Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Second Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 17ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Β′ ΙΖ′

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

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

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

Theme

Counsel, prayer, and providence overturn Ahithophel's strategy and preserve David in the crisis of Absalom's revolt.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 2 Kingdoms 17 (= 2 Samuel 17) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter is one of the great set-pieces of the Succession Narrative: a duel of counsels. Ahithophel proposes a lean, surgical night-strike on the weary, dispirited David (vv. 1–3), and the plan is at first approved (v. 4); but Absalom summons Hushai the Archite, whose counter-counsel — built on the terror of David's veteran warriors (δυνατοί … κατάπικροι τῇ ψυχῇ, 'mighty men, bitter of soul', v. 8), the image of David as a bereaved bear (ἄρκος ἠτεκνωμένη) and a lion-hearted son of valour (υἱὸς δυνάμεως), and the grandiose vision of all Israel gathered ὡς ἡ ἄμμος ἡ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης ('like the sand on the seashore', v. 11) with Absalom himself in the field — wins the day (vv. 5–14). The narrator unveils the theological hinge in v. 14: καὶ κύριος ἐνετείλατο διασκεδάσαι τὴν βουλὴν Αχιτοφελ τὴν ἀγαθήν ('and the LORD commanded that the good counsel of Ahithophel be scattered'), so that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. Hushai relays the alarm through the priests Zadok and Abiathar (v. 15), and the priests' sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz, waiting at the spring Rogel, carry the warning to David (vv. 16–22): a maidservant, a boy who spies them, the man at Bahurim whose well (λάκκος) hides them under a covering spread by the woman, and the lie that turns Absalom's servants back. David crosses the Jordan by daybreak, not one man left behind (v. 22). Ahithophel, seeing his counsel rejected, saddles his donkey, sets his house in order, and hangs himself (ἀπήγξατο, v. 23) — the only suicide of the kind in the historical books outside Saul. The chapter closes at Mahanaim, where Shobi son of Nahash, Machir son of Ammiel, and Barzillai the Gileadite bring beds, basins, and a great provision of grain, honey, butter, sheep, and cheese to the famished king and his people (vv. 24–29). The translation reflects the markedly Hebraic, paratactic καί-style of this section of Kingdoms (the kaige recension): heavy verb-initial clauses, the idiomatic καί γε ('and indeed', rendering וְגַם), and a dense crop of transliterated place- and personal-names (Αχιτοφελ, Αβεσσαλωμ, Χουσι ὁ Αραχι, Ρωγηλ, Βαουριμ, Μαναϊμ, Λωδαβαρ) left indeclinable.

1

καὶ εἶπεν Αχιτοφελ πρὸς Αβεσσαλωμ ἐπιλέξω δὴ ἐμαυτῷ δώδεκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἀναστήσομαι καὶ καταδιώξω ὀπίσω Δαυιδ τὴν νύκτα

And Ahithophel said to Absalom, 'Let me choose out for myself twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night.'

New speech-act opening the counsel-duel (main narrative)καὶ εἶπεν Αχιτοφελ
The chapter opens in medias res with Ahithophel's proposal, continuing the council scene from ch. 16. The verb-initial καὶ εἶπεν is the standard Hebraizing narrative formula (וַיֹּאמֶר); the cohortative-style future ἐπιλέξω … δή ('let me choose, pray') with the enclitic δή gives the request its urgent, deferential force before the prince.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν renders Hebrew וַיֹּאמֶר; the verb-initial clause opens the chapter's central debate between the two counsellors of Absalom.
ΑχιτοφελAhithophelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲחִיתֹפֶל; David's former counsellor turned to Absalom's side (15:12), proverbial for the shrewdness of his advice (16:23); indeclinable in the LXX.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliteration of Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם ('father of peace'); David's rebel son; indeclinable throughout the LXX.
ἐπιλέξωlet me choose outFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιλέγωmain verb (volitive future, cohortative force)→ volitive future (proposal: 'let me select')ἐπιλέγω: 'pick out / select'; the compound ἐπι- marks deliberate choosing; renders Hebrew אֶבְחֲרָה (cohortative of בָּחַר); the future here carries cohortative/volitive nuance reinforced by δή.
δὴnow / prayenclitic particle (hortatory softener)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic/hortatory particle rendering Hebrew נָא; it lends the cohortative an urgent yet deferential tone — 'let me choose, I pray.'
ἐμαυτῷfor myselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive pronoun)→ participant reference or interestἐμαυτοῦ: first-person reflexive pronoun; the dative of advantage ('for myself') marks Ahithophel as the one who will personally lead the chosen force.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral (indeclinable, modifying χιλιάδας)→ clausal contributionδώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable cardinal numeral; the figure (twelve thousand) is a lean strike-force, in deliberate contrast to Hushai's later vision of all Israel gathered.
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativedirect object of ἐπιλέξω (with ἀνδρῶν)→ object specificationχιλιάς: 'thousand (as a group)'; renders אֶלֶף; the accusative plural with δώδεκα gives 'twelve thousand men.'
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive (with χιλιάδας)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man / warrior'; renders אִישׁ; the genitive specifies the composition of the thousands — fighting men.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναστήσομαιI will ariseFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (sequential future)→ predictive/volitive future (set out in action)ἀνίστημι (mid.): 'rise up / set out'; renders קוּם; the middle future 'I will arise' is an idiom for setting an enterprise in motion — here, the night march.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταδιώξωI will pursueFut Act Indic 1 Sg · καταδιώκωmain verb (sequential future)→ predictive future (the planned pursuit)καταδιώκω: 'pursue hotly / chase down'; the perfective compound κατα- intensifies διώκω; renders רָדַף; the verb evokes a relentless overnight chase to catch David before he can regroup.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (direction of pursuit)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; functions as an improper preposition with the genitive (Δαυιδ); renders אַחֲרֵי; standard with verbs of pursuit.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX; the object of Ahithophel's pursuit, the fugitive king.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of time (duration/extent: 'this night')→ object specificationνύξ: 'night'; the accusative of time τὴν νύκτα ('through the night / this very night') stresses the speed of the proposed operation — strike before dawn while David is unprepared.
2

καὶ ἐπελεύσομαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν καὶ αὐτὸς κοπιῶν καὶ ἐκλελυμένος χερσίν καὶ ἐκστήσω αὐτόν καὶ φεύξεται πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ πατάξω τὸν βασιλέα μονώτατον

'And I will come upon him while he is weary and slack of hands, and I will throw him into panic, and all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike down the king alone.'

