1
καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἀπέθανεν βασιλεὺς υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Αννων υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ
And it came to pass after these things that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
καὶ ἐγένετο (rendering Hebrew וַיְהִי) with μετὰ ταῦτα is the standard LXX formula opening a fresh narrative unit; it sets the death-and-succession of the Ammonite king as the trigger for the whole chapter's events. The redundant καί before ἀπέθανεν is a Hebraism (the apodotic 'and' after וַיְהִי).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal narrative-opening formula)→ constative aorist (narrative onset)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי, a temporal-framing device that opens a new episode; the construction with μετὰ ταῦτα situates the action after a previous narrative block (David's wars and kindness to Mephibosheth, ch. 9).
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + accusative: 'after'; with ταῦτα forms the standard LXX temporal connector for narrative succession (μετὰ ταῦτα, 'after these things').
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal demonstrative)→ object specificationοὗτος: the demonstrative ταῦτα refers back to the events of the preceding chapters; μετὰ ταῦτα is a fixed narrative formula marking a new stage in the Davidic history.
καὶandapodotic conjunction (Hebraism after ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the 'redundant' apodotic καί following καὶ ἐγένετο reflects the Hebrew syntax (וַיְהִי … וַיָּמָת), where the main clause is introduced by a second waw; idiomatic Greek would omit it, but the LXX preserves the Semitic structure.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (event of the apodosis)→ constative aorist (single completed event)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the death of the Ammonite king (Nahash, cf. v. 2) is the narrative occasion for David's embassy of condolence and the ensuing war.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἀπέθανεν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; here the unnamed Ammonite monarch, identified in v. 2 as Nahash (Ναας), with whom David had a relationship of mutual loyalty (ἔλεος).
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (with Αμμων: 'of the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the phrase υἱοὶ Αμμων ('the sons of Ammon') is the standard LXX rendering of בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן, the gentilic designation of the Ammonites; the genitive υἱῶν here denotes the people over whom the king ruled.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliteration of Hebrew עַמּוֹן; indeclinable in the LXX; the Ammonites were a Transjordanian people, traditional enemies of Israel; the recurring phrase υἱοὶ Αμμων dominates this chapter as the principal antagonist.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβασίλευσενreigned / became kingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (succession event)→ ingressive aorist (entry into kingship: 'became king')βασιλεύω: 'be king / reign'; renders מָלַךְ; the ingressive aorist marks the accession of Hanun; the cognate play βασιλεὺς … ἐβασίλευσεν underscores the dynastic continuity of the Ammonite throne.
ΑννωνHanunsubject of ἐβασίλευσεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑννων: transliteration of Hebrew חָנוּן (Hanun); indeclinable in the LXX; the new Ammonite king whose rash humiliation of David's envoys precipitates the war.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Αννων→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; in apposition to Αννων, identifying Hanun as the dynastic heir of the deceased king.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱός: 'his son')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱός: 'his son').
ἀντ᾿in place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of / in place of'; renders תַּחַת; the formula ἐβασίλευσεν … ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('reigned in his place') is the standard LXX succession idiom marking dynastic replacement.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί (the deceased father)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀντί (the deceased father).
2
καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ποιήσω ἔλεος μετὰ Αννων υἱοῦ Ναας ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔλεος καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ παρακαλέσαι αὐτὸν ἐν χειρὶ τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ περὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ παρεγένοντο οἱ παῖδες Δαυιδ εἰς τὴν γῆν υἱῶν Αμμων
And David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.' And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants concerning his father; and David's servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon.
v. 2 pairs David's stated intention (ποιήσω ἔλεος, 'I will show kindness') with its enactment (ἀπέστειλεν … παρακαλέσαι). The Hebraism ποιέω ἔλεος μετά τινος ('do kindness with someone') renders עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם, the language of covenant loyalty; David's motive is reciprocal חֶסֶד, making the Ammonite misreading of the embassy in v. 3 a tragic inversion.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 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)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; the aorist εἶπεν introduces David's direct resolve; the verb of decision sets in motion the embassy of condolence.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX; the king of Israel, whose well-intentioned embassy is misconstrued, precipitating the Ammonite-Aramean war.
ποιήσωI will show / I will doFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of direct speech (declaration of intent)→ volitive future (resolve / promise)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the idiom ποιέω ἔλεος μετά τινος renders עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם ('show covenant-loyalty toward'); the future expresses David's settled resolve to reciprocate the kindness once shown him by Nahash.
ἔλεοςkindness / mercyAccusativedirect object of ποιήσω→ object specificationἔλεος: 'mercy / kindness / loyal love'; the standard LXX rendering of חֶסֶד, covenant lovingkindness; here it denotes the loyal reciprocity owed between allies; the term frames David's embassy as an act of faithful gratitude, not statecraft.
μετὰwith / towardpreposition + genitive (Hebraistic: 'kindness with')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with'; in the idiom ποιέω ἔλεος μετά the preposition calques Hebrew עִם, expressing the relational object of the kindness.
ΑννωνHanungenitive object of μετά (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑννων: Hanun, the new Ammonite king; the recipient of David's intended kindness.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition to Αννων→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; in apposition, identifying Hanun as son of Nahash and thus heir to the relationship of ἔλεος with David.
ΝααςNahashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Nahash')→ participant identificationΝαας: transliteration of Hebrew נָחָשׁ (Nahash); indeclinable in the LXX; the deceased Ammonite king who had shown David kindness — probably during David's flight from Saul; his name grounds David's reciprocal obligation.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner which')→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; the phrase ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner that / just as') is an adverbial accusative of manner, a fixed LXX comparison idiom rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר.
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative of manner (with ὅν: 'in the way that')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'manner / way'; ὃν τρόπον introduces the comparison clause measuring David's intended kindness against Nahash's prior kindness to him.
ἐποίησενdid / showedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aorist (past completed kindness)ποιέω: 'do / make'; here in the comparison clause referring to Nahash's past act of kindness toward David (ἐποίησεν … ἔλεος), the precedent David now intends to reciprocate.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with πατήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; here Nahash, Hanun's father, whose past kindness to David grounds the present embassy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Hanun's father)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Hanun's father).
μετ᾿with / towardpreposition + genitive (elided before vowel; idiom 'kindness with')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: again in the idiom ποιέω ἔλεος μετά, here with ἐμοῦ ('with me').
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά (1st person pronoun)→ relational specificationἐγώ: emphatic first-person pronoun; David recalls Nahash's kindness 'toward me,' personalizing the obligation of reciprocity.
ἔλεοςkindnessAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ object specificationἔλεος: 'kindness / loyal love'; repeated from the main clause, forming a verbal echo (ποιήσω ἔλεος … ἐποίησεν … ἔλεος) that binds David's resolve to its precedent.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resolve → execution)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (execution of the resolve)→ constative aorist (single completed act)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (as an envoy)'; renders שָׁלַח; the verb introduces the embassy of condolence; ἀποστέλλω recurs throughout the chapter (vv. 3, 5, 6, 7, 16) tracing the chain of diplomatic and military actions.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
παρακαλέσαιto comfort / consoleAor Act Inf · παρακαλέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἀπέστειλεν)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the sending)παρακαλέω: 'comfort / console / encourage'; renders נִחַם (Piel, 'console in mourning'); the infinitive of purpose specifies the embassy's aim — to console Hanun in his bereavement; the verb makes plain the benign intent that the Ammonites will so disastrously misread.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of παρακαλέσαι (Hanun)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of παρακαλέσαι (Hanun).
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental, Hebraistic 'by the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: here instrumental; the phrase ἐν χειρί ('by the hand of') is a Hebraism (בְּיַד) denoting agency/mediation through emissaries.
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiom: 'by the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; in the idiom ἐν χειρί it renders Hebrew בְּיַד, 'through the agency of'; the envoys are David's instruments of condolence.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with δούλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservantsGenitivegenitive (with χειρί: 'the hand of his servants')→ relational specificationδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders עֶבֶד; here the royal servants who carry David's message; the term is interchangeable in this chapter with παῖδες (v. 2b, 4) for the same envoys.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (David's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (David's servants).
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference: 'concerning his father')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + genitive: 'concerning / about'; the embassy is sent 'concerning his father' — i.e., to condole over the death of Nahash.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive object of περί (the deceased Nahash)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the occasion of the condolence — the death of Hanun's father, Nahash.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Hanun's father)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Hanun's father).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεγένοντοcame / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (arrival of the envoys)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / be present'; renders בּוֹא; the verb of arrival recurs in the chapter (vv. 14, 16, 17) marking the comings and goings of the campaign; here the envoys reach Ammonite territory, where the humiliation will occur.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservants / attendantsNominativesubject of παρεγένοντο→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / attendant / boy'; renders עֶבֶד; synonymous here with δοῦλοι above; the envoys are 'David's servants' whose mistreatment becomes a national insult (v. 6).
ΔαυιδDavid'sgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's servants')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's servants').
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth / territory'; renders אֶרֶץ; the envoys enter the territory of the Ammonites, the place of their coming disgrace.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (with Αμμων: 'of the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός: in the standing phrase υἱοὶ Αμμων ('sons of Ammon'); the genitive marks possession of the land.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: the Ammonites; the territory into which David's envoys come.
3
καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄρχοντες υἱῶν Αμμων πρὸς Αννων τὸν κύριον αὐτῶν μὴ παρὰ τὸ δοξάζειν Δαυιδ τὸν πατέρα σου ἐνώπιόν σου ὅτι ἀπέστειλέν σοι παρακαλοῦντας ἀλλ᾿ οὐχὶ ὅπως ἐρευνήσωσιν τὴν πόλιν καὶ κατασκοπήσωσιν αὐτὴν καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι αὐτὴν ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ πρὸς σέ
And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, 'Is it to honor your father in your sight that David has sent comforters to you? Is it not rather so that they may search out the city and spy on it, and to reconnoiter it, that David has sent his servants to you?'
