go / proceed / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; the deponent aorist begins the pursuit; the singular verb agrees with the lead subject Δαυιδ.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
αὐτὸςhimselfNominativeintensive pronoun (in apposition to Δαυιδ: 'he himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive pronoun 'himself'; renders the Hebrew independent pronoun הוּא, stressing David's personal participation in the pursuit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑξακόσιοιsix hundredNominativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρες)→ measure or countἑξακόσιοι: 'six hundred'; renders שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת; David's standing force (cf. 1 Kgdms 27:2; 23:13), of whom only four hundred will cross the brook.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativeco-subject (with Δαυιδ)→ participant prominenceἄνδρες: meaning 'men'; it serves as co-subject (with Δαυιδ).
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the elided μετ᾿ before the vowel of αὐτοῦ.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔρχονταιthey comePres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (historic present: vivid narration)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (pres. ἔρχονται): 'come / go'; the historic present, common in the Kingdoms narrative, makes the arrival at the brook vivid and immediate.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent: 'up to')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'up to / as far as'; renders עַד; marks the limit of the company's advance before the split.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουbrook / wadiGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationχειμάρρους: 'torrent / wadi / seasonal stream'; renders נַחַל; a watercourse dry in summer, here the brook Besor that marks the dividing line of David's force.
ΒοσορBesorgenitive of apposition (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒοσορ: transliteration of Hebrew בְּשׂוֹר (Besor); indeclinable; a wadi in the western Negev, the geographic pivot of the chapter (vv. 9, 10, 21).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (substantivizing περισσοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περισσοὶthe rest / those overNominativesubstantival adjective (subject of ἔστησαν)→ participant prominenceπερισσός: 'remaining / left over / surplus'; here substantival 'the rest' — those who could go no further, identified in v.10 as the two hundred.
ἔστησανstayed / stood stillAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (the halt of the rest)→ verbal action or stateἵστημι (aor. act. intrans. ἔστησαν): 'stand / halt / stay'; the intransitive second aorist denotes the stopping of those too weary to continue.
10

καὶ κατεδίωξεν ἐν τετρακοσίοις ἀνδράσιν ὑπέστησαν δὲ διακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἵτινες ἐκάθισαν πέραν τοῦ χειμάρρου τοῦ Βοσορ

And he pursued with four hundred men; but two hundred men stayed behind, who remained on the other side of the brook Besor.

Clarifying the split of forces (numbers specified)καὶ κατεδίωξεν
v.10 specifies the arithmetic implied in v.9: four hundred press on in the pursuit (κατεδίωξεν, picking up the oracle's κατάδιωκε), while two hundred stay behind at Besor. The δέ marks the contrast, and the relative clause οἵτινες ἐκάθισαν sets up the dispute over shares in vv. 21–25.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεδίωξενhe pursuedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταδιώκωmain verb (the continued pursuit with the reduced force)→ verbal action or stateκαταδιώκω: 'pursue closely'; the aorist enacts the oracle's command καταδίωκε (v.8); the singular has David as subject leading the four hundred.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment/instrument: Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here of accompanying force ('with four hundred men'), a Hebraizing use of ἐן (rendering בְּ) for the troops with whom David pursues.
τετρακοσίοιςfour hundredDativeattributive numeral (modifying ἀνδράσιν)→ sphere or referenceτετρακόσιοι: 'four hundred'; renders אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת; the portion of the six hundred fit to cross and fight.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative object of ἐν (the pursuing force)→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ (dat. pl. ἀνδράσιν): 'man / warrior'; the four hundred who continue the chase.
ὑπέστησανstayed behindAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὑφίστημιmain verb (the halt of the two hundred)→ verbal action or stateὑφίστημι (aor. act. intrans. ὑπέστησαν): 'remain behind / stay put'; the compound (ὑπό + ἵστημι) denotes dropping back from the march — the two hundred could go no further (cf. their exhaustion in v.21).
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive, marking the contrast)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; contrasts the four hundred who pursue with the two hundred who stay.
διακόσιοιtwo hundredNominativeattributive numeral (subject: 'two hundred men')→ participant prominenceδιακόσιοι: 'two hundred'; renders מָאתַיִם; the stay-behinds whose share David will defend in vv. 23–25.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of ὑπέστησαν→ participant prominenceἄνδρες: meaning 'men'; it serves as subject of ὑπέστησαν.
οἵτινεςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐκάθισαν)→ participant referenceὅστις (pl. οἵτινες): 'who / which (as a class)'; the generic relative introduces a descriptive clause about the two hundred.
ἐκάθισανremained / satAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίζωverb of relative clause (their remaining at the brook)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / remain'; renders יָשַׁב; the two hundred 'sat / stayed' across the wadi, guarding the baggage (cf. v.24).
πέρανon the other side ofimproper preposition + genitive ('beyond')→ spatial or relational framingπέραν: 'across / on the far side of'; functions as a preposition with the genitive, rendering עֵבֶר; locates the two hundred on the near bank of Besor while the rest cross.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουbrookGenitivegenitive object of πέραν→ relational specificationχειμάρρους: 'wadi / brook'; the seasonal stream Besor, again the dividing line of the force.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with indeclinable place-name)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒοσορBesorgenitive of apposition (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒοσορ: transliteration of Hebrew בְּשׂוֹר; indeclinable; the brook Besor.
11

καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν ἄνδρα Αἰγύπτιον ἐν ἀγρῷ καὶ λαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἄγουσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς Δαυιδ ἐν ἀγρῷ καὶ διδόασιν αὐτῷ ἄρτον καὶ ἔφαγεν καὶ ἐπότισαν αὐτὸν ὕδωρ

And they found an Egyptian man in a field, and took him and brought him to David in the field, and gave him bread, and he ate, and they gave him water to drink.

New incident: the providential discovery of the guideκαὶ εὑρίσκουσιν ἄνδρα Αἰγύπτιον
v.11 introduces the providential turn — the chance discovery of the abandoned Egyptian who will lead David to the raiders. A run of historic presents (εὑρίσκουσιν, λαμβάνουσιν, ἄγουσιν, διδόασιν) gives the scene immediacy before the narrative reverts to the aorist (ἔφαγεν, ἐπότισαν) for the man's revival.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὑρίσκουσινthey findPres Act Indic 3 Pl · εὑρίσκωmain verb (historic present: the discovery)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (pres. εὑρίσκουσιν): 'find / discover'; renders מָצָא; the historic present highlights the providential 'finding' that will turn the pursuit.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of εὑρίσκουσιν→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the abandoned Egyptian, modified by the gentilic Αἰγύπτιον.
ΑἰγύπτιονEgyptianAccusativeattributive gentilic adjective (modifying ἄνδρα)→ object specificationΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; a declinable gentilic; the man's nationality matters — he is a slave of an Amalekite (v.13), not himself an enemy.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷa fieldDativedative of place (where he was found)→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field / open country'; renders שָׂדֶה; the open country where the sick slave had been left to die.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαμβάνουσινthey takePres Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (pres.): 'take / seize'; renders לָקַח; the men take the Egyptian in hand to bring him to David.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄγουσινthey bringPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἄγωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἄγω (pres.): 'lead / bring'; renders הֵבִיא; they conduct the man to David.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷthe fieldDativedative of place (where David was)→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field'; the open country in which David's company was halted.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διδόασινthey givePres Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (pres. διδόασιν): 'give'; renders נָתַן; they give the famished man bread.
αὐτῷhimDativeindirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of διδόασιν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; renders לֶחֶם; the staple food given to revive the man.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγενhe ateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (the man's eating)→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγεν): 'eat'; renders אָכַל; the shift back to aorist marks the man's action of eating after the historic-present sequence.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπότισανthey gave to drinkAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποτίζωmain verb (giving water, with double accusative)→ verbal action or stateποτίζω: 'give to drink / water'; renders הִשְׁקָה (Hiphil); takes a double accusative (αὐτὸν ὕδωρ, 'gave him water to drink').
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative of person (first object of ἐπότισαν)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative of person (first object of ἐπότισαν).
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative of thing (second object of ἐπότισαν)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; renders מַיִם; the second accusative of the double-accusative construction with ποτίζω.
12

καὶ διδόασιν αὐτῷ κλάσμα παλάθης καὶ ἔφαγεν καὶ κατέστη τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ὅτι οὐ βεβρώκει ἄρτον καὶ οὐ πεπώκει ὕδωρ τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας

And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and he ate, and his spirit was restored in him, for he had not eaten bread nor drunk water three days and three nights.