Continuation of Ahithophel's proposal (tactical detail)καὶ ἐπελεύσομαι
The verse spells out the tactic: surprise a fatigued David, induce panic so his escort scatters, and kill the king alone. The circumstantial participles κοπιῶν καὶ ἐκλελυμένος ('weary and unstrung') describe David's condition; the superlative μονώτατον ('utterly alone') is the surgical aim — minimal bloodshed, maximal result.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπελεύσομαιI will come uponFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐπέρχομαιmain verb (hostile approach)→ predictive future (the planned attack)ἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon / attack'; the compound ἐπι- marks hostile movement against; renders בּוֹא עַל; the verb frames the assault as a sudden descent on the unguarded camp.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction; elided before vowel).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (David)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾿ (David).
καὶandconjunction (introducing circumstantial clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativesubject of circumstantial participles (intensive pronoun)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive/anaphoric pronoun; here subject of the participial description 'while he himself is weary…' — pinpointing David's vulnerable state.
κοπιῶνweary / toilingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · κοπιάωcircumstantial participle (condition of David)→ verbal action or stateκοπιάω: 'be weary / toil to exhaustion'; renders יָגֵעַ; the present participle paints David as worn out by flight — the ideal moment for a strike.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking participles)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκλελυμένοςslack / unstrungPerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Masc Sg · ἐκλύωcircumstantial participle (state, with χερσίν)→ verbal action or stateἐκλύω: 'loose / unstring / enfeeble'; the perfect participle ἐκλελυμένος denotes a settled state of exhaustion ('with hands gone slack'); the same root recurs of the people at v. 29 (ἐκλελυμένος).
χερσίνin handsDativedative of respect (with ἐκλελυμένος: 'slack as to the hands')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the dative of respect renders the Hebrew idiom of 'slack/feeble hands' (רִפְיוֹן יָדַיִם), a stock image for loss of morale and strength.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκστήσωI will throw into panicFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξίστημιmain verb (causing terror)→ predictive future (intended effect)ἐξίστημι: transitive future 'I will throw into confusion / terrify'; renders הֶחֱרִיד; the verb causes the panic that scatters the escort, isolating the king.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐκστήσω→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκστήσω.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φεύξεταιwill fleeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (consequence: flight of the escort)→ predictive future (resulting flight)φεύγω: 'flee'; renders נוּס; the singular agrees with the collective πᾶς ὁ λαός; the panic spreads from the king's person to his whole following.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ὁ λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; underlines that the entire escort, not a part, will scatter.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of φεύξεται→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people / host'; here David's fighting escort; renders עָם; the noun also frames the king's followers as a community whose loyalty Ahithophel intends to peel away.
theNominativearticle (attributive, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (the people 'with him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ (the people 'with him').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (climactic result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξωI will strike downFut Act Indic 1 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the decisive blow)→ predictive future (the lethal aim)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite (often fatally)'; renders הִכָּה; the climactic verb of the plan — kill the king himself, the single objective of the whole operation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of πατάξω→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the term keeps David's royal title before the eyes even as Ahithophel plots his death — a chilling juxtaposition.
μονώτατονutterly aloneAccusativepredicate adjective (superlative, with βασιλέα)→ object specificationμόνος (superl. μονώτατος): 'alone / by himself', here the superlative 'all alone'; renders לְבַדּוֹ; the isolation of the king is the whole point — kill only him and the war ends bloodlessly.
3

καὶ ἐπιστρέψω πάντα τὸν λαὸν πρὸς σέ ὃν τρόπον ἐπιστρέφει ἡ νύμφη πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς πλὴν ψυχὴν ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς σὺ ζητεῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ ἔσται εἰρήνη

'And I will bring back all the people to you, the way a bride returns to her husband; for it is the life of one man only that you seek, and to all the people there will be peace.'

Conclusion of Ahithophel's proposal (promised outcome)καὶ ἐπιστρέψω
Ahithophel crowns his plan with a tender simile — the people will return to Absalom as a bride to her husband — and a sound rationale: only one life is at stake, and the reward is universal peace. The simile ὃν τρόπον ἐπιστρέφει ἡ νύμφη ('as a bride returns') makes the realignment of loyalty seem natural and joyful, masking the regicide at its core.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιστρέψωI will bring backFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (transitive: returning the people)→ predictive future (promised outcome)ἐπιστρέφω: transitive 'turn back / bring back'; renders הֵשִׁיב (Hiphil of שׁוּב); Ahithophel promises to restore the whole nation's allegiance to Absalom once David is dead.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with λαόν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the people — the same πᾶς ὁ λαός that would scatter (v. 2) is now to be reunited under Absalom.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψω→ object specificationλαός: here the whole nation whose loyalty is the prize of the civil war.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (goal of return)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of return).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Absalom)→ participant referenceσύ: second-person pronoun; the people return 'to you', i.e. to Absalom as the recognized king.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον, adverbial accusative)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; the phrase ὃν τρόπον ('in which manner / just as') is a fixed adverbial accusative introducing the simile.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (ὃν τρόπον = 'just as')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'way / manner'; ὃν τρόπον renders כַּאֲשֶׁר ('according as'), a comparative idiom introducing the bride-simile.
ἐπιστρέφειreturnsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωverb of comparative clause (intransitive)→ gnomic present (general truth in the simile)ἐπιστρέφω (intrans.): 'turn back / return'; the gnomic present states a general truth — as a bride naturally returns to her husband; the same verb (intransitive here) echoes the transitive ἐπιστρέψω above.
theNominativearticle (with νύμφη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύμφηbrideNominativesubject of ἐπιστρέφει→ participant prominenceνύμφη: 'bride / young wife'; renders כַּלָּה; the simile likens the nation's joyful realignment to Absalom to a bride's return to her husband — a domesticating image that conceals the violence of the plan.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; here 'husband' (the bride's man); renders אִישׁ in the marital sense.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her husband)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (her husband).
πλὴνonly / exceptadverb/particle (restrictive: 'it is only…')→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'except / only / however'; here restrictive, isolating the single objective — only one life is sought; renders רַק / אַךְ.
ψυχὴνlifeAccusativedirect object of ζητεῖς (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'the life of one man' — David's; the fronting of ψυχήν underscores that only a single death is required.
ἑνὸςof oneGenitiveattributive numeral (with ἀνδρός)→ relational specificationεἷς: 'one'; the genitive ἑνός stresses the singularity of the target — minimal cost for maximal gain.
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχήν)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the phrase ψυχὴν ἑνὸς ἀνδρός ('the life of one man') reduces the regicide to a surgical minimum, the rhetorical heart of Ahithophel's counsel.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun directs the rationale personally to Absalom — 'you (alone) seek the life of one man.'
ζητεῖςyou seekPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ζητέωmain verb (statement of Absalom's aim)→ progressive present (ongoing objective)ζητέω: 'seek / want'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; the present states Absalom's actual goal — the death of David alone, not a general slaughter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παντὶto allDativeattributive adjective (with λαῷ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the universal scope of the promised peace — the whole nation benefits.
τῷtheDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative of advantage (the people 'for whom' there is peace)→ sphere or referenceλαός: the whole people, to whom peace will come once the single death ends the war.
ἔσταιthere will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential future)→ predictive future (promised peace)εἰμί: 'be'; the future ἔσται with a dative of advantage ('there will be to all the people peace') renders the Hebrew existential construction; the promise of שָׁלוֹם crowns the counsel.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'peace'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the final word of Ahithophel's speech — the alluring promise that a single, swift killing will purchase national tranquillity.
4