The Ammonite princes' speech is the pivot of the episode: a rhetorical question (μὴ … ; introducing an expected negative answer) reframes David's ἔλεος as espionage. The contrast ἀλλ᾿ οὐχὶ ὅπως … ('but is it not rather that …') supplies the sinister alternative; three near-synonymous verbs (ἐρευνήσωσιν, κατασκοπήσωσιν, κατασκέψασθαι) pile up to dramatize the imagined threat of reconnaissance.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (collective speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; the 3rd plural εἶπον introduces the collective counsel of the Ammonite princes whose suspicion poisons Hanun against David.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςprinces / rulersNominativesubject of εἶπον→ participant prominenceἄρχων: 'ruler / chief / prince'; renders שַׂר; the Ammonite court officials whose paranoid counsel triggers the war; their advice exemplifies the wisdom-literature motif of evil counselors misleading a young king.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (with Αμμων: 'of the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός: in the standing phrase υἱοὶ Αμμων; genitive of the people whose princes these are.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon').
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΑννωνHanunaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑννων: Hanun, the addressee of the princes' counsel.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονlord / masterAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αννων ('their lord')→ object specificationκύριος: here in the human-master sense ('lord / sovereign'), rendering אָדוֹן; NOT the Tetragrammaton — Hanun is the human overlord of the Ammonite princes; the apposition τὸν κύριον αὐτῶν stresses the loyalty owed by the counselors to their king.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the princes' lord)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the princes' lord).
μὴsurely not?interrogative particle (expecting a negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: in questions, the negative particle anticipates the answer 'no'; here μὴ παρὰ τὸ δοξάζειν …; ('is it to honor …? — surely not') frames the rhetorical question that reframes the embassy as a pretext.
παρὰbecause of / for the sake ofpreposition + accusative (causal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: here causal/explanatory ('because of / on account of'); with the articular infinitive τὸ δοξάζειν it forms 'is it for the honoring …?' — i.e., for the purpose of honoring.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive δοξάζειν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοξάζεινto honor / to glorifyPres Act Inf · δοξάζωarticular infinitive (object of παρά: 'the honoring')→ verbal action or stateδοξάζω: 'honor / glorify / hold in esteem'; renders כָּבֵד (Piel); the articular infinitive τὸ δοξάζειν substantivizes the action; the princes mockingly question whether David's embassy is really meant to 'honor' the dead king.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of the infinitive (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of the infinitive (indeclinable proper noun).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πατέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativeaccusative object of δοξάζειν (the deceased king)→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the object of the supposed 'honoring' — Hanun's deceased father Nahash.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (Hanun's father)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Hanun's father).
ἐνώπιόνbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'in your sight')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering לְעֵינֶי / לִפְנֵי; the princes sneer that David is merely making a show of honor 'in your sight.'
σουyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (2nd person)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐνώπιον (2nd person).
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of the suspected motive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / because'; here introducing the clause that completes the rhetorical question — '(is it) that he has sent comforters …?'
ἀπέστειλένhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (the embassy as fact)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the princes acknowledge the fact of the sending but dispute its motive; the verb echoes v. 2's ἀπέστειλεν, now under a hostile interpretation.
σοιto youDativedative of recipient (Hanun)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of recipient (Hanun).
παρακαλοῦνταςcomforters / those consolingPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · παρακαλέωsubstantival participle (object of ἀπέστειλεν: 'comforters')→ verbal action or stateπαρακαλέω (ptcp.): 'comfort / console'; the present participle, used substantivally ('comforters'), echoes the infinitive παρακαλέσαι of v. 2 — the very mission David intended is here named, only to be discredited as a cover.
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative (elided before vowel)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but / rather'; the strong adversative pivots from the dismissed innocent motive to the alleged sinister one; ἀλλ᾿ οὐχί introduces the princes' real charge.
οὐχὶnot rather?emphatic negative (rhetorical: expecting 'yes')→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ; in the rhetorical question ἀλλ᾿ οὐχὶ … ; it expects the affirmative answer ('yes, rather'), driving home the espionage charge.
ὅπωςso thatpurpose conjunction (introducing the alleged real aim)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that / in order that'; takes the subjunctive; introduces the supposed espionage purpose of the embassy.
ἐρευνήσωσινthey may search outAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἐρευνάωverb of purpose clause (subjunctive with ὅπως)→ telic aorist subjunctive (alleged espionage purpose)ἐρευνάω: 'search / investigate / explore'; renders חָקַר; the first of three reconnaissance verbs; the alleged purpose is to 'search out' the city's defenses.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of ἐρευνήσωσιν→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; the Ammonite capital (Rabbah); the object of the supposed espionage; cf. the city gate as the battle-site in v. 8.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατασκοπήσωσινthey may spy outAor Act Subj 3 Pl · κατασκοπέωverb of purpose clause (coordinate with ἐρευνήσωσιν)→ telic aorist subjunctive (alleged spying)κατασκοπέω: 'spy out / reconnoiter'; renders רִגֵּל / חָפַר; the second reconnaissance verb; the cognate noun κατάσκοπος ('spy') underlies the charge; the accumulation of synonyms intensifies the paranoid rhetoric.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of κατασκοπήσωσιν (the city)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of κατασκοπήσωσιν (the city).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing articular-infinitive purpose)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive κατασκέψασθαι: genitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: the genitive articular infinitive expresses purpose ('in order to reconnoiter'), a common LXX construction calquing the Hebrew infinitive with לְ.
κατασκέψασθαιto reconnoiter / examineAor Mid Inf · κατασκέπτομαιgenitive articular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitive (alleged reconnaissance)κατασκέπτομαι: 'inspect / examine closely / reconnoiter'; the third near-synonym for espionage; the triple ἐρευνάω / κατασκοπέω / κατασκέπτομαι rhetorically magnifies the imagined military threat, justifying the princes' counsel of preemptive insult.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of κατασκέψασθαι (the city)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of κατασκέψασθαι (the city).
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb of the rhetorical-question clause (resumptive)→ constative aorist (the act of sending, recast as espionage)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the verb is repeated (resumptively) to complete the long rhetorical question — '(is it) … that David has sent his servants to you?'; the threefold espionage purpose is now attached to the sending.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ἀπέστειλεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἀπέστειλεν (indeclinable proper noun).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with παῖδας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδαςservantsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationπαῖς: 'servant'; David's envoys, now cast as agents of espionage by the princes' rhetoric.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (David's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (David's servants).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Hanun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 2nd-person pronoun; the embassy is directed 'to you,' Hanun, personalizing the supposed threat to the king himself.
4
καὶ ἔλαβεν Αννων τοὺς παῖδας Δαυιδ καὶ ἐξύρησεν τοὺς πώγωνας αὐτῶν καὶ ἀπέκοψεν τοὺς μανδύας αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ ἡμίσει ἕως τῶν ἰσχίων αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτούς
And Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle up to their buttocks, and sent them away.
A rapid chain of four aorists (ἔλαβεν … ἐξύρησεν … ἀπέκοψεν … ἐξαπέστειλεν) enacts the calculated humiliation. Shaving the beard (a mark of manhood and honor) and cutting the garments to expose the buttocks were grave dishonors in the ancient Near East, equivalent to a public emasculation; the act is a casus belli, treating David's ambassadors — and thus David — with contempt.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtook / seizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (first of the humiliation chain)→ constative aorist (single completed act)λαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; renders לָקַח; the verb of seizure begins the sequence of abuse; Hanun follows his counselors' advice and lays hands on the envoys.
ΑννωνHanunsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑννων: Hanun, now the agent of the insult that will cost his people dearly.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with παῖδας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδαςservantsAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationπαῖς: 'servant'; David's envoys, the victims of the humiliation.
ΔαυιδDavid'sgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's servants')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's servants').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξύρησενshaved offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ξυράωmain verb (second of the humiliation chain)→ constative aorist (completed act)ξυράω: 'shave'; renders גָּלַח; shaving off half the beard was a calculated dishonor — the beard symbolized male dignity, so its mutilation publicly emasculated the envoys (cf. Isa 7:20; 50:6 for the shame of beard-cutting).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πώγωνας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πώγωναςbeardsAccusativedirect object of ἐξύρησεν→ object specificationπώγων: 'beard'; renders זָקָן; the beard was a mark of honor and manhood; its half-shaving (note ἐν τῷ ἡμίσει, v. 4b context) made the envoys objects of ridicule, requiring concealment until regrowth (v. 5).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the envoys' beards)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the envoys' beards).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέκοψενcut offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκόπτωmain verb (third of the humiliation chain)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἀποκόπτω: 'cut off / cut away'; renders כָּרַת / כָּסַח; the cutting of the garments to expose the lower body added bodily shame to the shaving, doubling the public dishonor.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with μανδύας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδύαςgarments / cloaksAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκοψεν→ object specificationμανδύας: 'cloak / mantle / outer garment'; a loanword (of Persian origin) rendering מַד / מִדְוֶה ('garment'); the cutting of these robes 'in the middle up to the buttocks' left the envoys indecently exposed.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the envoys' garments)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the envoys' garments).
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative/measure)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: here marking the extent/place of the cutting — 'in the middle.'
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἡμίσει, substantivized)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειhalf / middleDativesubstantivized adjective (locative: 'in the middle / at the halfway point')→ sphere or referenceἥμισυς: 'half'; the substantivized neuter τὸ ἥμισυ here means 'the middle / midpoint'; ἐν τῷ ἡμίσει specifies that the garments were cut off midway, at the level of the buttocks.
ἕωςup topreposition + genitive (extent: 'as far as')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / up to / as far as'; with the genitive it marks the lower limit of the cutting — 'up to the buttocks.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἰσχίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἰσχίωνbuttocks / hipsGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (the lower limit of the cut)→ relational specificationἰσχίον: 'hip / loin / buttock'; renders שֵׁת / מִפְשָׂעָה; the cutting of the robes 'up to the buttocks' left the envoys' lower bodies exposed, a deliberate sexual humiliation.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the envoys' buttocks)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the envoys' buttocks).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential, concluding the chain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαπέστειλενsent them awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (fourth of the humiliation chain)→ constative aorist (completed dismissal)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; the compound ἐξαπο- intensifies the dismissal; Hanun expels the disfigured envoys, completing the calculated insult and sealing the breach with David.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξαπέστειλεν (the envoys)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαπέστειλεν (the envoys).
5
καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ Δαυιδ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῶν ὅτι ἦσαν οἱ ἄνδρες ἠτιμασμένοι σφόδρα καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς καθίσατε ἐν Ιεριχω ἕως τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι τοὺς πώγωνας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐπιστραφήσεσθε
And they reported to David concerning the men; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonored. And the king said, 'Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown again, and then return.'