Continuation: the man's revival and its explanationκαὶ διδόασιν αὐτῷ κλάσμα παλάθης
v.12 completes the revival: the historic present διδόασιν gives the fig-cake, and κατέστη τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ('his spirit returned to him') marks his recovery. The causal ὅτι-clause with two pluperfects (βεβρώκει, πεπώκει) explains the man's collapse — three days and nights without food or water.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διδόασινthey givePres Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (pres.): 'give'; the men give the further nourishment that restores the man.
αὐτῷhimDativeindirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object.
κλάσμαa pieceAccusativedirect object of διδόασιν→ object specificationκλάσμα: 'fragment / broken piece'; from κλάω ('break'); here a portion broken from a pressed fig-cake.
παλάθηςof a cake of figsGenitivegenitive of material/source (modifying κλάσμα)→ relational specificationπαλάθη: 'cake of pressed dried fruit / fig-cake'; renders דְּבֵלָה; a compact, energy-rich food ideal for reviving the famished slave.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγενhe ateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγεν): 'eat'; the man eats the fig-cake.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέστηwas restoredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (the spirit's return)→ verbal action or stateκαθίστημι (aor. act. intrans. κατέστη): 'be restored / settle / come to be (in a state)'; here of the man's reviving — his vital spirit 'settled back' into him; renders the sense of וַתָּשָׁב רוּחוֹ ('his spirit returned').
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of κατέστη→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'spirit / breath / life-force'; renders רוּחַ; here the man's vitality, which returns with food and drink.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐν→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (explaining the collapse)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the explanation of the man's weakened state.
οὐnotnegative particle (with βεβρώκει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βεβρώκειhe had eatenPlupf Act Indic 3 Sg · βιβρώσκωverb of causal clause (negated pluperfect)→ verbal action or stateβιβρώσκω (plupf. βεβρώκει): 'eat / consume'; the pluperfect (without augment, as common in the LXX) expresses the man's prolonged abstinence before his rescue.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of βεβρώκει→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread'; the food he had gone without.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with πεπώκει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεπώκειhe had drunkPlupf Act Indic 3 Sg · πίνωverb of causal clause (negated pluperfect, parallel)→ verbal action or stateπίνω (plupf. πεπώκει): 'drink'; the parallel pluperfect completes the picture of total deprivation — neither food nor water.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of πεπώκει→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the drink he had gone without.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἡμέρας: accusative of duration)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; the duration of the man's deprivation, matching the 'third day' motif of the chapter (v.1).
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration of time→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of extent of time ('for three days').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying νύκτας)→ measure or countτρεῖς: meaning 'three'; numeral expression contributing count or measure in context.
νύκταςnightsAccusativeaccusative of duration of time→ object specificationνύξ (acc. pl. νύκτας): 'night'; the 'three days and three nights' merism stresses the completeness of the man's exhaustion.
13

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ τίνος σὺ εἶ καὶ πόθεν εἶ καὶ εἶπεν τὸ παιδάριον τὸ Αἰγύπτιον ἐγώ εἰμι δοῦλος ἀνδρὸς Αμαληκίτου καὶ κατέλιπέν με ὁ κύριός μου ὅτι ἠνωχλήθην ἐγὼ σήμερον τριταῖος

And David said to him, 'Whose are you, and where are you from?' And the young Egyptian said, 'I am the slave of an Amalekite man, and my master left me, because I fell ill three days ago today.'

Dialogue: David interrogates the revived Egyptianκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ
v.13 opens the interrogation that turns the slave into an informant. David's double question (τίνος … πόθεν) probes ownership and origin; the man's answer identifies him as an Amalekite's slave, abandoned when he fell sick — the human callousness of the master (κατέλιπέν με ὁ κύριός μου) implicitly contrasts with David's mercy in feeding him. Here ὁ κύριός μου is a human master, not the Tetragrammaton.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces David's interrogation of the recovered man.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τίνοςwhoseGenitiveinterrogative pronoun (genitive of possession: 'whose are you')→ relational specificationτίς (gen. τίνος): interrogative 'who / whose'; the possessive genitive τίνος σὺ εἶ ('whose are you') asks to whom the man belongs — appropriate for a slave.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; the explicit pronoun sharpens the direct question.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (of the first question)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (pres. εἶ): 'be'; the copula of the possession-question.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb (of origin)→ clausal contributionπόθεν: 'whence / from where'; the second question asks the man's place of origin.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (of the second question)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (pres. εἶ): the copula of the origin-question.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the reply)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the man's reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces the Egyptian's answer.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονyoung man / ladNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy / young servant / lad'; diminutive of παῖς; renders נַעַר; designates the Egyptian as a young male slave.
τὸtheNominativearticle (attributive, with Αἰγύπτιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγύπτιονEgyptianNominativeattributive gentilic adjective (modifying παιδάριον)→ participant prominenceΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; the neuter agrees with παιδάριον; reaffirms the man's nationality.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; the man opens his self-identification.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicating δοῦλος)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (pres. εἰμι): 'be'; the copula of the self-identification ἐγώ εἰμι δοῦλος.
δοῦλοςslaveNominativepredicate nominative (with εἰμι)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / bondservant'; renders עֶבֶד; the man's servile status, the key to his abandonment and to his willingness to guide David.
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of possession (whose slave)→ relational specificationἀνήρ (gen. ἀνδρός): 'man'; the Amalekite who owned him.
ΑμαληκίτουAmalekiteGenitiveattributive gentilic (modifying ἀνδρός)→ relational specificationΑμαληκίτης: 'Amalekite'; a declinable masculine gentilic (contrast indeclinable Αμαληκ in v.1); identifies the slave's master as one of the raiders.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλιπένleft / abandonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb (the master's abandonment)→ verbal action or stateκαταλείπω: 'leave behind / abandon / forsake'; renders עָזַב; the master's callous desertion of his sick slave — a foil to David's mercy.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of κατέλιπεν→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of κατέλιπεν.
theNominativearticle (with κύριός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόςmasterNominativesubject of κατέλιπεν (human master)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here 'master / owner' in the ordinary human sense (rendering אָדוֹן), NOT the Tetragrammaton — it denotes the Amalekite who owned the slave.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the slave's master)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the slave's master).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (reason for abandonment)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; explains why the master left him — his illness.
ἠνωχλήθηνI fell illAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · ἐνοχλέωverb of causal clause (the slave's illness)→ verbal action or stateἐνοχλέω (aor. pass. ἠνωχλήθην): 'trouble / disturb'; in the passive 'be afflicted / fall sick'; renders חָלָה; the slave's sudden illness occasioned his abandonment.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun, redundant with the verb)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the redundant pronoun reflects the underlying Hebrew emphasis.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; with τριταῖος fixes the onset of illness at three days ago.
τριταῖοςthree days ago / on the third dayNominativepredicate adjective (temporal: 'this being the third day')→ participant prominenceτριταῖος: 'on the third day / of three days' duration'; an adjective agreeing with ἐγώ but functioning adverbially ('I have been ill three days now'); ties to the chapter's recurring 'third day' motif (vv. 1, 12).
14

καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐπεθέμεθα ἐπὶ νότον τοῦ Χολθι καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τῆς Ιουδαίας μέρη καὶ ἐπὶ νότον Χελουβ καὶ τὴν Σεκελακ ἐνεπυρίσαμεν ἐν πυρί

And we raided the south of the Cherethites, and the parts belonging to Judea, and the south of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.

Report: the slave details the raids (corroborating vv.1–2)καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐπεθέμεθα
v.14 has the slave corroborate and expand the report of v.1: the emphatic ἡμεῖς ('we') identifies him with the raiders, and a three-fold ἐπί enumerates the raided regions (the Negev of the Cherethites, of Judea, of Caleb), climaxing in the admission καὶ τὴν Σεκελακ ἐνεπυρίσαμεν — confirming his band's responsibility for Ziklag.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun: 'we ourselves')→ participant referenceἡμεῖς: emphatic 'we'; the slave openly identifies himself with the raiding party, making his testimony first-hand.
ἐπεθέμεθαwe raidedAor Mid Indic 1 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (the raids)→ verbal action or stateἐπιτίθημι (mid. ἐπεθέμεθα): 'set upon / make a raid'; the same verb as v.1 (of Amalek's assault), now in the slave's first-person plural — he confirms the very raid David is avenging.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object of the raid)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of the raid).
νότονsouth / NegevAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (first region raided)→ object specificationνότος: 'south'; ὁ νότος = the Negev; the southern district of the first-named people.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with indeclinable Χολθι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧολθιCherethitegenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of the Cherethite')→ participant identificationΧολθι: transliteration of Hebrew כְּרֵתִי (the Cherethites/Cretans), a people of the southern coastal Negev associated with the Philistines; indeclinable in this form.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (second region raided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (second region raided).
τὰthe (parts)Accusativearticle (with μέρη, framing the genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with Ιουδαίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιουδαίαςof JudeaGenitivegenitive (modifying μέρη: 'parts of Judea')→ relational specificationΙουδαίας: meaning 'of Judea'; it serves as genitive (modifying μέρη: 'parts of Judea').
μέρηpartsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the regions of Judea)→ object specificationμέρη: meaning 'parts'; it serves as accusative object of ἐπί (the regions of Judea).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (third region raided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (third region raided).
νότονsouth / NegevAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (third region)→ object specificationνότος: 'south / Negev'; the southern district of Caleb.
ΧελουβCalebgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Caleb')→ participant identificationΧελουβ: transliteration of Hebrew כָּלֵב (Caleb); indeclinable; the Negev of Caleb is the clan-territory of Caleb's descendants in southern Judah (cf. 1 Kgdms 25:3).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable Σεκελακ)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣεκελακZiklagdirect object of ἐνεπυρίσαμεν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: transliteration of Hebrew צִקְלַג; the slave names the very town David found burned (v.1).
ἐνεπυρίσαμενwe burnedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐμπυρίζωmain verb (the burning, first-person confession)→ verbal action or stateἐμπυρίζω (aor. ἐνεπυρίσαμεν): 'burn up'; the first-person plural matches ἐνεπύρισεν of v.1 — the slave confesses his band's own deed against Ziklag.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental Hebraism).
πυρίfireDativedative of means (instrumental)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; ἐν πυρί again renders בָּאֵשׁ, echoing vv. 1, 3.
15

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Δαυιδ εἰ κατάξεις με ἐπὶ τὸ γεδδουρ τοῦτο καὶ εἶπεν ὄμοσον δή μοι κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ μὴ θανατώσειν με καὶ μὴ παραδοῦναί με εἰς χεῖρας τοῦ κυρίου μου καὶ κατάξω σε ἐπὶ τὸ γεδδουρ τοῦτο

And David said to him, 'Will you bring me down to this raiding band?' And he said, 'Swear to me by God that you will not kill me and will not hand me over to my master, and I will bring you down to this raiding band.'