καὶ εὐθὴς ὁ λόγος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς πάντων τῶν πρεσβυτέρων Ισραηλ

And the word was right in the eyes of Absalom and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

Narratorial assessment (the counsel's initial acceptance)καὶ εὐθὴς ὁ λόγος
A terse narratorial verdict: Ahithophel's plan was εὐθής ('straight / right') in everyone's eyes. The Hebraism ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in the eyes of', rendering בְּעֵינֵי) is repeated for both Absalom and the elders, establishing unanimous approval — a high point that the next verse will immediately undercut.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐθὴςright / straightNominativepredicate adjective (with ὁ λόγος)→ participant prominenceεὐθής: 'straight / right / upright'; renders יָשָׁר; the verdict 'the word was right in the eyes of' is a stock Hebrew idiom for approval (cf. Judg 14:3); its placement before the counter-counsel heightens the dramatic reversal to come.
theNominativearticle (with λόγος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγοςword / counselNominativesubject (predicate-adjective construction, copula implied)→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / speech / counsel'; renders דָּבָר; here Ahithophel's whole proposal regarded as a single utterance — judged sound by all.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, evaluative idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, evaluative idiom).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative object of ἐν (Hebraism: 'in the eyes of')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the phrase ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in the eyes of') is a Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינֵי, the standard idiom for someone's judgment or estimation.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Absalom')→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the prince's approval is named first, before the elders.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (repeated evaluative idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (repeated evaluative idiom).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative object of ἐν (second occurrence)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμοῖς: meaning 'eyes'; it serves as dative object of ἐν (second occurrence).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with πρεσβυτέρων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the unanimity of the elders' approval magnifies the apparent strength of Ahithophel's counsel.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with πρεσβυτέρων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρωνeldersGenitivegenitive of relationship ('in the eyes of the elders')→ relational specificationπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; renders זְקֵנִים; the tribal/clan leaders whose consensus legitimates Absalom's regime — their concurrence makes the impending reversal all the more striking.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; 'the elders of Israel' = the national leadership now aligned with Absalom.
5

καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ καλέσατε δὴ καί γε τὸν Χουσι τὸν Αραχι καὶ ἀκούσωμεν τί ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ καί γε αὐτοῦ

And Absalom said, 'Call now also Hushai the Archite, and let us hear what is in his mouth — his too.'

Narrative turn: Absalom seeks a second opinionκαὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ
Despite unanimous approval (v. 4), Absalom hesitates and calls for Hushai — a fateful turn the narrator does not explain but the reader knows to be the LORD's overruling (cf. v. 14; 15:34). The doubled καί γε ('also … too') and the idiom τί ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ('what is in his mouth') are Hebraisms (וְגַם; מַה־בְּפִיו) typical of the kaige style.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 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 aoristλέγω: the aorist εἶπεν renders וַיֹּאמֶר; Absalom now speaks, introducing the fateful summons of Hushai.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the prince, unsatisfied or providentially prompted, wants a second counsellor heard.
καλέσατεcallAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καλέωmain verb (imperative to attendants)→ ingressive aorist imperative (summon now)καλέω: 'call / summon'; renders קָרָא; the second-plural imperative is addressed to the attendants — fetch Hushai into the council.
δὴnow / prayenclitic particle (hortatory)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: renders נָא; softens and urges the command.
καίalsoadverbial conjunction (with γε: 'also indeed')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'also'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεindeedemphatic enclitic (καί γε = 'also indeed')→ clausal contributionγε: emphatic particle; the combination καί γε is the standard kaige rendering of Hebrew וְגַם ('and also'), the very idiom that gives the recension its name.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Χουσι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧουσιHushaiaccusative object of καλέσατε (indeclinable proper noun, articular)→ participant identificationΧουσι: transliteration of Hebrew חוּשַׁי; Hushai the Archite, David's secret agent in Absalom's court (15:32–37; 16:16–19); indeclinable, here marked accusative by the article τόν.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the gentilic Αραχι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑραχιArchiteappositional gentilic (indeclinable: 'the Archite')→ participant identificationΑραχι: transliteration of Hebrew הָאַרְכִּי, 'the Archite' (of the clan/region of Erech near Bethel, Josh 16:2); indeclinable; identifies Hushai's lineage, distinguishing him from Ahithophel the Gilonite.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (purpose-result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκούσωμενlet us hearAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀκούωhortatory subjunctive (purpose: 'so that we may hear')→ hortatory aorist subjunctiveἀκούω: 'hear / listen'; renders שָׁמַע; the first-plural subjunctive expresses Absalom's wish to weigh Hushai's view alongside Ahithophel's.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (object of the indirect question)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative pronoun 'what'; introduces the indirect question 'what is in his mouth.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with στόματι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματιmouthDativedative object of ἐν (idiom: 'in his mouth' = what he has to say)→ sphere or referenceστόμα: 'mouth'; the idiom τί ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ('what is in his mouth') renders מַה־בְּפִיו, a Hebraism for someone's opinion or message.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Hushai's mouth)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Hushai's mouth).
καίalsoadverbial conjunction (with γε)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'also'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεindeedemphatic enclitic (καί γε αὐτοῦ = 'his too')→ clausal contributionγε: the second καί γε rounds off the verse with emphasis — 'let us hear his view too', balancing Hushai against Ahithophel.
αὐτοῦhisGenitiveemphatic genitive (resumptive: 'his [opinion] too')→ relational specificationαὐτός: the resumptive pronoun, emphasized by καί γε, stresses that Hushai's counsel deserves a hearing alongside the already-approved plan.
6

καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Χουσι πρὸς Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγων κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐλάλησεν Αχιτοφελ εἰ ποιήσομεν κατὰ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ εἰ δὲ μή σὺ λάλησον

And Hushai came in to Absalom, and Absalom spoke to him, saying, 'According to this word Ahithophel has spoken; shall we act according to his word? But if not, speak yourself.'