The report (ἀνήγγειλαν) reaches David, and the narrator supplies the explanatory ὅτι-clause (ἠτιμασμένοι σφόδρα, 'greatly dishonored'). David's command (καθίσατε ἐν Ιεριχω …) is a gesture of pastoral sensitivity — sparing the envoys public shame until their beards regrow; the perfect participle ἠτιμασμένοι highlights the abiding state of their disgrace.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλανthey reported / announcedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (report of the disgrace)→ constative aorist (completed report)ἀναγγέλλω: 'report / announce / declare'; renders נָגַד (Hiphil); the impersonal 3rd plural ('they reported') brings news of the envoys' humiliation to David; cf. the passive ἀνηγγέλη at v. 17.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Δαυιδ, dative of recipient)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddative of recipient (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: David; the article τῷ supplies the dative case to the indeclinable name; David receives the report of his envoys' shame.
ὑπὲρconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference: 'concerning the men')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + genitive: here in the sense 'concerning / about' (like περί), rendering עַל; the report is 'concerning the men.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀνδρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitivegenitive object of ὑπέρ (the envoys)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the envoys are now called 'the men,' emphasizing their adult dignity that has been violated.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (David's response)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; David sends messengers to meet his disgraced envoys with instructions, showing royal care for their dignity.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here in the idiom εἰς ἀπαντήν ('to meet'), rendering לִקְרַאת.
ἀπαντὴνa meetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'to meet them')→ object specificationἀπάντησις / ἀπαντή: 'meeting / encounter'; the idiom εἰς ἀπαντήν αὐτῶν ('to meet them') renders לִקְרָאתָם; David sends to intercept the envoys with consolation before they reach the capital.
αὐτῶνthemGenitiveobjective genitive (with ἀπαντήν: 'meeting of them')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as objective genitive (with ἀπαντήν: 'meeting of them').
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explanatory aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the narrator's explanation of David's solicitude — the men were greatly dishonored.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (with periphrastic participle ἠτιμασμένοι)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦσαν with the perfect participle ἠτιμασμένοι forms a periphrastic pluperfect-like construction ('had been / were in a state of being dishonored'), stressing the men's continuing condition of shame.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of ἦσαν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the envoys, whose manly dignity (beard) has been violated; the repetition of ἄνδρες underscores the affront to their manhood.
ἠτιμασμένοιdishonored / disgracedPerf Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἀτιμάζωperiphrastic participle (predicate with ἦσαν)→ perfect of resultant state (abiding condition of disgrace)ἀτιμάζω: 'dishonor / treat with contempt / disgrace'; renders כָּלַם (Niphal, 'be humiliated'); the perfect passive participle denotes the settled state of shame resulting from Hanun's act; the verb is the antonym of δοξάζω ('honor', v. 3) — the very honor the embassy was suspected of feigning has been violently stripped from David's men.
σφόδραgreatly / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἠτιμασμένοι)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; intensifies the disgrace to a superlative degree, motivating David's compassionate measures.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ 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)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; introduces David's directive to his shamed envoys.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject of εἶπεν (David)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; David, designated by his title to underscore the royal authority and care behind the command to remain in Jericho.
καθίσατεstay / remain / sitAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καθίζωmain verb of direct speech (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (settle and stay)καθίζω: 'sit / dwell / remain'; renders יָשַׁב; the imperative 'remain (in Jericho)' tells the envoys to stay out of public view until their beards regrow, sparing them further shame.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΙεριχωJerichodative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ (Jericho); indeclinable in the LXX; the city near the Jordan, a discreet place for the envoys to wait out of public sight.
ἕωςuntilconjunction + articular infinitive (temporal: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; with τοῦ ἀνατεῖλαι forms a temporal clause ('until your beards have grown').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive ἀνατεῖλαι, temporal genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνατεῖλαιto grow up / spring upAor Act Inf · ἀνατέλλωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'until the growing of')→ ingressive aorist infinitive (the moment of first sprouting)ἀνατέλλω: 'rise / spring up / grow (of plants, hair, the sun)'; renders צָמַח; here used of the regrowth of the beards; the same verb describes the sprouting of vegetation, a gentle agricultural image applied to the restoration of the men's honor.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πώγωνας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πώγωναςbeardsAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἀνατεῖλαι→ object specificationπώγων: 'beard'; the regrowth of the half-shaven beards marks the restoration of the envoys' violated dignity.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (the envoys' beards)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the envoys' beards).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the consequent)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιστραφήσεσθεyou shall returnFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (future as imperatival consequent)→ predictive/imperatival future (then return)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the future (passive in form, intransitive in sense) functions as a directive: 'and then you shall return' — once their honor is restored, the envoys may rejoin the court.
6
καὶ εἶδαν οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων ὅτι κατῃσχύνθησαν ὁ λαὸς Δαυιδ καὶ ἀπέστειλαν οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων καὶ ἐμισθώσαντο τὴν Συρίαν Βαιθροωβ εἴκοσι χιλιάδας πεζῶν καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Μααχα χιλίους ἄνδρας καὶ Ιστωβ δώδεκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν
And the sons of Ammon saw that the people of David were put to shame, and the sons of Ammon sent and hired Syria of Beth-rehob — twenty thousand foot-soldiers — and the king of Maacah, a thousand men, and Ishtob, twelve thousand men.
The Ammonites' realization (εἶδαν … ὅτι κατῃσχύνθησαν) that they have made themselves odious to David drives the military escalation. The verb μισθόομαι ('hire') and the catalogue of mercenary contingents (Beth-rehob, Maacah, Ishtob) with precise troop-numbers transforms a diplomatic insult into a coalition war; the numbers (20,000 + 1,000 + 12,000) signal the scale of the Aramean intervention.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδανsaw / realizedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (perception introducing realization)→ constative aorist (act of perceiving)ὁράω (aor. εἶδον, Koine alt. εἶδαν): 'see / perceive / realize'; the alpha-ending εἶδαν is a Koine sigmatic-aorist form common in the LXX; here 'saw' = 'realized' that they had become odious to David.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of εἶδαν (with Αμμων)→ participant prominenceυἱός: in the standing phrase υἱοὶ Αμμων ('sons of Ammon'); the nominative subject of the perception.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: the Ammonites; subject of the realization that war is now inevitable.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of εἶδαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of their perception — that they had brought shame on themselves before David.
κατῃσχύνθησανwere put to shame / had become odiousAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · καταισχύνωverb of the ὅτι-clause (constructio ad sensum with λαός)→ constative aorist passive (became disgraced/odious)καταισχύνω: 'put to shame / disgrace'; renders בָּאַשׁ (Niphal, 'become odious/stink') or כָּלַם; the plural verb with the singular collective ὁ λαός is a constructio ad sensum; the sense is that the Ammonites had made themselves 'a stench' to David — i.e., incurred his hostility by the insult.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of κατῃσχύνθησαν (collective 'people of David')→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; here ὁ λαὸς Δαυιδ ('the people of David') — the construction renders the Hebrew idiom that the Ammonites had become odious 'to David' (the LXX recasts the relation); the singular collective takes a plural verb.
ΔαυιδDavid's / of Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'people of David')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'people of David').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (perception → response)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλανthey sentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (Ammonite diplomatic-military initiative)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; here the Ammonites send envoys of their own — to hire mercenaries; the verb that began the chapter as condolence now serves military mobilization.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλαν (with Αμμων)→ participant prominenceυἱός: again in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the resumptive naming of the subject is a Hebraic narrative habit.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμισθώσαντοthey hiredAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · μισθόομαιmain verb (mercenary recruitment)→ constative aorist middle (hired for themselves)μισθόομαι: 'hire (for oneself)'; renders שָׂכַר; the middle voice marks the action as done in their own interest; the verb introduces the Aramean coalition assembled as paid auxiliaries against Israel.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Συρίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣυρίανSyria / AramAccusativedirect object of ἐμισθώσαντο→ object specificationΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; renders אֲרָם; the declinable name takes case (here acc. Συρίαν); the Arameans are the principal mercenary force; Συρία recurs as a near-personified collective antagonist throughout the chapter.
ΒαιθροωβBeth-rehobgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name: 'Syria of Beth-rehob')→ participant identificationΒαιθροωβ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית רְחוֹב (Beth-rehob); indeclinable in the LXX; an Aramean kingdom in the upper Jordan/Beqaa region; 'Syria of Beth-rehob' identifies one mercenary contingent.
εἴκοσιtwentynumeral (modifying χιλιάδας)→ measure or countεἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable cardinal numeral; with χιλιάδας gives the troop strength of the Beth-rehob contingent (20,000 foot).
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the number hired)→ object specificationχιλιάς: 'thousand / a unit of a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; the accusative χιλιάδας specifies the size of the mercenary force; the precise enumeration heightens the sense of a formidable coalition.
πεζῶνof foot-soldiersGenitivegenitive (partitive/descriptive: 'thousands of infantry')→ relational specificationπεζός: 'on foot / foot-soldier'; renders רַגְלִי; substantivized as 'infantry'; the Beth-rehob contingent is infantry, contrasting with the chariotry of Hadadezer in v. 18.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (next contingent)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of ἐμισθώσαντο (second contingent)→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Maacah, another hired ruler; the LXX names the king himself as the object of hiring (with his thousand men).
ΜααχαMaacahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name: 'king of Maacah')→ participant identificationΜααχα: transliteration of Hebrew מַעֲכָה (Maacah); indeclinable in the LXX; a small Aramean state on the northeastern border of Israel (near Mt. Hermon); its king supplies a thousand men.
χιλίουςa thousandAccusativenumeral adjective (modifying ἄνδρας)→ object specificationχίλιοι: 'a thousand'; the declinable cardinal (acc. χιλίους) agrees with ἄνδρας; the Maacah contingent is the smallest of the three.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative (the thousand men of Maacah)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the fighting men of Maacah's contingent.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third contingent)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙστωβIshtob / Tobdirect object of ἐμισθώσαντο (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙστωβ: transliteration of Hebrew אִישׁ טוֹב ('men of Tob'), taken by the LXX as a single proper name; indeclinable; the land of Tob (cf. Judg 11:3, 5) supplies twelve thousand men.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral (modifying χιλιάδας)→ clausal contributionδώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable cardinal; with χιλιάδας gives the strength of the Tob contingent (12,000).
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (number of the Tob contingent)→ object specificationχιλιάς: 'a thousand'; the accusative quantifies the third mercenary contingent.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivegenitive (partitive/descriptive: 'thousands of men')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the genitive ἀνδρῶν with χιλιάδας completes the enumeration of the assembled Aramean coalition.