Negotiation: the guide's terms and David's recruitmentκαὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Δαυιδ
v.15 closes the encounter with a negotiated agreement: David asks to be led to the raiders (κατάξεις), and the slave makes his guidance conditional on an oath (ὄμοσον δή μοι κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ) of protection against death and return to his master. The matching verbs κατάξεις / κατάξω frame the bargain, and the demonstrative τὸ γεδδουρ τοῦτο ties back to the oracle's object (v.8).
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces David's request to be guided.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the slave)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (the slave).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
εἰwill you (whether)interrogative particle (direct question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'whether'; introduces the direct question 'Will you bring me down …?'
κατάξειςwill you bring downFut Act Indic 2 Sg · κατάγωmain verb of the question→ verbal action or stateκατάγω: 'lead down / bring down'; renders הוֹרִיד; 'bring down' (the raiders are encamped below); the future poses the request to the guide.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of κατάξεις→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of κατάξεις.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable γεδδουρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεδδουρraiding bandaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionγεδδουρ: transliteration of Hebrew גְּדוּד ('raiding band'); indeclinable, here neuter by the article τό; the Amalekite troop David seeks.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying γεδδουρ)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; τὸ γεδδουρ τοῦτο echoes the oracle's τοῦ γεδδουρ τούτου (v.8).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the reply)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the slave's reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces the guide's conditional reply.
ὄμοσονswearAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὄμνυμιmain verb (the slave's demand)→ verbal action or stateὄμνυμι (aor. impv. ὄμοσον): 'swear / take an oath'; renders שָׁבַע (Niphal); the slave demands a binding oath as the price of his guidance.
δήnow / I prayemphatic/entreating particle (softening the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: enclitic particle of entreaty/urgency; renders נָא; 'swear, I pray.'
μοιto meDativeindirect object of ὄμοσον→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of ὄμοσον.
κατὰbypreposition + genitive (the one sworn by)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: in oath-formulas 'by'; ὄμοσον κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ('swear by God') invokes the deity as guarantor.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of κατά (the one sworn by)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the deity by whom David is to swear — the oath's binding authority.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the infinitive θανατώσειν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative used with the infinitives of the oath's content.
θανατώσεινto killFut Act Inf · θανατόωinfinitive of indirect content (the sworn promise: not to kill)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω (fut. inf. θανατώσειν): 'put to death'; the future infinitive expresses the content of the oath — that David will not kill him.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of θανατώσειν→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of θανατώσειν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with παραδοῦναί)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παραδοῦναίto hand overAor Act Inf · παραδίδωμιinfinitive of indirect content (second sworn promise)→ verbal action or stateπαραδίδωμι (aor. inf. παραδοῦναι): 'hand over / deliver up'; renders מָסַר / נָתַן בְּיַד; the second clause of the oath — not to surrender him to his Amalekite master.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of παραδοῦναι→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of παραδοῦναι.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into the hands of')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiom: 'into the hands of').
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'into the hands')→ object specificationχείρ (acc. pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; εἰς χεῖρας ('into the hands of') renders בְּיַד, an idiom for handing into someone's power.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουmasterGenitivegenitive of possession (the slave's human master)→ relational specificationκύριος: again 'master / owner' (rendering אָדוֹן), NOT the Tetragrammaton — the slave's Amalekite master from whom he fears recapture.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the slave's promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατάξωI will bring downFut Act Indic 1 Sg · κατάγωmain verb (the slave's promise, contingent on the oath)→ verbal action or stateκατάγω (fut. κατάξω): 'bring down'; the guide's own promise, matching David's κατάξεις — once sworn, he will lead David to the raiders.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of κατάξω→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of κατάξω.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable γεδδουρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεδδουρraiding bandaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionγεδδουρ: transliteration of Hebrew גְּדוּד; the Amalekite band, repeated from the question.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying γεδδουρ)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; closes the bargain by repeating David's own phrase.
16

καὶ κατήγαγεν αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἰδοὺ οὗτοι διακεχυμένοι ἐπὶ πρόσωπον πάσης τῆς γῆς ἐσθίοντες καὶ πίνοντες καὶ ἑορτάζοντες ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς σκύλοις τοῖς μεγάλοις οἷς ἔλαβον ἐκ γῆς ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐκ γῆς Ιουδα

And he brought him down there, and behold, they were spread out over the face of all the land, eating and drinking and feasting over all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

Discovery of the raiders (the guide delivers on his promise)καὶ κατήγαγεν αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ
v.16 fulfills the guide's promise (κατήγαγεν matching κατάξω, v.15) and unveils the scene with presentative ἰδού: the Amalekites sprawled in careless festivity. The perfect participle διακεχυμένοι ('scattered/sprawled') and the three present participles (ἐσθίοντες, πίνοντες, ἑορτάζοντες) paint their drunken security — the very condition that makes them vulnerable to David's dawn attack in v.17.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατήγαγενhe brought downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατάγωmain verb (the guide leads David down)→ verbal action or stateκατάγω (aor. κατήγαγεν): 'bring down / lead down'; the Egyptian fulfills his sworn promise (κατάξω, v.15), guiding David to the raiders' camp.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (David)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (David).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; renders שָׁם; the place where the raiders were encamped.
καὶandconjunction (introducing presentative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (dramatizing the sight)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; presents the camp-scene through David's eyes.
οὗτοιthese / theyNominativesubject (the Amalekite raiders)→ participant prominenceοὗτος (pl. οὗτοι): 'these'; the demonstrative as subject of the participial description — the raiders sprawled in revelry.
διακεχυμένοιspread out / sprawledPerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Masc Pl · διαχέωpredicate participle (periphrastic, with ἰδού supplying copular force)→ verbal action or stateδιαχέω (perf. mid./pass. part. διακεχυμένοι): 'pour out / scatter / spread abroad'; the perfect participle pictures the raiders dispersed and relaxed over the whole countryside, off their guard.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (extent).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (idiom: 'over the face of')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / surface'; ἐπὶ πρόσωπον … τῆς γῆς ('over the face of the land') renders עַל פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ, an idiom for total dispersal across the terrain.
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive (modifying τῆς γῆς)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; underscores that the raiders covered the whole area.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (with πρόσωπον: 'the face of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / earth / ground'; renders אֶרֶץ; the countryside over which the raiders were spread.
ἐσθίοντεςeatingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · ἐσθίωcircumstantial participle (manner: what they were doing)→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (pres. part.): 'eat'; first of three participles depicting careless revelry.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πίνοντεςdrinkingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · πίνωcircumstantial participle (manner)→ verbal action or stateπίνω (pres. part.): 'drink'; the second participle — their drinking left them vulnerable to surprise.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑορτάζοντεςfeasting / celebratingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · ἑορτάζωcircumstantial participle (manner)→ verbal action or stateἑορτάζω (pres. part.): 'keep festival / celebrate'; renders חָגַג; the raiders feasted over their plunder — dramatic irony, as their celebration precedes their destruction.
ἐνover / withpreposition + dative (occasion/ground of celebration)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here 'over / on account of' (rendering בְּ), of the plunder occasioning the feast.
πᾶσιallDativeattributive (modifying τοῖς σκύλοις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the plunder celebrated.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλοιςspoil / plunderDativedative object of ἐν (the plunder)→ sphere or referenceσκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil / plunder / booty'; renders שָׁלָל; the key noun of the chapter's second half (vv. 16, 19, 20, 22, 26), the loot whose distribution becomes the legal precedent.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (attributive, with μεγάλοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάλοιςgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying σκύλοις)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great / large'; emphasizes the vastness of the plunder taken in the raids.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (object of ἔλαβον, attracted to dative of antecedent)→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. pl. οἷς): relative pronoun; its case is attracted to the dative antecedent τοῖς σκύλοις (it would be accusative as object of ἔλαβον).
ἔλαβονthey had takenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause (how the plunder was acquired)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβον): 'take / seize'; here of the raiders' acquisition of the plunder before David's attack.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source of plunder)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the territory plundered.
ἀλλοφύλωνof the PhilistinesGenitivegenitive (modifying γῆς: 'land of the Philistines')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines') in the Kingdoms books; the raiders had plundered Philistine territory too.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (second source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (second source).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (second source)→ relational specificationγῆς: meaning 'land'; it serves as genitive object of ἐκ (second source).
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'land of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Judah); indeclinable; the southern tribe whose land the Amalekites had also plundered.
17

καὶ ἦλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς Δαυιδ καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ ἑωσφόρου ἕως δείλης καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ οὐκ ἐσώθη ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀνὴρ ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τετρακόσια παιδάρια ἃ ἦν ἐπιβεβηκότα ἐπὶ τὰς καμήλους καὶ ἔφυγον

And David came upon them and struck them down from dawn until evening and the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who had mounted on the camels and fled.