Scene transition: Hushai enters and is briefedκαὶ εἰσῆλθεν Χουσι
Hushai enters and Absalom lays Ahithophel's plan before him, inviting his verdict. The pleonastic εἶπεν … λέγων ('spoke … saying') is a Hebraism (וַיֹּאמֶר … לֵאמֹר). The conditional pair εἰ ποιήσομεν … εἰ δὲ μή ('shall we do … but if not') frames Hushai's opening, giving him the chance to overturn the counsel.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενcame inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entrance into the council)→ constative aorist (single completed entry)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; renders בּוֹא; Hushai's entry into the council chamber sets the counter-counsel scene.
ΧουσιHushaisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΧουσι: indeclinable; David's agent, now summoned to give counsel.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable).
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 aoristλέγω: aorist εἶπεν; Absalom addresses Hushai with the briefing.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Hushai)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (Hushai).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λέγωpleonastic participle (Hebraism: 'saying')→ durative present participle (Hebraizing speech-marker)λέγω: the redundant participle λέγων reproduces Hebrew לֵאמֹר, the quotation-marker that introduces direct speech in the LXX's Hebraizing style.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm/standard).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαword / matterAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (the plan as stated)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / saying / matter'; renders דָּבָר; here Ahithophel's proposal as a concrete statement to be evaluated.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the demonstrative points to the just-given counsel of Ahithophel.
ἐλάλησενhas spokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (reporting Ahithophel's counsel)→ constative aorist (completed utterance)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; Absalom summarizes that Ahithophel has spoken thus, then asks Hushai to weigh in.
ΑχιτοφελAhithophelsubject of ἐλάλησεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; named as the author of the plan now under review.
εἰwhether / shallinterrogative/conditional particle (deliberative question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if / whether'; here introducing a deliberative question ('shall we do…?') rendering the Hebrew interrogative; the εἰ … εἰ δὲ μή structure offers Hushai a clear choice.
ποιήσομενshall we doFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (deliberative future question)→ deliberative future (asking whether to act)ποιέω: 'do / act / carry out'; renders עָשָׂה; the deliberative first-plural asks whether the council should enact Ahithophel's plan.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λόγον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγονword / counselAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (Ahithophel's counsel)→ object specificationλόγος: 'word / counsel'; renders דָּבָר; Ahithophel's advice as the proposed course of action.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Ahithophel's word)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Ahithophel's word).
εἰifconditional particle (with δὲ μή: 'but if not')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: the adversative in εἰ δὲ μή ('but if not') marks the alternative — if Hushai disapproves, he is invited to speak.
μήnotnegative (elliptical: 'if not')→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the negative in the elliptical idiom εἰ δὲ μή ('otherwise / if not'), a fixed conditional formula.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun invites Hushai personally to give his own counsel.
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (invitation imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (speak up)λαλέω: 'speak'; the aorist imperative λάλησον invites Hushai to deliver his own view — the opening for the decisive counter-counsel.
7

καὶ εἶπεν Χουσι πρὸς Αβεσσαλωμ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ αὕτη ἡ βουλή ἣν ἐβουλεύσατο Αχιτοφελ τὸ ἅπαξ τοῦτο

And Hushai said to Absalom, 'Not good is this counsel which Ahithophel has counselled this once.'

Hushai's verdict (thesis of the counter-counsel)καὶ εἶπεν Χουσι
Hushai opens with a blunt, fronted negation: οὐκ ἀγαθή ('not good'), directly contradicting the εὐθής verdict of v. 4. The qualifier τὸ ἅπαξ τοῦτο ('this once / this one time') is diplomatically pointed — Ahithophel is usually right (cf. 16:23), but not this time, a concession that lends Hushai's dissent credibility.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 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 aoristλέγω: aorist εἶπεν; Hushai now delivers his verdict.
ΧουσιHushaisubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧουσι: indeclinable; the speaker of the counter-counsel.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable).
οὐκnotnegative (fronted, negating ἀγαθή)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: the negative is emphatically fronted — 'not good (is) this counsel' — overturning the approval of v. 4.
ἀγαθὴgoodNominativepredicate adjective (with ἡ βουλή)→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; renders טוֹב; the contradiction of εὐθής (v. 4); the same adjective recurs at v. 14 (ἡ βουλὴ … ἀγαθή / τὴν ἀγαθήν), where the LORD overturns Ahithophel's 'good' counsel.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (with ἡ βουλή)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the demonstrative αὕτη points to Ahithophel's specific proposal.
theNominativearticle (with βουλή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουλήcounselNominativesubject (predicate-adjective construction)→ participant prominenceβουλή: 'counsel / plan'; renders עֵצָה; the keyword of the chapter — the rival βουλαί of Ahithophel and Hushai, and the βουλή of the LORD that decides between them (v. 14).
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐβουλεύσατο)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the cognate relative clause 'which Ahithophel counselled.'
ἐβουλεύσατοcounselledAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · βουλεύωverb of relative clause (cognate with βουλή)→ constative aoristβουλεύω (mid.): 'take counsel / advise'; renders יָעַץ; the cognate figura etymologica βουλὴν … ἐβουλεύσατο ('the counsel which he counselled') reproduces the Hebrew idiom and underlines the deliberative theme.
ΑχιτοφελAhithophelsubject of ἐβουλεύσατο (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; named as the counsellor whose advice Hushai now rejects.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with the adverbial ἅπαξ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅπαξonce / this timeadverb (articular adverbial accusative: 'this once')→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: 'once / one time'; the articular τὸ ἅπαξ τοῦτο ('this one time') renders the Hebrew הַפַּעַם ('this time'); a diplomatic concession — Ahithophel is reliable in general, but wrong on this occasion.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (with τὸ ἅπαξ)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; reinforces the time-reference 'this once', limiting the criticism to the present counsel.
8

καὶ εἶπεν Χουσι σὺ οἶδας τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτοῦ ὅτι δυνατοί εἰσιν σφόδρα καὶ κατάπικροι τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν ὡς ἄρκος ἠτεκνωμένη ἐν ἀγρῷ καὶ ὡς ὗς τραχεῖα ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ἀνὴρ πολεμιστὴς καὶ οὐ μὴ καταλύσῃ τὸν λαόν

And Hushai said, 'You know your father and his men, that they are very mighty and bitter in soul, like a bear robbed of her young in the field, and like a savage sow in the plain; and your father is a man of war, and he will not let the people rest.'