7
καὶ ἤκουσεν Δαυιδ καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τὸν Ιωαβ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοὺς δυνατούς
And David heard, and he sent Joab and all the host, the warriors.
A terse verse pivoting from Ammonite mobilization to Israelite response: David 'hears' (ἤκουσεν) of the coalition and dispatches his general Joab with the full professional army (πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοὺς δυνατούς). The appositional τοὺς δυνατούς ('the mighty men / warriors') specifies the elite character of the force sent.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (perception triggering response)→ constative aorist (act of hearing)ἀκούω: 'hear / learn of'; renders שָׁמַע; David hears of the Aramean mobilization (v. 6) and responds militarily; the verb mirrors εἶδαν of the Ammonites (v. 6) — both sides act on what they perceive.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (military deployment)→ constative aorist (completed dispatch)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; here David dispatches the army; the verb of sending, previously diplomatic, is now decisively military.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιωαβ, supplying accusative case)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωαβJoabdirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאָב (Joab); indeclinable in the LXX (the article τόν marks the case); David's nephew and commander-in-chief, the central human agent of the victory in vv. 9–14.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying δύναμιν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the feminine accusative πᾶσαν agrees with δύναμιν; David commits the entire army, signaling the gravity of the threat.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with δύναμιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύναμινhost / armyAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (coordinate with Ιωαβ)→ object specificationδύναμις: 'power / force / army'; renders חַיִל / צָבָא; here the military 'host'; the term recurs in vv. 16, 18 of Hadadezer's δύναμις, framing the conflict as army against army.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with δυνατούς, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνατούςwarriors / mighty menAccusativeaccusative adjective in apposition to δύναμιν ('the mighty men')→ object specificationδυνατός: 'mighty / able / powerful'; substantivized as 'the warriors / mighty men'; renders גִּבּוֹר; the apposition specifies that the host is composed of elite fighters; note the wordplay δύναμιν … δυνατούς (the 'force' = the 'forceful ones').
8
καὶ ἐξῆλθαν οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων καὶ παρετάξαντο πόλεμον παρὰ τῇ θύρᾳ τῆς πύλης καὶ Συρία Σουβα καὶ Ροωβ καὶ Ιστωβ καὶ Μααχα μόνοι ἐν ἀγρῷ
And the sons of Ammon went out and drew up for battle at the entrance of the gate; and Syria of Zobah and Rehob and Ishtob and Maacah were by themselves in the open field.
The verse sets the tactical problem solved in vv. 9–10: the Ammonites array at the city gate while the Aramean mercenaries (Zobah, Rehob, Ishtob, Maacah) stand apart in the open field (μόνοι ἐν ἀγρῷ). This split — fortified front and open-field flank — produces the front-and-rear danger (v. 9) that prompts Joab's division of forces.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθανwent outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Ammonite sortie)→ constative aorist (completed movement)ἐξέρχομαι (Koine aor. ἐξῆλθαν): 'go out / come out'; renders יָצָא; the alpha-aorist ἐξῆλθαν is a Koine form; the Ammonites sally out of their city to take up battle-position at the gate.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθαν (with Αμμων)→ participant prominenceυἱός: in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the Ammonite forces deploying for battle.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρετάξαντοdrew up / arrayed (for battle)Aor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρατάσσωmain verb (battle deployment)→ constative aorist middle (took up battle-array)παρατάσσω: 'draw up in battle-line / array for war'; renders עָרַךְ (מִלְחָמָה); the middle voice is standard for taking one's own battle-position; this military key-verb recurs (vv. 9, 10, 17), structuring the deployment-and-engagement pattern of the chapter.
πόλεμονfor battle / warAccusativecognate accusative (with παρετάξαντο: 'arrayed for war')→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the accusative with παρατάσσω denotes the purpose/sphere of the array — drawing up 'for war'; πόλεμος recurs in vv. 9, 13, 17.
παρὰat / besidepreposition + dative (location: 'at the entrance')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + dative: 'beside / at'; locates the Ammonite battle-line at the city gate.
τῇtheDativearticle (with θύρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρᾳentrance / doorDativedative object of παρά (location)→ sphere or referenceθύρα: 'door / entrance'; renders פֶּתַח; the phrase θύρᾳ τῆς πύλης ('the entrance of the gate') marks the Ammonite defensive position at the city's fortified opening.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πύλης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύληςgateGenitivegenitive (with θύρᾳ: 'entrance of the gate')→ relational specificationπύλη: 'gate'; renders שַׁעַר; the city gate (of Rabbah), the Ammonites' defensive anchor; their position at the gate contrasts with the Arameans' open-field stance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the Aramean disposition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject (with the place-names, of the elliptical 'were apart')→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the nominative collective heads the list of Aramean contingents stationed separately in the field; the verb 'were' is elided (supplied from context).
ΣουβαZobahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'Syria of Zobah')→ participant identificationΣουβα: transliteration of Hebrew צוֹבָה (Zobah); indeclinable in the LXX; the powerful Aramean kingdom of Hadadezer (cf. Αδρααζαρ, vv. 16, 19); 'Syria of Zobah' is the leading mercenary state.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (listing contingents)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡοωβRehobcoordinate name (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡοωβ: transliteration of Hebrew רְחוֹב (Rehob); indeclinable; the Aramean state of Beth-rehob (cf. Βαιθροωβ, v. 6), here named alone; another contingent in the field.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙστωβIshtob / Tobcoordinate name (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙστωβ: the land of Tob (אִישׁ טוֹב); cf. v. 6; listed again among the field contingents.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΜααχαMaacahcoordinate name (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜααχα: Maacah; cf. v. 6; the fourth named Aramean contingent stationed apart in the field.
μόνοιby themselves / aloneNominativepredicate adjective (of the Aramean contingents: 'apart')→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone / by oneself'; the masculine plural μόνοι (constructio ad sensum, treating the contingents as a group of men) marks the Arameans as positioned separately from the Ammonites — the spatial split that creates Joab's two-front problem.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷthe field / open countryDativedative of place (locative: 'in the open field')→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field / open country'; renders שָׂדֶה; the Arameans hold the open field, away from the city gate; this exposed position will allow Joab's picked troops to engage them directly (vv. 9, 13).
9
καὶ εἶδεν Ιωαβ ὅτι ἐγενήθη πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀντιπρόσωπον τοῦ πολέμου ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ πρόσωπον ἐξ ἐναντίας καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ὄπισθεν καὶ ἐπέλεξεν ἐκ πάντων τῶν νεανίσκων Ισραηλ καὶ παρετάξαντο ἐξ ἐναντίας Συρίας
And Joab saw that the battle-front was against him from in front, facing him, and from behind; and he chose out of all the young men of Israel and arrayed them against Syria.
Joab's perception (εἶδεν … ὅτι) defines the crisis: the battle-line confronts him both 'in front' and 'from behind' (ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ πρόσωπον … καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ὄπισθεν). His response — selecting the choice troops (ἐπέλεξεν ἐκ … τῶν νεανίσκων) and arraying them against Syria — sets up the divided command of v. 10. The pile-up ἀντιπρόσωπον … κατὰ πρόσωπον … ἐξ ἐναντίας emphasizes the encirclement.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδενsaw / perceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (Joab's tactical perception)→ constative aorist (act of perceiving)ὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see / perceive / discern'; Joab assesses the disposition of the enemy; the verb of perception triggers his command decision, as εἶδαν triggered the Ammonites' (v. 6).
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: Joab, David's commander; here the strategist who discerns the encirclement and devises the divided-front response.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of εἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of Joab's perception — the two-front nature of the battle.
ἐγενήθηhad come to be / wasAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (resultant situation)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / come to be'; the impersonal-leaning construction ('there came to be against him a battle-front') describes the tactical situation Joab faces.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + accusative: here 'against / toward'; the battle-front 'against him' (Joab).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Joab)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (Joab).
ἀντιπρόσωπονa facing-front / opposing lineNominativesubject of ἐγενήθη ('the battle-front')→ participant prominenceἀντιπρόσωπος: 'facing / over against / front-to-front'; here substantivized as the 'opposing battle-line / front'; the compound ἀντι-πρόσωπον ('counter-face') vividly captures the enemy arrayed face-to-face against Joab; with the following phrases it conveys encirclement.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πολέμου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμουof the battleGenitivegenitive (with ἀντιπρόσωπον: 'the front of the battle')→ relational specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the genitive specifies that the 'facing front' is the battle-line; the war-front confronts Joab on two sides.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (direction: 'from in front')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + genitive: here marking the direction whence the threat comes ('from the front').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the adverbial phrase κατὰ πρόσωπον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατὰfacing / oppositepreposition + accusative (in the phrase κατὰ πρόσωπον: 'in front')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: in the idiom κατὰ πρόσωπον ('in front / face to face'), rendering לִפְנֵי / מִפָּנִים; here substantivized by the article τοῦ as 'the in-front (direction).'
πρόσωπονface / frontAccusativeaccusative (in idiom κατὰ πρόσωπον: 'in front')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / front / presence'; in κατὰ πρόσωπον it means the frontal direction; the word πρόσωπον recurs in the chapter in ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before', vv. 13, 14, 18).
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (in idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'opposite')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ / ἐξ + genitive: in the idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας ('over against / opposite'), rendering מִנֶּגֶד; reinforces the frontal opposition.