Climax: the rout of the Amalekitesκαὶ ἦλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς Δαυιδ
v.17 is the battle's climax: David falls on the unguarded raiders. The temporal span ἀπὸ ἑωσφόρου ἕως δείλης καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον ('from dawn to evening and the next day') stresses a prolonged slaughter, and the near-total result οὐκ ἐσώθη … ἀνήρ ('not a man escaped') is qualified only by the four hundred who fled on camels — the divinely promised overtaking (v.8) realized.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (David's attack-approach)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come'; ἦλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς ('came upon them') has hostile force — the onset of the attack.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here of hostile approach 'against / upon'; the elided ἐπ᾿ before the vowel.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the raiders)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (the raiders).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruck downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the slaughter)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / smite / slay'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the verb of v.1 (Amalek struck Ziklag) now turned against the raiders — the reversal of the chapter.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐπάταξεν.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of time-span)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό … ἕως: marks the temporal span of the slaughter.
ἑωσφόρουdawn / morning starGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (start of the battle)→ relational specificationἑωσφόρος: 'dawn-bringer / morning star / daybreak'; from ἕως ('dawn') + φέρω; here 'daybreak'; the battle began at first light, catching the raiders unawares.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (end of time-span)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'until'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (end of time-span).
δείληςeveningGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (end of the day's fighting)→ relational specificationδείλη: 'afternoon / evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the slaughter lasted a full day and beyond.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the time-span)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇthe (next day)Dativearticle (dative of time, with ἐπαύριον; ἡμέρᾳ understood)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαύριονnext dayadverb (substantivized by τῇ: 'on the next day')→ clausal contributionἐπαύριον: 'on the morrow / next day'; an adverb (ἐπί + αὔριον); with the article τῇ ἐπαύριον (sc. ἡμέρᾳ) renders מִמָּחֳרָת, extending the slaughter into a second day.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐσώθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐσώθηescaped / was savedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (the totality of the slaughter)→ verbal action or stateσῴζω (aor. pass. ἐσώθη): 'save / preserve / escape'; in the passive 'be saved / escape'; renders נִמְלַט / נִשְׁאַר; οὐκ ἐσώθη … ἀνήρ ('not a man escaped') marks the near-total destruction.
ἐξofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of them')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive: 'of them').
αὐτῶνthemGenitivepartitive genitive (the raiders)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as partitive genitive (the raiders).
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of ἐσώθη (with negation: 'not a man')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; with οὐκ, 'no one' — the hyperbole of total rout.
ὅτιbutparticle (in the exceptive idiom ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here part of the redundant exceptive construction ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('except / except only'), a heavy LXX calque of Hebrew כִּי אִם.
ἀλλ᾿exceptadversative (part of exceptive idiom, elided ἀλλά)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ forms the exceptive 'except.'
than / butparticle (completing the exceptive idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than / or'; the third element of the exceptive ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ — introducing the sole exception, the four hundred who fled.
τετρακόσιαfour hundredNominativeattributive numeral (modifying παιδάρια)→ participant prominenceτετρακόσιοι: 'four hundred'; here neuter (with παιδάρια); the only Amalekites to escape.
παιδάριαyoung menNominativesubject of the exceptive clause (the escapees)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον (pl. παιδάρια): 'youth / young man / lad'; renders נַעַר; the young, agile fighters who fled on camels.
whoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of the periphrastic verb)→ participant referenceὅς (neut. pl. ἅ): relative pronoun agreeing with παιδάρια (neuter).
ἦνhadImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic pluperfect (with ἐπιβεβηκότα)→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf. ἦν): the auxiliary forming, with the perfect participle ἐπιβεβηκότα, a periphrastic pluperfect ('had mounted'); the singular ἦν with neuter plural subject follows normal Greek concord.
ἐπιβεβηκόταhad mountedPerf Act Part Nom Neut Pl · ἐπιβαίνωparticiple of periphrastic pluperfect (with ἦν)→ verbal action or stateἐπιβαίνω (perf. act. part. ἐπιβεβηκότα): 'mount / get up on'; with ἦν forms a periphrastic pluperfect — the young men had already mounted the camels, enabling their escape.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position: 'on the camels')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position: 'on the camels').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καμήλουςcamelsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (their mounts)→ object specificationκάμηλος: 'camel'; renders גָּמָל; the swift desert mounts that carried the four hundred to safety.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφυγονfledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb (the escape of the four hundred)→ verbal action or stateφεύγω (aor. ἔφυγον): 'flee / escape'; renders נָס; the only survivors fled — the remnant of the once-confident raiders.
18

καὶ ἀφείλατο Δαυιδ πάντα ἃ ἔλαβον οἱ Αμαληκῖται καὶ ἀμφοτέρας τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτοῦ ἐξείλατο

And David took back everything that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.

Result: full recovery of persons and goodsκαὶ ἀφείλατο Δαυιδ
v.18 records the recovery in summary, the two verbs ἀφείλατο ('took back') and ἐξείλατο ('rescued') framing the whole — the latter directly fulfilling the oracle's ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελῇ (v.8). The emphatic ἀμφοτέρας ('both') answers the loss of v.5, restoring David's wives by name.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφείλατοtook back / recoveredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (recovery of the spoil)→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω (mid. ἀφείλατο): 'take away / take back / recover'; the middle here 'recovered for himself'; renders הִצִּיל / לָקַח; David retrieves all the raiders had carried off.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πάνταeverythingAccusativedirect object of ἀφείλατο (the recovered goods)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / everything'; the totality of the plunder, anticipating the 'nothing missing' of v.19.
thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔλαβον)→ participant referenceὅς (neut. pl. ἅ): relative pronoun, object of ἔλαβον, antecedent πάντα.
ἔλαβονhad takenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause (the raiders' plundering)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβον): 'take'; here of the Amalekites' earlier seizing of the goods now recovered.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμαληκῖταιAmalekitesNominativesubject of ἔλαβον→ participant prominenceΑμαληκίτης (pl. Αμαληκῖται): 'Amalekite'; a declinable gentilic (contrast indeclinable Αμαληκ, v.1); the raiders as a named group.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφοτέραςbothAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τὰς γυναῖκας)→ object specificationἀμφότεροι: 'both'; the feminine accusative ἀμφοτέρας answers the ἀμφότεραι of v.5 — both wives lost, both recovered.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατο→ object specificationγυνή (pl. γυναῖκας): 'wife'; David's two wives, Achinoam and Abigail (v.5), now rescued.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐξείλατοrescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (rescue of the wives, fulfilling the oracle)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξείλατο): 'rescue / deliver / snatch out'; the very verb of the oracle's promise ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελῇ (v.8) — its fulfillment, the rescue accomplished.
19

καὶ οὐ διεφώνησεν αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν σκύλων καὶ ἕως υἱῶν καὶ θυγατέρων καὶ ἕως πάντων ὧν ἔλαβον αὐτῶν τὰ πάντα ἐπέστρεψεν Δαυιδ

And nothing of theirs was missing, from small to great, from the spoil to sons and daughters, to everything that they had taken of theirs; David brought back the whole.

Summary climax: the completeness of the recoveryκαὶ οὐ διεφώνησεν αὐτοῖς
v.19 is the theological exclamation point of the rescue: οὐ διεφώνησεν ('nothing was missing'), expanded by a sweeping merism (small to great, spoil, sons and daughters, everything), and clinched by the fronted summary τὰ πάντα ἐπέστρεψεν Δαυιδ ('David brought back the whole') — the total fulfillment of ἐξελῇ (v.8).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with διεφώνησεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διεφώνησενwas missing / went amissAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαφωνέωmain verb (impersonal: 'nothing was missing')→ verbal action or stateδιαφωνέω: lit. 'be discordant / be out of tune'; in the LXX idiomatically 'be missing / fail / be lost' (rendering נֶעְדַּר / חָסֵר); οὐ διεφώνησεν αὐτοῖς ('nothing of theirs was lacking') is the formula for total recovery (cf. Num 31:49).
αὐτοῖςof theirs / for themDativedative of reference/possession (the people)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'of theirs'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference/possession (the people).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό … ἕως: the totality-merism 'from small to great.'
μικροῦsmallGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (lower pole of merism)→ relational specificationμικρός: 'small'; substantival, the lower pole — echoing v.2's ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου, now in recovery.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (upper pole of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (upper pole of merism).
μεγάλουgreatGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (upper pole of merism)→ relational specificationμέγας: 'great'; the upper pole of the recovery-merism.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (extending the merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (extending the merism).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the plunder)→ relational specificationσκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil / plunder'; one element of the all-encompassing recovery.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (extending the merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (extending the merism).
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; the captured sons, now recovered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive (parallel to υἱῶν)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ (gen. pl. θυγατέρων): 'daughter'; the recovered daughters, completing the family restoration.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (summarizing extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (summarizing extent).
πάντωνeverythingGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (summative)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the summative genitive 'everything' gathers up all the foregoing categories.
ὧνthatGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction, object of ἔλαβον)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun, attracted to the genitive antecedent πάντων (would be accusative as object of ἔλαβον).
ἔλαβονthey had takenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause (the raiders' seizure)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβον): 'take'; of all the Amalekites had carried off.
αὐτῶνof theirsGenitivepartitive/possessive genitive (belonging to the people)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'of theirs'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as partitive/possessive genitive (belonging to the people).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with πάντα, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάνταthe whole / allAccusativedirect object of ἐπέστρεψεν (fronted summary)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; τὰ πάντα ('the whole / the totality'), the emphatic summary object — David brought back absolutely everything.
ἐπέστρεψενbrought backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (the total restoration)→ verbal action or stateἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / restore / bring back'; renders הֵשִׁיב (Hiphil of שׁוּב); here transitive 'brought back' — David returned the whole.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
20

καὶ ἔλαβεν Δαυιδ πάντα τὰ ποίμνια καὶ τὰ βουκόλια καὶ ἀπήγαγεν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν σκύλων καὶ τοῖς σκύλοις ἐκείνοις ἐλέγετο ταῦτα τὰ σκῦλα Δαυιδ

And David took all the flocks and the herds and drove them before the spoil; and of that spoil it was said, 'This is David's spoil.'