Argument 1: the danger of David's veteran warriorsκαὶ εἶπεν Χουσι
Hushai's first argument plays on fear: David and his men are seasoned, embittered fighters. The double simile — ἄρκος ἠτεκνωμένη ('a bear bereaved of cubs') and ὗς τραχεῖα ('a fierce/bristling sow') — paints them as wild and dangerous, and David himself as a sleepless ἀνὴρ πολεμιστής ('man of war'). The emphatic οὐ μὴ καταλύσῃ ('he will certainly not rest/lodge') warns that David will not be caught off guard.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 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 (resumptive speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: the resumptive καὶ εἶπεν Χουσι continues Hushai's speech into its substantive argument.
ΧουσιHushaisubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧουσι: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you' — appealing to Absalom's own knowledge of David and his men.
οἶδαςyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (appeal to shared knowledge)→ perfect with present sense (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); renders יָדַע; Hushai grounds his argument in what Absalom already knows of his father's prowess.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πατέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of οἶδας→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; David is repeatedly called 'your father' to remind Absalom of the formidable man he opposes.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of οἶδας (with πατέρα)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man / warrior'; David's veteran fighting men (his גִּבּוֹרִים), the core of the argument from fear.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (David's men)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (David's men).
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause after οἶδας)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of what Absalom knows.
δυνατοίmightyNominativepredicate adjective (with εἰσιν)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty / powerful'; renders גִּבּוֹר; David's men are seasoned warriors; the root recurs in υἱὸς δυνάμεως (v. 10) and υἱοὶ δυνάμεως (v. 10).
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (with predicate adjectives)→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula links the subject to the predicates δυνατοί and κατάπικροι.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying δυνατοί)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the warriors' strength.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατάπικροιbitter / embitteredNominativepredicate adjective (with εἰσιν)→ participant prominenceκατάπικρος: 'very bitter / embittered'; the intensive κατα- compound; renders מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ ('bitter of soul'); the men are dangerous precisely because they fight with the desperation of the wronged.
τῇin theDativearticle (with ψυχῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῇin soulDativedative of respect (bitter 'as to the soul')→ sphere or referenceψυχή: 'soul / inner self'; the dative of respect renders Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ in מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ ('bitter of soul'), denoting deep-seated, fighting-mad resolve.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (their soul)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (their soul).
ὡςlikecomparative particle (introducing simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the bear-simile; renders כְּ.
ἄρκοςbearNominativesubject of the simile (predicate comparison)→ participant prominenceἄρκος: 'bear'; renders דֹּב; the bear robbed of her cubs is a stock image of ferocious rage (cf. Hos 13:8; Prov 17:12).
ἠτεκνωμένηrobbed of youngPerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Fem Sg · ἀτεκνόωattributive participle (with ἄρκος)→ verbal action or stateἀτεκνόω: 'make childless / bereave of young'; the perfect participle ἠτεκνωμένη ('robbed of her cubs') renders שַׁכּוּל; the bereaved she-bear is the most dangerous of beasts — the simile warns of David's men's lethal desperation.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place (where the bear roams)→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field / open country'; renders שָׂדֶה; the wild, open setting heightens the image of untamed ferocity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὡςlikecomparative particle (second simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: introduces the second comparison, the wild sow.
ὗςsow / wild pigNominativesubject of second simile→ participant prominenceὗς: 'pig / sow / wild boar'; this second simile (a fierce sow in the plain) has no exact counterpart in the MT and reflects the LXX/Lucianic expansion; it reinforces the picture of David's men as savage and unpredictable.
τραχεῖαrough / savageNominativeattributive adjective (with ὗς)→ participant prominenceτραχύς (fem. τραχεῖα): 'rough / harsh / fierce'; describes the sow as bristling and savage, intensifying the menace of the comparison.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with πεδίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδίῳplainDativedative of place (where the sow ranges)→ sphere or referenceπεδίον: 'plain / flat open country'; the open terrain again evokes untamed danger.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject (with predicate ἀνὴρ πολεμιστής)→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; David, characterized as a battle-hardened warrior who will not be caught napping.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀνὴρa manNominativepredicate nominative (with πολεμιστής)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the phrase ἀνὴρ πολεμιστής ('a man of war') renders אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה, a fixed epithet for a seasoned warrior.
πολεμιστὴςwarriorNominativepredicate nominative (apposition to ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceπολεμιστής: 'warrior / fighting man'; renders מִלְחָמָה in the idiom אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה; David's lifelong experience of war is the very reason a night-strike is risky.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative (with μή, emphatic denial)→ participant referenceοὐ: part of the emphatic double negative οὐ μή.
μὴnotnegative (with οὐ + subjunctive: emphatic future denial)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: with οὐ and the aorist subjunctive forms the emphatic negation οὐ μή ('he will certainly not'), the strongest denial in Greek.
καταλύσῃwill let rest / lodgeAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταλύωverb of emphatic negation (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ emphatic future denial (he will surely not lodge the people)καταλύω: 'unloose / halt for the night / lodge / let rest'; here probably 'he will not let the people (the army) settle/rest' or 'will not lodge with the people' — David, the wary warrior, keeps his force on alert, so Ahithophel's surprise will fail; οὐ μή renders the emphatic Hebrew negation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativedirect object of καταλύσῃ→ object specificationλαός: 'people / troops'; David's fighting force, which he will keep vigilant rather than allowing to bivouac unguarded.
9

ἰδοὺ γὰρ αὐτὸς νῦν κέκρυπται ἐν ἑνὶ τῶν βουνῶν ἢ ἐν ἑνὶ τῶν τόπων καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ ἐπιπεσεῖν αὐτοῖς ἐν ἀρχῇ καὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἀκούων καὶ εἴπῃ ἐγενήθη θραῦσις ἐν τῷ λαῷ τῷ ὀπίσω Αβεσσαλωμ

'For behold, he is now hidden in one of the hills or in one of the places; and it will be, when he falls upon them at the first, that whoever hears will hear and say, There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.'