ἐναντίαςopposite / over againstGenitivegenitive (substantivized in idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'in opposition')→ relational specificationἐναντίος: 'opposite / facing / hostile'; the feminine ἐναντίας (with implied μερίδος / 'side') in the idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας means 'from the opposite side / over against'; the recurring phrase (vv. 9, 10) denotes facing the enemy directly in battle-array.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second front)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (direction: 'from behind')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + genitive: marking the second direction of threat — 'from behind.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the adverb ὄπισθεν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄπισθενbehind / the rearadverb (substantivized: 'from the rear')→ clausal contributionὄπισθεν: 'behind / in the rear'; renders אָחוֹר / מֵאַחֲרֵי; the substantivized adverb (with article τοῦ) names the second front; the front-and-rear pincer is the tactical crux requiring the army's division (v. 10).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (perception → action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέλεξενchose / picked outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιλέγωmain verb (selection of elite troops)→ constative aorist (completed selection)ἐπιλέγω: 'choose / pick out / select'; renders בָּחַר; Joab selects the choicest warriors to face the more formidable Aramean force himself, leaving the rest to Abishai; the verb marks deliberate tactical allocation.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (partitive source of selection)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + genitive: partitive, 'from among' — Joab picks 'out of' all the young men of Israel.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with νεανίσκων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the genitive πάντων marks the whole pool from which the elite are chosen.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with νεανίσκων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίσκωνyoung menGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'out of the young men')→ relational specificationνεανίσκος: 'young man / youth (of fighting age)'; renders בָּחוּר; the choice young warriors of Israel; Joab forms an elite strike-force from them against the Arameans.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the covenant nation, whose young men form Joab's picked corps; Ισραηλ recurs as the victorious party throughout vv. 15–19.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρετάξαντοthey arrayed (themselves)Aor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρατάσσωmain verb (battle-array against Syria)→ constative aorist middle (took battle-position)παρατάσσω: 'draw up in battle-line'; the picked troops array themselves against the Arameans; the plural verb has the elite corps as subject; the key military verb again structures the engagement.
ἐξover againstpreposition + genitive (idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'opposite')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ / ἐξ: in the idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας, 'over against / facing'; the strike-force faces Syria directly.
ἐναντίαςopposite / againstGenitivegenitive (idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'facing')→ relational specificationἐναντίος: in ἐξ ἐναντίας Συρίας ('over against Syria'); the construction takes a following genitive of the opposed party.
ΣυρίαςSyria / AramGenitivegenitive (the party faced: 'against Syria')→ relational specificationΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the declinable name in the genitive (Συρίας) governed by ἐξ ἐναντίας; the Arameans are Joab's own assigned front, the more dangerous foe.
10
καὶ τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ λαοῦ ἔδωκεν ἐν χειρὶ Αβεσσα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ παρετάξαντο ἐξ ἐναντίας υἱῶν Αμμων
And the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.
The complement to v. 9: Joab assigns the remainder of the army (τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ λαοῦ) to his brother Abishai (Αβεσσα) to face the Ammonites at the gate. The fronted object (τὸ κατάλοιπον) and the idiom ἔδωκεν ἐν χειρί ('gave into the hand of') mark the formal delegation of command for the second front.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κατάλοιπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατάλοιπονremainder / restAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationκατάλοιπος: 'remaining / left over'; substantivized neuter τὸ κατάλοιπον ('the rest'); renders יֶתֶר / שְׁאֵרִית; the troops not chosen for the elite anti-Aramean corps are assigned to Abishai; the fronting highlights the balanced two-part disposition.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeople / armyGenitivepartitive genitive (with κατάλοιπον: 'the rest of the army')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here the fighting 'people' = the army (cf. ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ, v. 13); the genitive marks the whole from which 'the rest' is drawn.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (delegation of command)→ constative aorist (completed assignment)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; in the idiom ἔδωκεν ἐν χειρί ('gave into the hand of') it denotes the formal transfer of command authority to Abishai.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiom 'into the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: in the Hebraism ἐν χειρί (בְּיַד), 'into the charge/control of.'
χειρὶhand / chargeDativedative (idiom: 'into the hand of Abishai')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; in ἐν χειρί it means 'under the command/control of'; Abishai is given charge of the second division.
ΑβεσσαAbishaigenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Abishai')→ participant identificationΑβεσσα: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִישַׁי (Abishai); indeclinable in the LXX; Joab's brother (son of Zeruiah), to whom the Ammonite front is entrusted.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοῦbrotherGenitivegenitive in apposition to Αβεσσα→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; identifies Abishai as Joab's brother, underscoring the family-based command structure of David's army (the sons of Zeruiah).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Joab's brother)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Joab's brother).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρετάξαντοthey arrayed (themselves)Aor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρατάσσωmain verb (Abishai's division takes position)→ constative aorist middle (took battle-position)παρατάσσω: 'draw up in battle-array'; Abishai's division arrays against the Ammonites; the verb again signals the formal battle-deployment of the second front.
ἐξover againstpreposition + genitive (idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'opposite')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ / ἐξ: in ἐξ ἐναντίας ('over against'), the same idiom as v. 9, here governing the Ammonites.
ἐναντίαςopposite / againstGenitivegenitive (idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'facing')→ relational specificationἐναντίος: in ἐξ ἐναντίας υἱῶν Αμμων ('over against the sons of Ammon').
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (the party faced: 'against the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός: in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the genitive governed by ἐξ ἐναντίας marks the Ammonites as Abishai's front.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: the Ammonites; Abishai's assigned adversary at the city gate.
11
καὶ εἶπεν ἐὰν κραταιωθῇ Συρία ὑπὲρ ἐμέ καὶ ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν καὶ ἐὰν υἱοὶ Αμμων κραταιωθῶσιν ὑπὲρ σέ καὶ ἐσόμεθα τοῦ σῶσαί σε
And he said, 'If Syria prevails over me, then you shall be my deliverance; and if the sons of Ammon prevail over you, then we will come to save you.'
Joab's pact to Abishai is structured as two parallel conditional clauses (ἐὰν … καὶ ἔσεσθε … / ἐὰν … καὶ ἐσόμεθα …), each with the apodotic καί (Hebraism). The symmetry — whichever front buckles, the other reinforces it — expresses the tactical solidarity that turns a dangerous two-front situation into a flexible reserve system.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 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)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; Joab addresses Abishai, setting out the mutual-support agreement before battle.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces a future-more-vivid condition with the subjunctive; renders אִם; the first of two parallel conditionals framing the contingency plan.
κραταιωθῇprevails / is too strongAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κραταιόωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ potential aorist subjunctive (hypothetical victory of Syria)κραταιόω: 'strengthen / prevail / be too strong'; renders חָזַק; the passive 'be strengthened / prove stronger'; the verb is thematic in this scene (vv. 11, 12: κραταιωθῶσιν, κραταιωθῶμεν), building toward Joab's exhortation to be 'strong.'
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject of κραταιωθῇ→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the nominative subject of the first protasis — the front Joab himself holds.
ὑπὲρover / againstpreposition + accusative (comparison/superiority: 'stronger than')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + accusative: 'beyond / above / over'; here in the sense 'too strong for / over' (rendering מִן of comparison); 'if Syria is stronger than I.'
ἐμέmeAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (Joab)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 1st-person pronoun; Joab speaks of his own front against Syria.
καὶthenapodotic conjunction (Hebraism: introducing apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί (rendering the waw of the Hebrew apodosis) introduces the consequence of the condition; idiomatically 'then.'
ἔσεσθέyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis→ predictive future (promised reinforcement)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be'; the future ἔσεσθε ('you shall be') promises that Abishai's division will come to Joab's aid; the construction εἶναι εἰς σωτηρίαν ('be for deliverance') is a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ).
μοιfor me / to meDativedative of advantage (Joab as beneficiary)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ: dative of advantage; Abishai's reinforcement is 'for me' (Joab).
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (Hebraism: εἰς of predication)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: in the idiom εἶναι εἰς ('be for / become'), rendering הָיָה לְ; expresses the predicate role ('be my deliverance').
σωτηρίανdeliverance / salvationAccusativeaccusative (predicate with εἰς: 'for deliverance')→ object specificationσωτηρία: 'deliverance / rescue / safety'; renders יְשׁוּעָה / תְּשׁוּעָה; here military rescue; the cognate verb σῴζω ('save') follows in the parallel clause, binding the two halves of the pact.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second conditional)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the second, parallel condition concerning Abishai's front.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of κραταιωθῶσιν (with Αμμων)→ participant prominenceυἱός: in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the Ammonites, Abishai's adversary.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon').
κραταιωθῶσινprevail / are too strongAor Pass Subj 3 Pl · κραταιόωverb of the second protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ potential aorist subjunctive (hypothetical Ammonite victory)κραταιόω: 'be strong / prevail'; the 3rd plural matches the plural subject υἱοὶ Αμμων; the repetition of the verb (cf. v. 12 κραταιωθῶμεν) ties the contingency plan to the climactic exhortation to 'be strong.'
ὑπὲρover / againstpreposition + accusative (superiority: 'too strong for')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + accusative: 'over / too strong for'; 'if the Ammonites are stronger than you.'
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (Abishai)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 2nd-person pronoun; Abishai's front against Ammon.
καὶthenapodotic conjunction (Hebraism)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic 'then'; introduces the answering promise of reinforcement.
ἐσόμεθαwe will be / comeFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis (with infinitive of purpose)→ predictive future (promised aid)εἰμί (fut. ἐσόμεθα): 'be'; with the genitive articular infinitive τοῦ σῶσαι it means 'we will be (at hand) to save you' — Joab's division pledges to rescue Abishai's; the construction ἔσομαι + τοῦ + inf. expresses readiness/purpose.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive σῶσαι, genitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῶσαίto saveAor Act Inf · σῴζωgenitive articular infinitive of purpose (with ἐσόμεθα)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of coming)σῴζω: 'save / rescue / deliver'; renders יָשַׁע (Hiphil); cognate with σωτηρία above; the verb seals the reciprocal rescue-pledge; it recurs in v. 19 (Syria 'feared to save' Ammon), an ironic inversion of this promise.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of σῶσαι (Abishai)→ participant referenceσύ: the object of the rescue — Abishai's division.
12
ἀνδρίζου καὶ κραταιωθῶμεν ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ περὶ τῶν πόλεων τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ κύριος ποιήσει τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ
Be a man, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God; and the LORD will do what is good in his eyes.
The great war-cry of the chapter: the asyndetic imperative ἀνδρίζου ('be a man / take courage') and the hortatory subjunctive κραταιωθῶμεν ('let us be strong') frame the battle as fought ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ … καὶ περὶ τῶν πόλεων τοῦ θεοῦ — for people and for the cities of God. The closing line κύριος ποιήσει τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ surrenders the outcome to YHWH, fusing martial resolve with theological submission.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἀνδρίζουbe a man / take couragePres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἀνδρίζομαιmain verb (asyndetic exhortative imperative)→ durative present imperative (sustained courage)ἀνδρίζομαι: 'play the man / be courageous / be strong'; renders חָזַק / אָמַץ; the deponent imperative addressed to Abishai; the pairing ἀνδρίζου … κραταιωθῶμεν echoes the LXX exhortation formula 'be strong and courageous' (cf. Deut 31:6–7; Josh 1:6–9); a signature call to martial valor grounded in faith.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κραταιωθῶμενlet us be strongAor Pass Subj 1 Pl · κραταιόωhortatory subjunctive (mutual exhortation)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (joint resolve to be strong)κραταιόω: 'be strong / prevail'; the hortatory subjunctive ('let us be strong') unites Joab and Abishai in shared resolve; the verb's recurrence (vv. 11, 12) turns the contingency-language of strength into a deliberate summons to courage.