Supplement: the livestock as David's personal spoilκαὶ ἔλαβεν Δαυιδ πάντα τὰ ποίμνια
v.20 adds the livestock as plunder beyond the recovered Ziklag goods; David drives the flocks and herds ahead, and the popular acclamation ταῦτα τὰ σκῦλα Δαυιδ ('this is David's spoil') — reported by the iterative imperfect ἐλέγετο — marks this as his own war-prize, the basis for the largesse of vv. 26–31.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (seizing the livestock)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take'; here David takes the Amalekites' own flocks and herds as additional spoil.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πάνταallAccusativeattributive (modifying τὰ ποίμνια)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the whole of the captured livestock.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποίμνιαflocksAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationποίμνιον: 'flock (of sheep/goats)'; renders צֹאן; the small cattle taken as spoil.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουκόλιαherdsAccusativedirect object (parallel to ποίμνια)→ object specificationβουκόλιον: 'herd (of cattle)'; renders בָּקָר; the large cattle, paired with the flocks as the totality of livestock.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγαγενdrove away / led offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπάγωmain verb (driving the livestock)→ verbal action or stateἀπάγω (aor. ἀπήγαγεν): 'lead away / drive off'; David drives the livestock ahead of the rest of the spoil.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / ahead ofimproper preposition + genitive (position: 'in front of')→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / before'; with the genitive τῶν σκύλων, the livestock are driven ahead of the other plunder.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν→ relational specificationσκῦλον: 'spoil'; the recovered plunder, ahead of which the livestock march.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλοιςspoilDativedative of reference (concerning that spoil)→ sphere or referenceσκῦλον (dat. pl. σκύλοις): 'spoil'; the dative of reference — 'concerning that spoil it was said …'
ἐκείνοιςthatDativedemonstrative (modifying σκύλοις)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; distinguishes this particular livestock-spoil as David's own.
ἐλέγετοit was saidImpf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (impersonal passive: the popular saying)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (impf. pass. ἐλέγετο): 'be said'; the iterative imperfect reports a recurring popular acclamation — people kept calling this 'David's spoil.'
ταῦταthisNominativesubject of the quoted saying (demonstrative)→ participant prominenceοὗτος (neut. pl. ταῦτα): 'these / this'; subject of the acclamation, agreeing with τὰ σκῦλα.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκῦλαspoilNominativepredicate nominative (of the saying: 'David's spoil')→ participant prominenceσκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil'; the acclamation ταῦτα τὰ σκῦλα Δαυιδ ('this is David's spoil') brands the livestock as his personal war-prize.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's spoil')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's spoil').
21

καὶ παραγίνεται Δαυιδ πρὸς τοὺς διακοσίους ἄνδρας τοὺς ἐκλυθέντας τοῦ πορεύεσθαι ὀπίσω Δαυιδ καὶ ἐκάθισεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ χειμάρρῳ τῷ Βοσορ καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ἀπάντησιν Δαυιδ καὶ εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ λαοῦ τοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ προσήγαγεν Δαυιδ ἕως τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην

And David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go after David, whom he had made to stay at the brook Besor; and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him; and David came up to the people, and they greeted him peaceably.

Return to the stay-behinds (setting up the dispute over shares)καὶ παραγίνεται Δαυιδ
v.21 reunites the victorious force with the two hundred left at Besor (v.10). The historic present παραγίνεται quickens the reunion; the relative τοὺς ἐκλυθέντας names their exhaustion as the reason they stayed, and the warm greeting (ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην, 'they greeted him peaceably') stands in pointed contrast to the hostility of the 'worthless men' in the next verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 46 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραγίνεταιcomes / arrivesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb (historic present: the reunion)→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι (pres. παραγίνεται): 'come / arrive / be present'; the historic present makes the reunion at Besor vivid.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διακοσίουςtwo hundredAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρας)→ object specificationδιακόσιοι: 'two hundred'; the men left behind in v.10, now rejoined.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationἄνδρας: meaning 'men'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with participle ἐκλυθέντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκλυθένταςwho were too exhaustedAor Pass Part Acc Masc Pl · ἐκλύωattributive participle (describing the two hundred)→ verbal action or stateἐκλύω (aor. pass. part. ἐκλυθέντας): 'loose / weaken / exhaust'; in the passive 'be worn out / faint'; explains why the two hundred dropped back — they were too spent to cross Besor.
τοῦfromGenitivearticle (with the genitive articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορεύεσθαιto goPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive (genitive of separation/result with ἐκλυθέντας: 'too weak to go')→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (pres. inf., articular τοῦ πορεύεσθαι): 'go / proceed'; the genitive articular infinitive completes ἐκλυθέντας — 'too exhausted to go on after David.'
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('behind / after')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after'; ὀπίσω Δαυιδ ('after David'), renders אַחֲרֵי.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενhe had made to stayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (David had stationed them)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω (aor. ἐκάθισεν): here transitive/causative 'cause to sit / station / settle'; David had stationed the two hundred at Besor (cf. v.10 ἐκάθισαν, intransitive).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκάθισεν→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκάθισεν.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρῳbrookDativedative of place (where they stayed)→ sphere or referenceχειμάρρους (dat. χειμάρρῳ): 'wadi / brook'; the brook Besor where the two hundred remained.
τῷtheDativearticle (with indeclinable Βοσορ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒοσορBesordative of apposition (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒοσορ: transliteration of Hebrew בְּשׂוֹר; the brook Besor, named for the third time (vv. 9, 10, 21).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθονthey went outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the two hundred go out to meet)→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι (aor. ἐξῆλθον): 'go out / come out'; the stay-behinds come out to welcome the returning force.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς ἀπάντησιν: 'to meet'; a stock LXX idiom (rendering לִקְרַאת) for going out to encounter someone.
ἀπάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'to a meeting of')→ object specificationἀπάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; in εἰς ἀπάντησιν it forms the idiom 'to meet.'
ΔαυιδDavidobjective genitive (whom they go to meet, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as objective genitive (whom they go to meet, indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose, parallel)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose, parallel).
ἀπάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom, parallel)→ object specificationἀπάντησιν: meaning 'meeting'; it serves as accusative object of εἰς (idiom, parallel).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitiveobjective genitive (the people they go to meet)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here the fighting force that went with David.
τοῦthe (who were)Genitivearticle (attributive, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the article + prepositional phrase τοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('the one(s) with him') functions attributively.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσήγαγενcame up / drew nearAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (David approaches the people)→ verbal action or stateπροσάγω (aor. προσήγαγεν): 'bring near'; here intransitive 'drew near / came up'; David approaches the greeting party.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἕωςup topreposition + genitive (extent: 'up to')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'up to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (extent: 'up to').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here the two hundred who came out to meet him.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠρώτησανthey greeted / askedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐρωτάωmain verb (the peaceable greeting)→ verbal action or stateἐρωτάω (aor. ἠρώτησαν): 'ask / greet'; in the idiom ἠρώτησαν … τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην ('asked after peace / greeted peaceably') it renders שָׁאַל לְשָׁלוֹם, a friendly salutation.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἠρώτησαν (David)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἠρώτησαν (David).
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantivizing εἰς εἰρήνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (in the greeting-idiom)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (in the greeting-idiom).
εἰρήνηνpeaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'after their welfare')→ object specificationεἰρήνη: 'peace / welfare'; renders שָׁלוֹם; τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην ('the things pertaining to peace') is the content of the friendly greeting — they inquired after one another's wellbeing.
22

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη πᾶς ἀνὴρ λοιμὸς καὶ πονηρὸς τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν πολεμιστῶν τῶν πορευθέντων μετὰ Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπαν ὅτι οὐ κατεδίωξαν μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν οὐ δώσομεν αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν σκύλων ὧν ἐξειλάμεθα ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἕκαστος τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ ἀπαγέσθωσαν καὶ ἀποστρεφέτωσαν

Then every evil and worthless man of the warriors who had gone with David answered and said, 'Because they did not pursue with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we recovered, except that each may take away his wife and his children and depart.'