Argument 2: the danger of an early reverse and its psychological effectἰδοὺ γὰρ
Hushai warns that David, an old campaigner, is already concealed (κέκρυπται) and will strike first; any initial Absalomite casualty will spread the rumor of a θραῦσις ('rout / slaughter') and shatter morale. The deictic ἰδού and the temporal construction ἐν τῷ ἐπιπεσεῖν ('when he falls upon') build a vivid worst-case scenario.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
ἰδοὺbeholddemonstrative particle (attention-marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the deictic particle dramatizes the scenario, drawing Absalom into Hushai's imagined danger.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive, grounding v. 8)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; grounds the preceding warning — here is why David will not be caught: he is already hidden and ready to strike.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun: David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he himself'; David, the wary warrior who has already taken cover.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; renders עַתָּה; stresses the present state of readiness — David is concealed at this very moment.
κέκρυπταιis hiddenPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · κρύπτωmain verb (resultative perfect)→ resultative perfect (a settled state of concealment)κρύπτω: 'hide / conceal'; the perfect κέκρυπται ('has hidden himself / is in hiding') renders נֶחְבָּא; the resultative perfect stresses that David is already securely concealed, not vulnerable as Ahithophel assumed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἑνὶoneDativenumeral (partitive: 'in one of')→ sphere or referenceεἷς: 'one'; the dative ἑνί with partitive genitive (τῶν βουνῶν) = 'in one of the hills'; the vagueness underscores how hard David is to locate.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with βουνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουνῶνhillsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἑνί)→ relational specificationβουνός: 'hill / mound'; renders גִּבְעָה; the hill-country offers ample hiding-places for an experienced fugitive.
ordisjunctive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; offers the alternative hiding-place, reinforcing David's elusiveness.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, parallel)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, parallel).
ἑνὶoneDativenumeral (partitive: 'in one of')→ sphere or referenceεἷς: 'one'; parallel to the first ἑνί, with τῶν τόπων.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with τόπων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπωνplacesGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἑνί)→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place / spot'; the generic 'places' broadens the range of David's possible concealment — he could be anywhere.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (καὶ ἔσται apodosis-marker)→ predictive future (Hebraism: 'and it shall come to pass')εἰμί: the formula καὶ ἔσται ('and it will be / come to pass') renders וְהָיָה, a standard Hebraism introducing a future scenario.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + articular infinitive (temporal: 'when')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the articular infinitive (τῷ ἐπιπεσεῖν) forms a temporal clause 'when he falls upon', rendering the Hebrew infinitive construct with בְּ.
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive ἐπιπεσεῖν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιπεσεῖνto fall uponAor Act Inf · ἐπιπίπτωarticular infinitive (temporal clause)→ verbal action or stateἐπιπίπτω: 'fall upon / attack'; the aorist infinitive in the temporal construction 'when he falls upon them'; the compound ἐπι- marks hostile assault — David, not the attackers, lands the first blow.
αὐτοῖςon themDativedative object of ἐπιπεσεῖν (Absalom's troops)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: refers to Absalom's attacking force, on whom David falls.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (temporal: 'at the first')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'at the first').
ἀρχῇthe beginningDativedative of time (ἐν ἀρχῇ = 'at the first / at the outset')→ sphere or referenceἀρχή: 'beginning'; ἐν ἀρχῇ ('at the outset') — Hushai's point is that an early casualty, even a small one, will be catastrophic for morale.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκούσῃwill hearAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of subordinate clause (with ὁ ἀκούων, cognate)→ prospective aorist subjunctiveἀκούω: 'hear'; the cognate construction ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἀκούων ('the hearer will hear') is a figura etymologica reproducing a Hebrew idiom (שָׁמוֹעַ יִשְׁמַע), stressing how fast bad news will spread.
theNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκούωνthe one who hearsPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · ἀκούωsubstantival participle (subject: 'whoever hears')→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: the substantival participle ὁ ἀκούων ('the hearer / whoever hears') pairs with ἀκούσῃ in the cognate figure; 'whoever hears the news will say…'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἴπῃwill sayAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λέγωverb of subordinate clause (reporting the rumor)→ prospective aorist subjunctiveλέγω: 'say'; the subjunctive εἴπῃ continues the scenario — the hearer will spread the report of a slaughter, demoralizing Absalom's side.
ἐγενήθηthere has beenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of the quoted rumor→ constative aorist (within direct speech)γίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'happen / come about'; ἐγενήθη θραῦσις ('a rout has happened') is the dreaded rumor itself, quoted within Hushai's projection.
θραῦσιςslaughter / routNominativesubject of ἐγενήθη→ participant prominenceθραῦσις: 'shattering / slaughter / rout'; renders מַגֵּפָה / נֶגֶף; the word for a crushing defeat — its mere report would panic Absalom's army.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among the people')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'among the people').
τῷtheDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative object of ἐν (Absalom's followers)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people / troops'; here Absalom's army, among whom the rumor of slaughter would spread.
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive, with ὀπίσω Αβεσσαλωμ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀπίσωafter / followingimproper preposition + genitive (attributive: 'who follow Absalom')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; the articular phrase τῷ ὀπίσω Αβεσσαλωμ ('those after Absalom') identifies the troops as Absalom's partisans; renders אַחֲרֵי.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the people 'following Absalom' are precisely those whose morale Hushai fears will collapse.
10

καί γε αὐτὸς υἱὸς δυνάμεως οὗ ἡ καρδία καθὼς ἡ καρδία τοῦ λέοντος τηκομένη τακήσεται ὅτι οἶδεν πᾶς Ισραηλ ὅτι δυνατὸς ὁ πατήρ σου καὶ υἱοὶ δυνάμεως οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

'And even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is mighty, and that those with him are men of valour.'