ὑπὲρfor / on behalf ofpreposition + genitive (advantage: 'on behalf of')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + genitive: 'on behalf of / for the sake of'; the battle is fought 'for our people' — a cause that ennobles the conflict beyond royal honor.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ὑπέρ ('for our people')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here the covenant people Israel, whose welfare is the cause of the war; the phrase elevates the battle into a defense of the nation.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (1st plural: 'our people')→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (1st plural: 'our people').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second cause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περὶfor / concerningpreposition + genitive (advantage/concern: 'for')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + genitive: here 'for / on behalf of' (parallel to ὑπέρ); the variation ὑπέρ … περί is stylistic, both denoting the cause defended.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivegenitive object of περί ('for the cities')→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the 'cities of our God' are Israel's settlements, regarded as belonging to YHWH; defending them is a sacred charge, framing the war as the LORD's own cause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of possession ('cities of our God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the cities belong to Israel's God, so their defense is a religious duty; the phrase grounds the martial exhortation in covenant theology.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (1st plural: 'our God')→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (1st plural: 'our God').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (resolving the resolve to YHWH)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ποιήσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the divine name, rendering the Tetragrammaton יהוה (NOT the human-master sense of v. 3); Joab commits the battle's outcome to YHWH — human valor must be matched by divine sovereignty; the clause is a model of pious fatalism in war.
ποιήσειwill doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (declaration of trust)→ predictive future (confident submission to divine will)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the future expresses confident trust that YHWH will act; the idiom ποιέω τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('do what is good in [his] eyes') renders עָשָׂה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיו, a formula of submission to sovereign will (cf. 1 Sam 3:18; 2 Sam 15:26).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀγαθόν, substantivized)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgood / what is goodAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object of ποιήσει)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; substantivized τὸ ἀγαθόν ('what is good'); renders הַטּוֹב; in the idiom 'do what is good in his eyes' it denotes whatever YHWH deems right — the battle's outcome is surrendered to divine judgment, not human ambition.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (Hebraism: 'in his eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: in the idiom ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in the eyes of'), rendering בְּעֵינֵי; denotes the standpoint of evaluation — what is good 'in YHWH's sight.'
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative (idiom: 'in his eyes')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; in the Hebraism ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ('in his eyes' = 'in his judgment'); the phrase locates the standard of 'good' in YHWH's own estimation.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (YHWH's eyes)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (YHWH's eyes).
13
καὶ προσῆλθεν Ιωαβ καὶ ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς πόλεμον πρὸς Συρίαν καὶ ἔφυγαν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ
And Joab advanced, and the people who were with him, to battle against Syria, and they fled before him.
The battle is joined and resolved in a single swift sentence: Joab advances against Syria and the Arameans flee (ἔφυγαν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, 'before his face'). The phrase ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before') recurs in vv. 14, 18, becoming the leitmotif of the chapter's serial routs.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσῆλθενadvanced / drew nearAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb (Joab's advance to battle)→ constative aorist (completed advance)προσέρχομαι: 'approach / draw near / advance'; renders נָגַשׁ / קָרַב; here a military advance to engage; Joab leads his elite corps forward against the Arameans, executing the plan of vv. 9–12.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: Joab, leading the assault on the Aramean front.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (compound subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeople / troopsNominativesubject (coordinate with Ιωαβ)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; here the soldiers under Joab's command (the 'people' = the army, as in v. 10); the compound subject 'Joab and his troops' advances together.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Joab's troops)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Joab's troops).
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with'; the somewhat redundant μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('with him') is a Hebraistic fullness of expression reinforcing the accompaniment of the troops with their commander.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Joab)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (Joab).
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to battle')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here purpose/goal, 'to / for battle.'
πόλεμονbattle / warAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose of the advance)→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the goal of Joab's advance; εἰς πόλεμον ('to battle') marks the transition from deployment to engagement.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + accusative: here 'against'; the battle is directed against the Arameans.
ΣυρίανSyria / AramAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the foe engaged)→ object specificationΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the declinable name (acc. Συρίαν) names Joab's assigned adversary; the engagement that follows routs them.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (engagement → rout)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφυγανthey fledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb (rout of the Arameans)→ ingressive aorist (took to flight)φεύγω (Koine aor. ἔφυγαν): 'flee'; renders נוּס; the alpha-aorist is a Koine form; the Arameans' flight is the decisive turn of the battle; φεύγω recurs (vv. 14, 18) tracing the collapse of the coalition before Israel.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + genitive: in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before / from the face of'), rendering מִפְּנֵי; a Hebraism for fleeing 'before' someone.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; in ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ('from before him') it conveys the Arameans fleeing from Joab's onset; this leitmotif phrase frames the chapter's serial routs (vv. 13, 14, 18).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive of reference (Joab, before whom they flee)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of reference (Joab, before whom they flee).
14
καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων εἶδαν ὅτι ἔφυγεν Συρία καὶ ἔφυγαν ἀπὸ προσώπου Αβεσσα καὶ εἰσῆλθαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν Ιωαβ ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ παρεγένοντο εἰς Ιερουσαλημ
And the sons of Ammon saw that Syria had fled, and they fled before Abishai and went into the city; and Joab turned back from the sons of Ammon, and they came to Jerusalem.
The Aramean collapse triggers the Ammonite collapse: seeing Syria flee, the Ammonites flee before Abishai into the city. With both fronts won, Joab breaks off (ἀνέστρεψεν … ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Αμμων) and the army returns to Jerusalem. The verse closes the first campaign-phase (A–C) before the Aramean regrouping of vv. 15–19.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of εἶδαν (with Αμμων)→ participant prominenceυἱός: in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the Ammonites, who now perceive the Aramean rout.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon').
εἶδανsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (perception of the Aramean flight)→ constative aorist (act of perceiving)ὁράω (Koine aor. εἶδαν): 'see / perceive'; the Ammonites see their hired allies routed and lose their own nerve; the verb of perception again drives the action (cf. vv. 6, 9).
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of εἶδαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the Ammonites' perception — Syria's flight.
ἔφυγενhad fledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωverb of the ὅtι-clause→ constative aorist (completed flight, viewed as prior fact)φεύγω: 'flee'; the singular ἔφυγεν agrees with the collective Συρία; the Aramean flight (already narrated in v. 13) is here perceived by the Ammonites.
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject of ἔφυγεν→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the routed mercenaries whose flight demoralizes the Ammonites.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (perception → flight)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφυγανthey fledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb (Ammonite flight)→ ingressive aorist (took to flight)φεύγω (Koine aor. ἔφυγαν): 'flee'; the Ammonites flee before Abishai, mirroring the Aramean flight before Joab; the repetition ἔφυγεν … ἔφυγαν binds the two routs.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου ('before / from the face of').
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before Abishai')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; in ἀπὸ προσώπου Αβεσσα ('before Abishai'); the leitmotif of flight 'before the face of' the Israelite commanders.
ΑβεσσαAbishaigenitive of reference (indeclinable: 'before Abishai')→ participant identificationΑβεσσα: Abishai, before whom the Ammonites flee; his front is won as decisively as Joab's.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθανthey entered / went inAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Ammonite retreat into the city)→ constative aorist (completed entry)εἰσέρχομαι (Koine aor. εἰσῆλθαν): 'enter / go in'; the Ammonites retreat into their fortified city (Rabbah); the move corresponds to their original position at the gate (v. 8) — they fall back behind their walls.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (place of refuge)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; the Ammonite capital, into which the defeated army withdraws; the same city the envoys were accused of plotting to spy out (v. 3).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψενturned back / returnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (Joab breaks off the engagement)→ constative aorist (completed withdrawal)ἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; with both enemies routed, Joab disengages 'from the sons of Ammon' rather than pressing a siege; the verb marks the close of this campaign-phase.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: Joab, who, victorious, withdraws the army.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + genitive: here 'from / away from' (separation), marking Joab's disengagement.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (with Αμμων)→ relational specificationυἱός: in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the Ammonites, from whom Joab now withdraws.
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεγένοντοthey came / returnedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (return to Jerusalem)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive'; the army returns to Jerusalem; the verb of arrival closes the first campaign (cf. v. 2), framing the narrative before the Aramean regrouping.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative of destination (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Jerusalem); indeclinable in the LXX; David's capital, the army's home base to which they return after the first victory.
15
καὶ εἶδεν Συρία ὅτι ἔπταισεν ἔμπροσθεν Ισραηλ καὶ συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό
And Syria saw that it had been defeated before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.
The verse opens the second campaign (D, vv. 15–19): defeated Syria (ἔπταισεν ἔμπροσθεν Ισραηλ) does not submit but regroups (συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, 'gathered to the same place'). The verb πταίω ('stumble / be defeated') frames the Aramean experience here and at v. 19, bracketing the second campaign.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (Aramean perception of defeat)→ constative aorist (act of perceiving)ὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see / perceive'; the singular agrees with the collective Συρία; the Arameans 'see' their defeat and resolve on a fresh mustering — perception again triggering action.
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject of εἶδεν→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the collective Arameans, treated as a singular agent throughout the chapter; here they regroup under Hadadezer's leadership.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of εἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the perception — the defeat before Israel.
ἔπταισενwas defeated / stumbledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πταίωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed defeat)πταίω: 'stumble / trip / be defeated'; renders נָגַף (Niphal, 'be smitten/defeated'); the military metaphor of 'stumbling' for defeat; the verb brackets the second campaign (vv. 15, 19), marking Aramean defeat both at its start and at its decisive end.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (in the presence/face of)→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; 'defeated before Israel' — the standard idiom for being routed in someone's presence; ἔμπροσθεν recurs in vv. 16, 19.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of reference (indeclinable: 'before Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Israel; the victorious party before whom Syria is defeated; the recurring naming of Israel as victor (vv. 15, 17, 18, 19) underscores the theological point of the chapter.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (perception → regrouping)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνήχθησανthey gathered togetherAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (Aramean re-mustering)→ ingressive aorist passive (assembled themselves)συνάγω: 'gather / assemble / bring together'; renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the passive συνήχθησαν ('they were gathered / assembled themselves') describes the Aramean re-mustering; the plural verb after the singular collective Συρία is a constructio ad sensum.