Conflict: the worthless men's selfish demandκαὶ ἀπεκρίθη πᾶς ἀνὴρ λοιμὸς καὶ πονηρὸς
v.22 introduces the dispute: the 'evil and worthless men' (πᾶς ἀνὴρ λοιμὸς καὶ πονηρός) among the four hundred argue that the two hundred forfeited any share by not fighting. Their causal ὅτι ('because they did not pursue') and the exceptive ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ (allowing only wives and children) frame the meanness that David will overturn in vv. 23–24.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι (aor. pass. dep. ἀπεκρίθη): 'answer / respond'; renders עָנָה; the singular agrees with the collective πᾶς ἀνήρ.
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive (distributive: 'every man')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; the distributive πᾶς ἀνήρ ('every man') of the worthless sort.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἀπεκρίθη→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the type-category specified by the following adjectives.
λοιμὸςpestilent / worthlessNominativeattributive adjective (characterizing ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceλοιμός: lit. 'plague / pestilence'; used adjectivally 'pestilent / pernicious / good-for-nothing'; the LXX's vivid rendering of בְּלִיַּעַל ('worthless / base') — a 'plague of a man.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πονηρὸςevilNominativeattributive adjective (paired with λοιμός)→ participant prominenceπονηρός: 'evil / wicked / base'; renders רַע; the doublet λοιμὸς καὶ πονηρός heaps up the disreputable character of these men.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitivepartitive genitive (from among the men)→ relational specificationἀνήρ (gen. pl. ἀνδρῶν): 'man'; partitive — these worthless ones were among David's fighters.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with πολεμιστῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολεμιστῶνwarriorsGenitivegenitive in apposition (the fighting men)→ relational specificationπολεμιστής: 'warrior / man of war'; renders אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה; specifies the men as combatants — those who actually fought, hence their claim to the spoil.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορευθέντωνwho wentAor Pass Part Gen Masc Pl · πορεύομαιattributive participle (describing the warriors)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep. part. πορευθέντων): 'go / proceed'; the participle defines the warriors as those who went on the pursuit with David.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive object of μετά (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (introducing their demand; plural ad sensum)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Hellenistic α-form): 'say'; the plural (after singular ἀπεκρίθη) reflects the collective sense of πᾶς ἀνήρ.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground of their refusal)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the men's stated reason for excluding the two hundred.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατεδίωξαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατεδίωξανthey pursuedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταδιώκωverb of causal clause (negated: the two hundred did not fight)→ verbal action or stateκαταδιώκω (aor. κατεδίωξαν): 'pursue'; the worthless men's grievance — the two hundred did not join the chase, so (they argue) deserve no spoil.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; elided μεθ᾿ before the rough breathing of ἡμῶν.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
οὐnotnegative particle (with δώσομεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δώσομενwe will giveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of the demand (refusal to share)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (fut. δώσομεν): 'give'; the emphatic refusal οὐ δώσομεν ('we will not give') states the selfish position David rejects.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (the two hundred)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (the two hundred).
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from the spoil')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive: 'from the spoil').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivepartitive genitive (object of δώσομεν via ἐκ)→ relational specificationσκῦλον: 'spoil'; the recovered plunder over which the dispute arises.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction, object of ἐξειλάμεθα)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun, attracted to the genitive antecedent τῶν σκύλων.
ἐξειλάμεθαwe recoveredAor Mid Indic 1 Pl · ἐξαιρέωverb of relative clause (the warriors' recovery-claim)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξειλάμεθα): 'rescue / recover'; the same verb as the oracle (ἐξελῇ, v.8) and the rescue (ἐξείλατο, v.18), here claimed by the worthless men as their own achievement.
ὅτιbutparticle (in the exceptive idiom ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: part of the exceptive construction ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('except'), calquing כִּי אִם.
ἀλλ᾿exceptadversative (part of exceptive idiom, elided)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; the second element of the exceptive.
thanparticle (completing the exceptive idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than / or'; completes ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ — the only thing the two hundred may take is their own families.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject of the imperatives (distributive)→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the distributive subject — each of the two hundred may reclaim only his own.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἀπαγέσθωσαν→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the one concession the worthless men allow — each may take his wife.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέκναchildrenAccusativedirect object (parallel to γυναῖκα)→ object specificationτέκνον (pl. τέκνα): 'child'; renders יֶלֶד / בָּנִים; the other concession — each man's children.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀπαγέσθωσανlet them take awayPres Mid/Pass Impv 3 Pl · ἀπάγωmain verb (third-person imperative: grudging concession)→ verbal action or stateἀπάγω (pres. mid. impv. ἀπαγέσθωσαν): 'lead away / take away'; the middle/permissive third-person imperative — 'let them take (their own) away'; the men grudgingly grant only the families.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποστρεφέτωσανlet them departPres Act Impv 3 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (third-person imperative, parallel)→ verbal action or stateἀποστρέφω (pres. act. impv. ἀποστρέφετωσαν): 'turn back / go away'; here intransitive 'let them depart' — the worthless men dismiss the two hundred with only their families and no plunder.
23

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ οὐ ποιήσετε οὕτως μετὰ τὸ παραδοῦναι τὸν κύριον ἡμῖν καὶ φυλάξαι ἡμᾶς καὶ παρέδωκεν κύριος τὸν γεδδουρ τὸν ἐπερχόμενον ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς εἰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν

But David said, 'You shall not do so, after the LORD has delivered to us and kept us, and the LORD gave the raiding band that came against us into our hands.'

David's correction: the theology of the spoilκαὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ οὐ ποιήσετε οὕτως
v.23 is David's decisive rebuttal: the prohibitive future οὐ ποιήσετε οὕτως ('you shall not do so') overturns the worthless men's demand on theological grounds — the victory and the spoil are the LORD's gift (παρέδωκεν κύριος … εἰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν), not the warriors' achievement. The double κύριον/κύριος here is the Tetragrammaton, the true giver.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with adversative nuance ('but'), marking David's rebuttal.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces David's correction of the men.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
οὐnotnegative particle (with ποιήσετε: prohibitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the negative with the future ποιήσετε forms a strong prohibition ('you shall not').
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibitive future)→ verbal action or stateποιέω (fut. ποιήσετε): 'do / make'; the future with οὐ is a categorical prohibition (rendering לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ) — David forbids the selfish plan.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (referring to the men's proposal)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֵּן; points back to the worthless men's demand.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; μετὰ τὸ παραδοῦναι ('after the giving / after he has delivered') with the articular infinitive forms a temporal clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παραδοῦναιdelivering / has deliveredAor Act Inf · παραδίδωμιarticular infinitive (object of μετά, with accusative subject τὸν κύριον)→ verbal action or stateπαραδίδωμι (aor. inf. παραδοῦναι): 'hand over / deliver'; the articular infinitive with its accusative subject (τὸν κύριον) and object (ἡμῖν) means 'after the LORD has delivered (the spoil/enemy) to us.'
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον, subject of the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive παραδοῦναι→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the accusative-of-subject of the infinitive — it is the LORD who has done the delivering, the basis of David's argument.
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect object of παραδοῦναι (the beneficiaries)→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'to us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of παραδοῦναι (the beneficiaries).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second articular infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξαιkept / guardedAor Act Inf · φυλάσσωarticular infinitive (coordinate with παραδοῦναι, sharing μετὰ τό)→ verbal action or stateφυλάσσω (aor. inf. φυλάξαι): 'guard / keep / protect'; renders שָׁמַר; the second divine act David cites — the LORD also kept/protected them in the venture.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of φυλάξαι→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of φυλάξαι.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (restating the main point)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρέδωκενgave / deliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the LORD's decisive act)→ verbal action or stateπαραδίδωμι (aor. παρέδωκεν): 'hand over / give up'; renders נָתַן בְּיַד; the finite restatement — the LORD gave the raiders into their hands; the theological ground of the equal-share ruling.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the explicit divine subject — the victory is wholly attributed to YHWH.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable γεδδουρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεδδουρraiding banddirect object of παρέδωκεν (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionγεδδουρ: transliteration of Hebrew גְּדוּד ('raiding band'); indeclinable; the Amalekite troop, delivered by the LORD.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with participle ἐπερχόμενον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπερχόμενονthat came againstPres Mid Part Acc Masc Sg · ἐπέρχομαιattributive participle (describing the γεδδουρ)→ verbal action or stateἐπέρχομαι (pres. mid. part. ἐπερχόμενον): 'come upon / advance against'; the participle characterizes the band as the aggressor — they 'came against us,' making the victory defensive and divinely granted.
ἐφ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; elided ἐφ᾿ before the rough breathing of ἡμᾶς.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into the hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiom: 'into the hands').
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'into our hands')→ object specificationχείρ (acc. pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; εἰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν renders בְּיָדֵנוּ, the idiom for delivering into one's power.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
24

καὶ τίς ὑπακούσεται ὑμῶν τῶν λόγων τούτων ὅτι οὐχ ἧττον ὑμῶν εἰσιν διότι κατὰ τὴν μερίδα τοῦ καταβαίνοντος εἰς πόλεμον οὕτως ἔσται ἡ μερὶς τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τὰ σκεύη κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ μεριοῦνται

And who will listen to you in these words? For they are not less than you; but as the share of the one who goes down to battle, so shall be the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.