Argument 2 climax: even the bravest will lose heartκαί γε
The peak of the fear-argument: even a υἱὸς δυνάμεως ('son of valour') with a lion's heart will dissolve at the first reverse. The cognate intensifier τηκομένη τακήσεται ('melting he will melt' = 'utterly melt') reproduces the Hebrew infinitive absolute. The grounds (ὅτι … ὅτι) appeal to common knowledge of David's strength.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καίand evenadverbial conjunction (with γε)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and even'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεindeedemphatic enclitic (καί γε = 'even / and indeed')→ clausal contributionγε: with καί renders וְגַם ('and even'); intensifies the point — not just ordinary soldiers but the bravest will quail.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive: 'the man himself', i.e. the valiant one)→ participant prominenceαὐτός: 'he himself'; refers to the brave warrior in Absalom's camp who will lose heart.
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate/appositional nominative ('son of valour')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the Hebraism υἱὸς δυνάμεως ('son of valour' = a valiant man) renders בֶּן־חַיִל; idiom for a brave, capable warrior.
δυνάμεωςof valour / strengthGenitivegenitive of quality (with υἱός)→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'power / strength / valour / army'; in υἱὸς δυνάμεως the genitive of quality marks the man's courage; the same word recurs in υἱοὶ δυνάμεως below.
οὗwhoseGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive of possession, with ἡ καρδία)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun; 'whose heart' — introduces the lion-heart description.
theNominativearticle (with καρδία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of τακήσεται (the brave man's heart)→ participant prominenceκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; the seat of courage; even the lion-hearted will melt — the strongest possible image of collapsed morale.
καθὼςas / likecomparative conjunction (introducing the lion-simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / like'; introduces the comparison with the lion's heart; renders כְּ.
theNominativearticle (with καρδία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of comparison (the lion's heart)→ participant prominenceκαρδία: the lion's heart, byword for fearless courage (cf. Prov 28:1).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λέοντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέοντοςof a lionGenitivegenitive of possession (the lion's heart)→ relational specificationλέων: 'lion'; renders אַרְיֵה; the lion-heart is the standard emblem of supreme bravery — and yet even it will melt before David's men.
τηκομένηmeltingPres Mid/Pass Part Nom Fem Sg · τήκωcircumstantial participle (cognate with τακήσεται)→ verbal action or stateτήκω: 'melt / dissolve'; the present participle τηκομένη with the future τακήσεται forms a cognate intensifier ('melting it will melt' = 'utterly melt'), reproducing the Hebrew infinitive absolute הִמֵּס יִמָּס; the heart 'melting' is the classic idiom for terror.
τακήσεταιwill meltFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · τήκωmain verb (cognate emphatic construction)→ emphatic predictive future ('will utterly melt')τήκω (fut. pass.): the future τακήσεται completes the figura etymologica; the combined phrase conveys total loss of courage — even the bravest will dissolve in fear.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the prediction)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the grounds — all Israel knows David's strength, so panic is inevitable.
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαmain verb of causal clause→ perfect with present sense (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know'; the perfect with present meaning; all Israel's awareness of David's might is the psychological basis for the predicted collapse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the universality — every Israelite knows David's reputation.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of οἶδεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the nation as a whole, whose shared knowledge of David's prowess fuels the fear-argument.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause after οἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces what all Israel knows — David's might.
δυνατὸςmightyNominativepredicate adjective (with ὁ πατήρ σου)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty'; renders גִּבּוֹר; David's personal might, the bedrock of the warning.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject of the content clause (with δυνατός)→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; David again named 'your father' to remind Absalom of his formidable opponent.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
υἱοὶsonsNominativepredicate nominative ('men of valour')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the plural Hebraism υἱοὶ δυνάμεως ('sons of valour' = valiant men) renders בְּנֵי־חַיִל; David's companions are all stout warriors.
δυνάμεωςof valourGenitivegenitive of quality (with υἱοί)→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'valour / strength'; the genitive of quality completing the idiom 'men of valour'; the repetition (cf. υἱὸς δυνάμεως above) frames the whole verse.
οἱthe onesNominativearticle (substantival, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (David's companions)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'him'; the phrase οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('those with him') designates David's loyal warriors.
11

ὅτι οὕτως συμβουλεύων ἐγὼ συνεβούλευσα καὶ συναγόμενος συναχθήσεται ἐπὶ σὲ πᾶς Ισραηλ ἀπὸ Δαν καὶ ἕως Βηρσαβεε ὡς ἡ ἄμμος ἡ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς πλῆθος καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου πορευόμενον ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν

'Therefore thus I counsel: let all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and your own presence going in their midst.'

Hushai's positive counsel: total mobilizationὅτι οὕτως
Having dismantled Ahithophel's plan, Hushai proposes the opposite: not a lean strike but a total national levy, all Israel from Dan to Beersheba 'like the sand of the sea', with Absalom himself in the field. The cognate συμβουλεύων … συνεβούλευσα and συναγόμενος συναχθήσεται are double Hebraizing infinitive-absolute intensifiers. The grand scale flatters Absalom's vanity while guaranteeing the delay David needs.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ὅτιtherefore / forconjunction (introducing Hushai's counter-proposal)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here transitional, 'therefore / so'; introduces Hushai's positive recommendation following the refutation.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (anticipating the counsel)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֹּה / כֵּן; points forward to the plan about to be stated.
συμβουλεύωνcounsellingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · συμβουλεύωcircumstantial participle (cognate with συνεβούλευσα)→ verbal action or stateσυμβουλεύω: 'advise / counsel'; the participle συμβουλεύων with the finite συνεβούλευσα is a figura etymologica ('counselling I counsel' = 'I emphatically counsel'), rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute יָעֹץ.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — Hushai sets his own counsel over against Ahithophel's; cf. v. 15 (συνεβούλευσα ἐγώ).
συνεβούλευσαI counsel / have counselledAor Act Indic 1 Sg · συμβουλεύωmain verb (cognate emphatic construction)→ performative/constative aorist ('I hereby counsel')συμβουλεύω: the aorist συνεβούλευσα with the participle gives emphatic force; functionally performative — 'this is my counsel.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συναγόμενοςbeing gatheredPres Mid/Pass Part Nom Masc Sg · συνάγωcircumstantial participle (cognate with συναχθήσεται)→ verbal action or stateσυνάγω: 'gather together'; the participle συναγόμενος with the future συναχθήσεται forms another cognate intensifier ('gathering let it be gathered' = 'let it surely be gathered'), rendering the infinitive absolute הֵאָסֹף יֵאָסֵף.
συναχθήσεταιlet be gatheredFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (cognate emphatic future, jussive force)→ emphatic future with jussive sense ('let all Israel surely be gathered')συνάγω (fut. pass.): the future passive completes the figura etymologica; the muster of all Israel is the core of Hushai's delaying strategy.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal: gathered to you)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: gathered to you).
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Absalom)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you'; the host gathers to Absalom personally — flattering his royal pretensions.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the totality — a full national levy, the opposite of Ahithophel's twelve thousand.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of συναχθήσεται (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the entire nation to be mobilized.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of the merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: the merism ἀπὸ Δαν … ἕως Βηρσαβεε ('from Dan to Beersheba') denotes the whole land north to south.
ΔανDangenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΔαν: transliteration of Hebrew דָּן; the northernmost Israelite city; indeclinable; the north pole of the standard 'Dan to Beersheba' merism for all Israel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςto / as far asimproper preposition + genitive (end of the merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; marks the southern limit of the merism.
ΒηρσαβεεBeershebagenitive object of ἕως (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒηρσαβεε: transliteration of Hebrew בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע; the southernmost city; indeclinable; the south pole of the 'Dan to Beersheba' formula.
ὡςlikecomparative particle (introducing the sand-simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the hyperbolic comparison with the sand of the sea.
theNominativearticle (with ἄμμος)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄμμοςsandNominativesubject of the simile→ participant prominenceἄμμος: 'sand'; renders חוֹל; the 'sand of the sea' is the classic biblical image of countless multitude (cf. Gen 22:17; 32:13), here magnifying the proposed host.
theNominativearticle (attributive, with ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπὶby / onpreposition + genitive (location of the sand)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location of the sand).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with θαλάσσης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θαλάσσηςseaGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the seashore)→ relational specificationθάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם; 'the sand on the seashore' completes the hyperbole of innumerability.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (respect: 'as to multitude')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here 'with respect to / for'; εἰς πλῆθος = 'in respect of multitude', i.e. innumerable.
πλῆθοςmultitudeAccusativeaccusative of respect (with εἰς)→ object specificationπλῆθος: 'multitude / great number'; renders רֹב; completes the simile — a host beyond counting.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the climactic flattery)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with πρόσωπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπόνface / presenceNominativesubject (with participle πορευόμενον)→ participant prominenceπρόσωπον: 'face / presence / person'; the idiom τὸ πρόσωπόν σου πορευόμενον ('your presence going') renders Hebrew פָּנֶיךָ הֹלְכִים, meaning Absalom himself leading the army in person — the flattering core of the proposal that ensures delay.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your presence)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (your presence).
πορευόμενονgoingPres Mid/Pass Part Nom Neut Sg · πορεύομαιpredicate participle (with τὸ πρόσωπον, periphrastic sense)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / march'; the participle agrees with πρόσωπον (neuter); 'your presence going in their midst' = Absalom personally marching at the head of all Israel.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
μέσῳthe midstDativedative of place (ἐν μέσῳ = 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν ('in their midst') renders בְּקִרְבָּם; Absalom is to lead from the center of the host.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (with μέσῳ: 'midst of them')→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'them'; the gathered host, in whose midst Absalom marches.
12