ἐπὶto / atpreposition + accusative (idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό: 'together')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: in the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('to the same place / together'), a fixed LXX/NT phrase for assembly in one location.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτό, in idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόsame (place)Accusativesubstantivized adjective (idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό: 'to the same place')→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'same'; in ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('together / to the same place'); renders יַחְדָּו; the Arameans concentrate their forces in one place for a renewed offensive.
16
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Αδρααζαρ καὶ συνήγαγεν τὴν Συρίαν τὴν ἐκ τοῦ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ Χαλαμακ καὶ παρεγένοντο Αιλαμ καὶ Σωβακ ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως Αδρααζαρ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν
And Hadadezer sent and gathered the Arameans who were from beyond the river Chalamak, and they came to Helam; and Shobach, commander of the army of Hadadezer, was at their head.
The regrouping is given a leader and a scale: Hadadezer (Αδρααζαρ) of Zobah summons the Arameans from beyond the River (Euphrates), who muster at Helam (Αιλαμ) under his army-commander Shobach (Σωβακ). The phrase ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως ('commander of the army') and the geographical reach 'beyond the river' mark this as a far larger, professional force than the hired contingents of v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
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 (Hadadezer's summons)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; Hadadezer sends to summon the trans-River Arameans; the verb of sending now mobilizes a much larger coalition.
ΑδρααζαρHadadezersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑδρααζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew הֲדַדְעֶזֶר (Hadadezer); indeclinable in the LXX; king of Aram-Zobah (cf. Σουβα, v. 8), the chief Aramean power, who now leads the renewed war against David.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνήγαγενgatheredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (mustering of the Arameans)→ constative aorist (completed gathering)συνάγω: 'gather / assemble'; here active ('he gathered'), with Hadadezer as agent mustering the trans-River forces; cf. the passive συνήχθησαν of v. 15 and David's συνήγαγεν of v. 17 (the same verb of both sides' mustering).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Συρίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣυρίανSyria / the ArameansAccusativedirect object of συνήγαγεν→ object specificationΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the declinable name (acc. Συρίαν), here the trans-River Arameans Hadadezer musters; the article-plus-attributive construction (τὴν … τὴν ἐκ …) specifies which Arameans.
τὴνthe (ones)Accusativearticle (attributive, with the prepositional phrase ἐκ τοῦ πέραν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: the repeated article turns the following prepositional phrase into an attributive ('the [Arameans] from beyond the river'); a common Greek construction for localizing a noun.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/location: 'from beyond')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + genitive: 'from / out of'; with τοῦ πέραν it localizes the Arameans as those 'from beyond the river.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the adverb πέραν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανthe far side / beyondadverb (substantivized: 'the region beyond')→ clausal contributionπέραν: 'across / on the other side / beyond'; renders עֵבֶר; with the article τοῦ it is substantivized ('the beyond / the far side'); here 'beyond the river' = the trans-Euphrates region, the homeland of Hadadezer's wider forces.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ποταμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποταμοῦriverGenitivegenitive (with πέραν: 'beyond the river')→ relational specificationποταμός: 'river'; renders נָהָר; 'the River' par excellence is the Euphrates; the Arameans summoned from 'beyond the River' represent the eastern reach of Hadadezer's empire.
ΧαλαμακChalamak / Helamindeclinable place-name (apposed to the locale)→ participant identificationΧαλαμακ: a transliteration in this LXX text reflecting Hebrew חֵילָם (Helam); indeclinable; the place-name appears here (and as Αιλαμ below) in variant transliterated forms; it designates the mustering-ground east of the Jordan where the decisive battle is fought.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεγένοντοthey came / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (arrival of the Arameans at Helam)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive'; the Arameans reach the mustering-ground; the same verb describes David's arrival there (v. 17), setting up the head-on clash.
ΑιλαμHelamaccusative/locative of destination (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑιλαμ: transliteration of Hebrew חֵילָם (Helam); indeclinable in the LXX; the site (here without preposition, an accusative of place) where the Aramean army concentrates and where David defeats them (v. 17); cf. the variant Χαλαμακ above.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the commander)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣωβακShobachsubject (indeclinable proper noun) of the elliptical 'was at their head'→ participant identificationΣωβακ: transliteration of Hebrew שׁוֹבַךְ (Shobach); indeclinable in the LXX; Hadadezer's army-commander who leads the trans-River forces and is slain by David (v. 18).
ἄρχωνcommander / chiefNominativenominative in apposition to Σωβακ→ participant prominenceἄρχων: 'ruler / commander / chief'; renders שַׂר; in apposition, identifying Shobach as 'commander of the army' (ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως), the supreme field-officer of Hadadezer; his death (v. 18) decapitates the Aramean force.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεως)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmy / hostGenitivegenitive (with ἄρχων: 'commander of the army')→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'force / army / host'; the genitive in the title ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως ('commander of the army'); the same word for the army David sent under Joab (v. 7).
ΑδρααζαρHadadezer's / of Hadadezergenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Hadadezer')→ participant identificationΑδρααζαρ: Hadadezer; the genitive identifies whose army Shobach commands — the trans-River host of the Aramean king.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / at the head ofpreposition + genitive (position: 'at their head')→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of / at the head of'; here positional — Shobach leads the army 'before them'; the same preposition denotes defeat 'before Israel' in vv. 15, 19, an ominous foreshadowing.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν (the Aramean troops)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἔμπροσθεν (the Aramean troops).
17
καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Δαυιδ καὶ συνήγαγεν τὸν πάντα Ισραηλ καὶ διέβη τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ παρεγένοντο εἰς Αιλαμ καὶ παρετάξατο Συρία ἀπέναντι Δαυιδ καὶ ἐπολέμησαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ
And it was reported to David, and he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan, and they came to Helam; and Syria drew up in array opposite David, and they fought with him.
Unlike the first campaign (which David delegated to Joab, v. 7), the renewed Aramean threat draws David himself: he musters all Israel, crosses the Jordan, and meets the enemy at Helam. The chain συνήγαγεν … διέβη … παρεγένοντο builds to the head-on engagement (παρετάξατο Συρία ἀπέναντι Δαυιδ … ἐπολέμησαν). The passive ἀνηγγέλη ('it was reported') echoes the active ἀνήγγειλαν of v. 5.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνηγγέληit was reported / announcedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive: news reaches David)→ constative aorist passive (completed report)ἀναγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; renders נָגַד (Hophal, 'it was told'); the impersonal passive ('it was reported to David') brings news of the Aramean regrouping; cf. the active ἀνήγγειλαν of v. 5 — both report decisive turns to David.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Δαυιδ, dative of recipient)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddative of recipient (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: David; the article τῷ supplies the dative; David receives news of the renewed Aramean muster and now leads in person.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (report → mobilization)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνήγαγενgatheredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (David's muster)→ constative aorist (completed gathering)συνάγω: 'gather / assemble'; David musters 'all Israel' — a full national levy, matching the scale of Hadadezer's trans-River host (v. 16); the same verb describes both armies' mustering (vv. 15, 16, 17).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πάντα Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ: 'all Israel')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the masculine accusative πάντα modifies the (here masculine-treated) collective Ισραηλ; 'all Israel' signals a full national mobilization for the decisive battle.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of συνήγαγεν (indeclinable; article+adj. supply case)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Israel; the whole nation is levied; the article and adjective (τὸν πάντα) decline around the indeclinable name to mark it as the accusative object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (crossing of the Jordan)→ constative aorist (completed crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; David crosses the Jordan to engage the Arameans in the Transjordan; the verb marks the offensive movement into enemy-mustering territory.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διέβη (the river crossed)→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan river; here declined (acc. Ιορδάνην) as a first-declension masculine noun in the LXX (rendering יַרְדֵּן); the river David crosses to reach the battlefield at Helam.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεγένοντοthey came / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (Israel's arrival at Helam)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive'; the plural (Israel's army as subject) reaches Helam, the same place the Arameans had mustered (v. 16); the parallel arrivals set up the direct confrontation.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΑιλαμHelamaccusative of destination (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑιλαμ: Helam; cf. v. 16; the battlefield east of the Jordan where David routs the Aramean host.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (arrival → battle-array)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρετάξατοdrew up / arrayed (itself)Aor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παρατάσσωmain verb (Aramean battle-array)→ constative aorist middle (took battle-position)παρατάσσω: 'draw up in battle-line'; the singular (collective Συρία as subject) middle; the Arameans deploy 'opposite David'; the chapter's signature military verb (cf. vv. 8, 9, 10) marks the final engagement.
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject of παρετάξατο→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the collective Arameans deploy against David in person; this is their last stand before the decisive rout of v. 18.
ἀπέναντιopposite / over againstpreposition + genitive (position: 'opposite David')→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'opposite / over against / in front of'; renders נֶגֶד; the Arameans array 'opposite David,' confronting the king himself rather than merely his general; the personal confrontation heightens the stakes.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of reference (indeclinable: 'opposite David')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: David; the Arameans face the king directly; the chapter that began with David's gesture of kindness ends with David's personal triumph in war.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (array → fighting)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολέμησανthey fought / made warAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πολεμέωmain verb (the engagement)→ constative aorist (the battle joined)πολεμέω: 'wage war / fight'; renders לָחַם (Niphal); cognate with πόλεμος; the Arameans 'fought with him' (David); the verb names the actual combat that ends in their decisive defeat (v. 18).
μετ᾿with / againstpreposition + genitive (hostile association: 'against', elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: normally 'with'; in the idiom πολεμέω μετά τινος ('fight with [= against] someone') it renders the Hebrew נִלְחַם עִם, where 'with' has hostile sense — they made war 'against' David.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (David)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (David).
18
καὶ ἔφυγεν Συρία ἀπὸ προσώπου Ισραηλ καὶ ἀνεῖλεν Δαυιδ ἐκ τῆς Συρίας ἑπτακόσια ἅρματα καὶ τεσσαράκοντα χιλιάδας ἱππέων καὶ τὸν Σωβακ τὸν ἄρχοντα τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ ἐπάταξεν καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐκεῖ
And Syria fled before Israel, and David destroyed of Syria seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen; and Shobach the commander of his army he struck down, and he died there.