David's ruling: the principle of equal sharesκαὶ τίς ὑπακούσεται ὑμῶν τῶν λόγων τούτων
v.24 states the positive principle: a rhetorical question (τίς ὑπακούσεται …) dismisses the men's argument, and the comparative formula κατὰ τὴν μερίδα τοῦ καταβαίνοντος … οὕτως ἔσται ἡ μερὶς τοῦ καθημένου ('as the share of the one who goes down … so the share of the one who stays') establishes equal division, summed by κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ μεριοῦνται ('they shall share alike').
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ὑπακούσεται)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who'; the rhetorical question expects the answer 'no one' — no one will heed such a mean proposal.
ὑπακούσεταιwill listen / heedFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ὑπακούωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ verbal action or stateὑπακούω (fut. mid. ὑπακούσεται): 'listen to / obey / heed'; renders שָׁמַע; David's rhetorical 'who will listen to you?' dismisses the demand as unworthy of assent.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ὑπακούσεται (whom one would heed)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ὑπακούσεται (whom one would heed).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγωνwordsGenitivegenitive (in respect of these words; with ὑπακούσεται)→ relational specificationλόγος (gen. pl. λόγων): 'word / saying'; the worthless men's proposal, dismissed as not worth heeding.
τούτωνtheseGenitivedemonstrative (modifying λόγων)→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. pl. τούτων): 'these'; points to the men's just-spoken demand.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground of the dismissal)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the reason — the stay-behinds are not inferior.
οὐχnotnegative particle (with ἧττον)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐχ: the form of οὐ before a rough breathing (ἧττον).
ἧττονless / inferiorAccusativecomparative adjective/adverb (predicate: 'not inferior')→ object specificationἥσσων / ἥττων (neut. ἧττον): 'lesser / inferior / weaker'; the comparative used predicatively/adverbially with a genitive of comparison — the two hundred are 'not less than' the fighters.
ὑμῶνthan youGenitivegenitive of comparison (with ἧττον)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'than you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of comparison (with ἧττον).
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (predicating ἧττον of the two hundred)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (pres. εἰσιν): 'be'; the copula — 'they are not less (than you).'
διότιbut / becauseconjunction (introducing the principle)→ discourse linkage or contrastδιότι: 'because / for / therefore'; here introducing the governing principle of equal shares.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard of comparison)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / corresponding to'; sets up the proportional comparison of shares.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μερίδαshare / portionAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (standard: the warrior's share)→ object specificationμερίς: 'portion / share'; renders חֵלֶק; the key term of the statute — the allotment of spoil.
τοῦof the oneGenitivearticle (with participle, substantival)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβαίνοντοςwho goes downPres Act Part Gen Masc Sg · καταβαίνωsubstantival participle (the combatant)→ verbal action or stateκαταβαίνω (pres. part. καταβαίνοντος): 'go down'; substantival 'the one who goes down (to battle)'; idiom for joining combat (cf. Hebrew יֹרֵד לַמִּלְחָמָה).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
πόλεμονbattle / warAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the combat)→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the front to which the fighters went down.
οὕτωςsoadverb of manner (correlative with κατά: 'so too')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'so / thus'; the correlative completing the comparison — the stay-behind's share equals the combatant's.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicating equality of shares)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; the legislative future stating the rule — 'so shall be the share.'
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μερὶςshare / portionNominativesubject of ἔσται (the stay-behind's share)→ participant prominenceμερίς: 'portion / share'; the second occurrence — the share of the one who stays.
τοῦof the oneGenitivearticle (with participle, substantival)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθημένουwho stays / sitsPres Mid Part Gen Masc Sg · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (the one who guards the baggage)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι (pres. part. καθημένου): 'sit / remain / stay'; substantival 'the one who stays (by the baggage)'; the counterpart to the combatant.
ἐπὶby / overpreposition + accusative (position: 'over the baggage')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'by / over' — stationed in charge of the baggage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηbaggage / equipmentAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (what the stay-behind guards)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel / implement / baggage'; renders כֵּלִים; here the army's gear/baggage train guarded by the rear party.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (idiom: 'alike')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: in κατὰ τὸ αὐτό ('alike / in the same way'), an idiom for equal treatment.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτό)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτὸsameAccusativeintensive/identity pronoun (in idiom κατὰ τὸ αὐτό)→ participant referenceαὐτός (neut. τὸ αὐτό): 'the same'; κατὰ τὸ αὐτό = 'alike / equally.'
μεριοῦνταιthey shall shareFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · μερίζωmain verb (the summative ruling)→ verbal action or stateμερίζω (fut. mid. μεριοῦνται): 'divide / apportion / share'; renders חָלַק; the Attic-future middle sums the principle — combatants and rear-guard share equally.
25

καὶ ἐγενήθη ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπάνω καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς πρόσταγμα καὶ εἰς δικαίωμα τῷ Ισραηλ ἕως τῆς σήμερον

And it came to pass from that day onward that it became a statute and an ordinance for Israel until this day.

Narratorial coda: the ruling becomes permanent lawκαὶ ἐγενήθη ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης
v.25 is the narrator's etiological coda: David's ad hoc decision is elevated to enduring law. The temporal frame ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ἐπάνω ('from that day onward') and the closing ἕως τῆς σήμερον ('until today') bracket the ruling as a lasting πρόσταγμα καὶ δικαίωμα ('statute and ordinance') for Israel — typical of LXX etiological formulae.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal frame-marker)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'come to be / happen'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγενήθη again renders וַיְהִי, here framing the etiological note.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (temporal starting point)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (temporal starting point).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the day of the ruling)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the day David made the ruling, from which the law dates.
ἐκείνηςthatGenitivedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the specific day of the decision.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάνωonward / beyondadverb (temporal: 'and onward')→ clausal contributionἐπάνω: 'above / beyond / onward'; in ἀπὸ … καὶ ἐπάνω ('from that day onward') renders Hebrew וָמָעְלָה, marking the law's continuation forward in time.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit becameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the ruling becomes law)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. mid. ἐγένετο): 'become'; with εἰς (ἐγένετο εἰς πρόσταγμα) renders the Hebrew הָיָה לְ ('became a …'), the idiom for a thing turning into a fixed institution.
εἰςinto / aspreposition + accusative (predicative Hebraism: 'became a')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: predicative εἰς after γίνομαι is a Hebraism (rendering לְ) — 'became a statute.'
πρόσταγμαstatute / decreeAccusativeaccusative predicate (with εἰς)→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / decree / command'; renders חֹק; a binding statute — David's ruling now has the force of law.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicative, parallel)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'as'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (predicative, parallel).
δικαίωμαordinance / rule of rightAccusativeaccusative predicate (parallel to πρόσταγμα)→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'ordinance / regulation / requirement'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the doublet πρόσταγμα καὶ δικαίωμα ('statute and ordinance') is a standard LXX legal pairing stressing binding, just custom.
τῷforDativearticle (with indeclinable Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of advantage (indeclinable: 'for Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the beneficiary of the statute — the rule binds the whole nation, not just David's band.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal end-point)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'until'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (temporal end-point).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with σήμερον, substantivized)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονtodayadverb (substantivized by τῆς: 'this day')→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; with the feminine article τῆς σήμερον (sc. ἡμέρας) renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה ('until this day'), the standard etiological formula marking a custom enduring to the narrator's own time.
26

καὶ ἦλθεν Δαυιδ εἰς Σεκελακ καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις Ιουδα τῶν σκύλων καὶ τοῖς πλησίον αὐτοῦ λέγων ἰδοὺ ἀπὸ τῶν σκύλων τῶν ἐχθρῶν κυρίου

And David came to Ziklag, and sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah and to those near him, saying, 'Behold, a gift from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.'

New section: David's distribution of spoil to Judahκαὶ ἦλθεν Δαυιδ εἰς Σεκελακ
v.26 opens the final section: back at Ziklag, David shares the spoil with the elders of Judah, a politically astute act of largesse that prepares for his accession at Hebron (2 Kgdms 2). His framing word ἀπὸ τῶν σκύλων τῶν ἐχθρῶν κυρίου ('from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD') casts the gift as a share in YHWH's victory; the long town-list of vv. 27–31 follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (return to Ziklag)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come'; David returns to his base at Ziklag — itself burned but now the staging point for his gifts.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣεκελακZiklagaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: transliteration of Hebrew צִקְלַג; David's town, named for the last time (cf. vv. 1, 3, 14).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the dispatch of gifts)→ verbal action or stateἀποστέλλω (aor. ἀπέστειλεν): 'send / send off'; renders שָׁלַח; David sends portions of spoil as gifts to the Judahite elders.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέροιςeldersDativeindirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (recipients)→ sphere or referenceπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; renders זְקֵנִים; the leading men of Judah, whose goodwill David cultivates toward his future kingship.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'elders of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; the tribe whose elders receive the spoil.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivepartitive genitive (what was sent: 'some of the spoil')→ relational specificationσκῦλον: 'spoil'; the partitive genitive — David sends 'some of the spoil' as gifts.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantivizing πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονnear / neighborsDativesubstantival adverb (dative: 'those near him')→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'near'; originally an adverb, used substantively with the article 'those nearby / his friends'; renders רֵעַ; David's associates and allies in the region.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (those near to him)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (those near to him).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the accompanying word)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the Hebraizing λέγων (rendering לֵאמֹר) introduces the message sent with the gift.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (introducing the gift)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / here is'; renders הִנֵּה; presents the gift to its recipients.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of the gift)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of the gift).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source: 'from the spoil')→ relational specificationσκῦλον: 'spoil'; the gift is explicitly a share of the war-plunder.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐχθρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive (whose spoil: 'the enemies' spoil')→ relational specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy / foe'; renders אֹיֵב; the Amalekites are cast not merely as David's enemies but as the enemies of the LORD — framing the victory theologically.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose enemies)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; τῶν ἐχθρῶν κυρίου ('the enemies of the LORD') makes the spoil a share in YHWH's own triumph.
27

τοῖς ἐν Βαιθσουρ καὶ τοῖς ἐν Ραμα νότου καὶ τοῖς ἐν Ιεθθορ

to those in Bethsour, and to those in Rama of the south, and to those in Ieththor;

List (item): recipients of the spoil, part 1τοῖς ἐν Βαιθσουρ
v.27 begins the catalog of recipient towns, each introduced by the recurring dative formula τοῖς ἐν + place-name ('to those in …'). The toponyms are largely indeclinable transliterations of Hebrew names of southern Judahite settlements; Ραμα νότου ('Rama of the south') is distinguished from other Ramahs by its Negev location.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival: 'to those'), recipients→ noun-phrase markingὁ (dat. pl. τοῖς): the article substantivizes the prepositional phrase ἐν Βαιθσουρ — 'to those (who dwell) in Bethsour.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΒαιθσουρBethsourdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒαιθσουρ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית־צוּר (Beth-zur); indeclinable; a town in the hill-country of Judah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΡαμαRamadative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡαμα: transliteration of Hebrew רָמָה (Ramah, 'height'); indeclinable; here qualified as the southern Ramah.
νότουof the southGenitivegenitive of place (qualifying Ραμα: 'Rama of the Negev')→ relational specificationνότος: 'south'; the genitive νότου ('of the south / Negev') distinguishes this Ramah (Ramath-negeb) from others of the same name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΙεθθορIeththordative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙεθθορ: transliteration of Hebrew יַתִּיר (Jattir); indeclinable; a priestly town in the hill-country of Judah (cf. Josh 21:14).
28

καὶ τοῖς ἐν Αροηρ καὶ τοῖς Αμμαδι καὶ τοῖς ἐν Σαφι καὶ τοῖς ἐν Εσθιε καὶ τοῖς ἐν Γεθ καὶ τοῖς ἐν Κιναν καὶ τοῖς ἐν Σαφεκ καὶ τοῖς ἐν Θιμαθ

and to those in Aroer, and to those in Ammadi, and to those in Saphi, and to those in Esthie, and to those in Geth, and to those in Kinan, and to those in Saphek, and to those in Thimath;

List (item): recipients of the spoil, part 2καὶ τοῖς ἐν Αροηρ
v.28 continues the recipient-catalog with eight more towns, each in the τοῖς (ἐν) + place-name formula. The names are indeclinable transliterations of southern Judahite sites, several otherwise unknown. (The reference text here carried an inline editorial marker after Εσθιε, which has been removed; no word object corresponds to it.)
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΑροηρAroerdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑροηρ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲרֹעֵר (Aroer); indeclinable; a town in the Negev of Judah (distinct from the Transjordanian Aroer).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival; here without ἐν, governing the name directly)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμμαδιAmmadidative object (indeclinable place-name; here without preposition)→ spatial or relational framingΑμμαδι: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym; indeclinable; one of the otherwise obscure southern sites. Here uniquely the formula is τοῖς Αμμαδι without ἐν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣαφιSaphidative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣαφι: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym (Siphmoth tradition); indeclinable; a southern Judahite locale.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΕσθιεEsthiedative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΕσθιε: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym (Eshtemoa, אֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ); indeclinable; a Levitical town in the hill-country of Judah (cf. Josh 21:14).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΓεθGethdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym; indeclinable; a southern locale in the list (not necessarily the Philistine Gath).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΚινανKinandative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΚιναν: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym; indeclinable; one of the obscure southern sites in the catalog.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣαφεκSaphekdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣαφεκ: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym; indeclinable; another southern Judahite site in the list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΘιμαθThimathdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΘιμαθ: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym; indeclinable; closes the second cluster of recipient-towns.
29

καὶ τοῖς ἐν Καρμήλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τοῦ Ιεραμηλι καὶ τοῖς ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τοῦ Κενεζι

and to those in Carmel, and to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelite, and to those in the cities of the Kenizzite;

List (item): recipients of the spoil, part 3καὶ τοῖς ἐν Καρμήλῳ
v.29 names Carmel (a declinable name) and then, instead of single towns, whole clusters of cities belonging to two clans of the southern frontier: the Jerahmeelites and the Kenizzites (Calebite kin). The phrase τοῖς ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τοῦ Ιεραμηλι broadens the largesse from towns to kindred groups.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΚαρμήλῳCarmelDativedative object of ἐν (declinable place-name)→ sphere or referenceΚάρμηλος: 'Carmel'; a declinable place-name (dat. Καρμήλῳ); the town in Judah (home of Nabal, 1 Kgdms 25), not the northern mountain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative object of ἐν (the towns of the clan)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): 'city / town'; here the clan-settlements of the Jerahmeelites — the gift extends to a group of towns.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with indeclinable gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεραμηλιJerahmeelitegenitive of possession (indeclinable gentilic: 'of the Jerahmeelite')→ participant identificationΙεραμηλι: transliteration of Hebrew יְרַחְמְאֵלִי (the Jerahmeelite); indeclinable; a southern Judahite clan among whom David had earlier claimed to raid (1 Kgdms 27:10).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative object of ἐν (the towns of the clan)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): 'city'; the settlements of the Kenizzites.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with indeclinable gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚενεζιKenizzitegenitive of possession (indeclinable gentilic: 'of the Kenizzite')→ participant identificationΚενεζι: transliteration of Hebrew קְנִזִּי (the Kenizzite); indeclinable; the clan of Caleb's kin (cf. Othniel son of Kenaz), settled in the southern hill-country.
30

καὶ τοῖς ἐν Ιεριμουθ καὶ τοῖς ἐν Βηρσαβεε καὶ τοῖς ἐν Νοο

and to those in Ierimouth, and to those in Beersheba, and to those in Noo;

List (item): recipients of the spoil, part 4καὶ τοῖς ἐν Ιεριμουθ
v.30 continues the catalog with three more towns, including the well-known Beersheba (Βηρσαβεε), the proverbial southern boundary-marker of Israel. The recurring τοῖς ἐν formula maintains the rhythm of the distribution list.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΙεριμουθIerimouthdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙεριμουθ: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym (cf. Jarmuth/Rachal traditions); indeclinable; a southern Judahite site.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΒηρσαβεεBeershebadative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒηρσαβεε: transliteration of Hebrew בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע (Beersheba); indeclinable; the major town of the southern Negev and proverbial southern limit of the land ('from Dan to Beersheba').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΝοοNoodative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΝοο: transliteration of a Hebrew toponym; indeclinable; an otherwise obscure southern site closing this group.
31

καὶ τοῖς ἐν Χεβρων καὶ εἰς πάντας τοὺς τόπους οὓς διῆλθεν Δαυιδ ἐκεῖ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ

and to those in Hebron, and to all the places through which David had passed, he and his men.

List climax and summary closureκαὶ τοῖς ἐν Χεβρων
v.31 climaxes and closes the list with Hebron — the most significant name, soon to be David's first royal capital (2 Kgdms 2:1–4) — and a sweeping summary (εἰς πάντας τοὺς τόπους οὓς διῆλθεν Δαυιδ) that gathers all the places of David's wanderings. The closing αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ('he and his men') rounds off the chapter, echoing its opening (v.1) and binding leader to band.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantival, recipients)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΧεβρωνHebrondative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧεβρων: transliteration of Hebrew חֶבְרוֹן (Hebron); indeclinable; the chief city of southern Judah and David's future capital where he will be anointed king (2 Kgdms 2:1–4) — the climactic name of the list.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the summary)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (extent: summary of destinations)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here the construction shifts from the dative recipients (τοῖς ἐν …) to εἰς + accusative 'to all the places' — summarizing the full sweep of David's gifts.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive (modifying τοὺς τόπους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the summary 'all the places' gathers every site of David's wanderings into the distribution.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπουςplacesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the destinations of the gifts)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / location'; renders מָקוֹם; all the haunts of David's fugitive years now receive a share of the spoil.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διῆλθεν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. pl. οὕς): relative pronoun, object of διῆλθεν; antecedent τοὺς τόπους.
διῆλθενhad passed throughAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιverb of relative clause (David's wanderings)→ verbal action or stateδιέρχομαι (aor. διῆλθεν): 'go through / traverse'; renders עָבַר; sums up David's roamings as a fugitive, the regions whose people he now rewards.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of διῆλθεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of διῆλθεν (indeclinable).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive: 'there / in those places')→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; renders שָׁם; a resumptive adverb (Semitic-style) pointing back to τοὺς τόπους.
αὐτὸςhimself / heNominativeintensive pronoun (in apposition to Δαυιδ)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself'; renders the Hebrew independent pronoun הוּא; the phrase αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ closes the chapter as it opened (v.1).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativeco-subject (with αὐτός: 'he and his men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; David's loyal band, sharing both his wanderings and his triumph — the closing note of the chapter.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.