The climactic battle-result: Syria flees before Israel (ἔφυγεν … ἀπὸ προσώπου Ισραηλ), David destroys vast chariotry and cavalry, and the enemy commander Shobach is struck down and dies on the field. The enumeration (700 chariots, 40,000 horsemen) quantifies the magnitude of the rout; the death of the ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως decapitates Aramean resistance, preparing the submission of v. 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφυγενfledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (Aramean rout)→ ingressive aorist (took to flight)φεύγω: 'flee'; the singular agrees with the collective Συρία; the Arameans flee before Israel as they had before Joab (v. 13); the recurring φεύγω caps the chapter's pattern of enemy rout.
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject of ἔφυγεν→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the routed Arameans; their flight before Israel is the decisive military outcome.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου ('before / from the face of'); cf. vv. 13, 14.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before Israel')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; in ἀπὸ προσώπου Ισραηλ ('before Israel'); the leitmotif of flight 'before the face of' the victor, here climactically before the whole nation.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of reference (indeclinable: 'before Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Israel; the nation before whom Syria flees; the recurring victor of the chapter's second campaign.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (rout → slaughter)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεῖλενdestroyed / killedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναιρέωmain verb (David's destruction of the Aramean forces)→ constative aorist (completed slaughter)ἀναιρέω: 'take away / destroy / kill'; renders הָרַג / נָכָה; David 'destroys' the chariotry and cavalry; the verb (with David as subject) credits the king personally with the decisive blow against Aramean military power.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: David; the agent of the rout, now triumphant where the chapter began with his gesture of peace.
ἐκof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of Syria')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + genitive: partitive, 'of / from among' — David destroys 'of Syria' the following numbers, i.e., a portion of the Aramean host.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Συρίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣυρίαςSyria / AramGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἐκ: 'of Syria')→ relational specificationΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the declinable name (gen. Συρίας) in the partitive construction — the chariots and horsemen destroyed are 'of Syria.'
ἑπτακόσιαseven hundredAccusativenumeral adjective (with ἅρματα)→ object specificationἑπτακόσιοι: 'seven hundred'; the cardinal (neut. acc. ἑπτακόσια) agrees with ἅρματα; the chariot-count quantifies the scale of the Aramean defeat (the parallel at 1 Chr 19:18 reads 7,000 chariots).
ἅρματαchariotsAccusativedirect object of ἀνεῖλεν (the chariotry destroyed)→ object specificationἅρμα: 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב; the destruction of the chariotry — the elite striking arm of an ancient army — signals the breaking of Aramean military power.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (with χιλιάδας)→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; indeclinable cardinal; with χιλιάδας gives the cavalry-count (40,000 horsemen).
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativeaccusative (the number of horsemen)→ object specificationχιλιάς: 'a thousand'; the accusative quantifies the slaughtered cavalry; the parallel at 1 Chr 19:18 reads 40,000 foot, a known textual divergence.
ἱππέωνof horsemen / cavalryGenitivegenitive (with χιλιάδας: 'thousands of horsemen')→ relational specificationἱππεύς: 'horseman / cavalryman'; renders פָּרָשׁ; the cavalry destroyed alongside the chariotry; together they represent the Aramean army's mobile striking power, now annihilated.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the commander's death)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Σωβακ, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣωβακShobachdirect object of ἐπάταξεν (fronted; indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣωβακ: Shobach; Hadadezer's army-commander (v. 16); the fronting of his name (τὸν Σωβακ … ἐπάταξεν) emphasizes the decapitation of the Aramean command.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄρχοντα, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταcommander / chiefAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σωβακ→ object specificationἄρχων: 'commander / ruler'; in apposition, identifying Shobach again as 'the commander of his army'; the title underscores that the slain man is the supreme Aramean field-officer.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεως)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmy / hostGenitivegenitive (with ἄρχοντα: 'commander of the army')→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'army / force'; the genitive in the title; the same word for both armies in the chapter (vv. 7, 16).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Hadadezer's army)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Hadadezer's army).
ἐπάταξενstruck downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (David strikes Shobach)→ constative aorist (completed blow)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / strike down'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); David (or his forces) fatally strikes the Aramean commander; the verb of the death-blow, common in LXX battle-narratives.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (blow → death)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (Shobach's death)→ constative aorist (completed death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; Shobach dies on the field; the verb forms an inclusio with v. 1 (ἀπέθανεν, the Ammonite king's death): a death opens the chapter and the death of the enemy commander effectively closes the war.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (on the battlefield)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates Shobach's death on the field at Helam; the laconic 'and he died there' is a stark battle-report closure marking the finality of the Aramean defeat.
19
καὶ εἶδαν πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς οἱ δοῦλοι Αδρααζαρ ὅτι ἔπταισαν ἔμπροσθεν Ισραηλ καὶ ηὐτομόλησαν μετὰ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐδούλευσαν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐφοβήθη Συρία τοῦ σῶσαι ἔτι τοὺς υἱοὺς Αμμων
And all the kings, the vassals of Hadadezer, saw that they had been defeated before Israel, and they went over to Israel and became subject to them; and Syria was afraid to save the sons of Ammon any longer.
The chapter's denouement: seeing their defeat (ἔπταισαν, echoing v. 15), Hadadezer's vassal kings defect to Israel (ηὐτομόλησαν μετὰ Ισραηλ) and become subject to David. The closing clause — Syria 'feared to save the sons of Ammon any longer' — ironically inverts Joab's rescue-pledge (τοῦ σῶσαι, v. 11): the mercenaries who came to save Ammon now dare not. The Ammonite war is left strategically isolated, setting up ch. 11–12.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδανsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (the vassals' perception of defeat)→ constative aorist (act of perceiving)ὁράω (Koine aor. εἶδαν): 'see / perceive'; the vassal kings perceive their defeat and draw the political conclusion; the verb of perception that has driven the chapter's turns (vv. 6, 9, 14, 15) here yields the final realignment.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with βασιλεῖς)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the nominative plural πάντες stresses that the entire body of Hadadezer's vassal kings — not merely some — defect; the totality marks the completeness of David's triumph.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubject of εἶδαν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the subordinate kings who served Hadadezer; their defection transfers a whole network of Aramean vassal-states to David's overlordship.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with δοῦλοι, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλοιservants / vassalsNominativenominative in apposition to βασιλεῖς ('the vassals of Hadadezer')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant / vassal'; renders עֶבֶד; here in the political sense of 'vassal kings' subject to Hadadezer; the apposition οἱ βασιλεῖς οἱ δοῦλοι ('the kings, the vassals') captures their dependent status — they were Hadadezer's, now they become David's.
ΑδρααζαρHadadezer's / of Hadadezergenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'vassals of Hadadezer')→ participant identificationΑδρααζαρ: Hadadezer; the genitive marks whose vassals these kings were before their defection to Israel.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of εἶδαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the vassals' perception — their defeat before Israel.
ἔπταισανthey were defeated / stumbledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πταίωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed defeat)πταίω: 'stumble / be defeated'; the plural here (subjects = the vassal kings/Arameans) echoes the singular ἔπταισεν of v. 15, framing the second campaign with the same verb of military 'stumbling'; the inclusio seals the Aramean collapse.
ἔμπροσθενbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (in the presence/face of)→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; in ἔμπροσθεν Ισραηλ ('before Israel'); the same phrase as v. 15, bracketing the campaign.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of reference (indeclinable: 'before Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Israel; the victor before whom the vassals are defeated and to whom they now submit.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (perception → defection)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ηὐτομόλησανthey deserted / went overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αὐτομολέωmain verb (defection to Israel)→ constative aorist (completed defection)αὐτομολέω: 'desert / go over (to the enemy) / defect of one's own accord'; the augmented form ηὐτομόλησαν; renders שָׁלַם (Hiphil, 'make peace') in this context; the vivid Greek verb depicts the vassal kings spontaneously switching allegiance from Hadadezer to Israel — a decisive political realignment in David's favor.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (alliance/accompaniment: 'with Israel')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with'; here marking the new alliance — they go over 'with [= to the side of] Israel.'
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of μετά (the new overlord)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Israel; the side to which the Aramean vassals defect; David thereby gains hegemony over the Aramean states.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (defection → subjection)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐδούλευσανthey served / became subjectAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (vassalage to Israel)→ ingressive aorist (entered into servitude)δουλεύω: 'serve / be a slave / be subject'; renders עָבַד; cognate with δοῦλοι above — the kings who were Hadadezer's δοῦλοι now δουλεύουσιν Israel; the wordplay underscores the transfer of vassalage; David's empire expands northward.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative complement of ἐδούλευσαν (Israel, served)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: dative of the persons served; the vassals 'served them' (Israel) — the construction δουλεύω + dative is standard for political subjection.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (concluding result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφοβήθηwas afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (Syria's fear; closing clause)→ ingressive aorist passive (came to fear)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the deponent/passive aorist; the singular agrees with the collective Συρία; the Arameans' fear to aid Ammon any longer is the strategic upshot of David's victory, isolating the Ammonites for the campaign of chs. 11–12.
ΣυρίαSyria / AramNominativesubject of ἐφοβήθη→ participant prominenceΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the collective Arameans, now too cowed to continue as Ammon's ally; the chapter's recurring antagonist exits in fear.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive σῶσαι, genitive of object/purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: the genitive articular infinitive here complements the verb of fearing ('feared to save'), a common LXX construction.
σῶσαιto save / helpAor Act Inf · σῴζωgenitive articular infinitive (complement of ἐφοβήθη)→ telic/complementary aorist infinitive (the feared action)σῴζω: 'save / rescue / help'; renders יָשַׁע (Hiphil); ironically the very verb of Joab's rescue-pledge (τοῦ σῶσαί σε, v. 11): the Arameans, once hired to save Ammon, now 'fear to save' them; the verbal echo seals the reversal — the would-be deliverers are themselves defeated and afraid.
ἔτιany longer / stilladverb (temporal: 'any more')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / any longer'; renders עוֹד; with the negated-sense verb of fearing it means the Arameans would 'no longer' help Ammon; marks the permanent severing of the Aramean-Ammonite alliance.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of σῶσαι (with Αμμων)→ object specificationυἱός: in υἱοὶ Αμμων; the Ammonites, now left without Aramean support; the chapter ends with them strategically isolated, foreshadowing the siege of Rabbah (ch. 11–12).
ΑμμωνAmmongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: the Ammonites; the chapter's instigating antagonist, abandoned by their hired allies as the narrative closes.