καὶ ἥξομεν πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς ἕνα τῶν τόπων οὗ ἐὰν εὕρωμεν αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ καὶ παρεμβαλοῦμεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ὡς πίπτει ἡ δρόσος ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐχ ὑπολειψόμεθα ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν τοῖς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καί γε ἕνα

'And we will come upon him in one of the places where we may find him, and we will encamp against him as the dew falls upon the ground; and we will not leave of him and of the men with him so much as one.'

Hushai's counsel continued: overwhelming envelopmentκαὶ ἥξομεν
Hushai promises total annihilation by sheer numbers: the host will descend on David ὡς πίπτει ἡ δρόσος ('as the dew falls') — silently, comprehensively, inescapably — and leave not one man (καί γε ἕνα). The dew-simile conveys overwhelming, all-covering coverage; the litotes οὐχ ὑπολειψόμεθα … ἕνα stresses utter completeness.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἥξομενwe will comeFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ἥκωmain verb (advance against David)→ predictive future (the planned assault)ἥκω: 'come / arrive'; renders בּוֹא; the first-plural sets Absalom and the host as the agents of the overwhelming approach.
πρὸςto / uponpreposition + accusative (direction against David)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction against David).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (David)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (David).
εἰςin / atpreposition + accusative (place reached)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (place reached).
ἕναoneAccusativenumeral (partitive: 'one of the places')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; εἰς ἕνα τῶν τόπων ('to one of the places') — wherever David may be found, the host will reach him.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with τόπων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπωνplacesGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἕνα)→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place'; the indefiniteness ('one of the places') matches v. 9 — David's location is unknown, but the vast host will find and overwhelm him anywhere.
οὗwhererelative adverb (introducing place-clause)→ participant referenceοὗ: relative adverb 'where'; introduces the indefinite locative clause 'where we may find him.'
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive: indefinite)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: with the subjunctive forms an indefinite relative clause (οὗ ἐάν = 'wherever'); renders אֲשֶׁר with the conditional sense.
εὕρωμενwe may findAor Act Subj 1 Pl · εὑρίσκωverb of indefinite relative clause→ prospective aorist subjunctiveεὑρίσκω: 'find'; renders מָצָא; the subjunctive with ἐάν expresses 'wherever we find him' — David cannot escape so large a search.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of εὕρωμεν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εὕρωμεν.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive: 'there')→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; resumes the locative — the redundant 'where … there' is a Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … שָׁם).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεμβαλοῦμενwe will encampFut Act Indic 1 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (military deployment against David)→ predictive future (the planned envelopment)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / draw up in battle array against'; renders חָנָה עַל; the verb pictures the host settling over David like dew — surrounding and smothering him.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile: 'against him').
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (David)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾿ (David).
ὡςascomparative particle (introducing the dew-simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as'; introduces the dew-simile of total, silent coverage.
πίπτειfallsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωverb of comparative clause→ gnomic present (general truth)πίπτω: 'fall'; the gnomic present describes how dew falls — universally and inescapably covering the ground; the simile conveys the overwhelming, total descent of the host.
theNominativearticle (with δρόσος)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δρόσοςdewNominativesubject of πίπτει→ participant prominenceδρόσος: 'dew'; renders טַל; dew settles over everything evenly and silently — a vivid image of the host blanketing David's position completely.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; 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.
γῆνgroundAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (where dew falls)→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground'; the surface the dew covers — figure for David's whole position blanketed by the host.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐχnotnegative (with ὑπολειψόμεθα: litotes)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: the negation in the litotes 'we will not leave … one' = total annihilation.
ὑπολειψόμεθαwe will leave / spareFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · ὑπολείπωmain verb (litotes for total destruction)→ predictive future (the promised completeness)ὑπολείπω (mid.): 'leave behind / leave a remnant'; renders הִשְׁאִיר; οὐχ ὑπολειψόμεθα … ἕνα ('we will not leave even one') is litotes for utter extermination.
ἐνof / amongpreposition + dative (partitive: 'of him')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here partitive 'among / of', a Hebraism (מִן sense) — 'we will not leave any of him.'
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐν (partitive: 'of him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'him'; David, none of whose party will survive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀνδράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative (partitive, parallel to αὐτῷ: 'of the men')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'man'; David's men, also to be left without a single survivor.
τοῖςthe onesDativearticle (attributive, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ ('the men with him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ ('the men with him').
καίevenadverbial conjunction (with γε: 'not even')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'even'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεso much asemphatic enclitic (καί γε ἕνα = 'not even one')→ clausal contributionγε: with καί and the negated verb yields 'not so much as one'; the kaige idiom (וְגַם) heightens the totality of the promised destruction.
ἕναoneAccusativeaccusative (object of ὑπολειψόμεθα: 'not even one')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; the climactic 'not even one (man)' seals the hyperbolic promise of total annihilation — designed to dazzle Absalom and buy David time.
13

καὶ ἐὰν εἰς πόλιν συναχθῇ καὶ λήμψεται πᾶς Ισραηλ πρὸς τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην σχοινία καὶ συροῦμεν αὐτὴν ἕως εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν ὅπως μὴ καταλειφθῇ ἐκεῖ μηδὲ λίθος

'And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it as far as the wadi, so that not even a stone may be left there.'

Hushai's counsel: contingency for a fortified cityκαὶ ἐὰν
Hushai covers the alternative: should David take refuge in a walled city, the host is so vast it will haul the city itself into the wadi with ropes, leaving not a stone. The hyperbole (σχοινία … συροῦμεν … μηδὲ λίθος) is deliberately grandiose, completing the flattering picture of irresistible numbers.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional particle (with subjunctive: contingency)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the contingency of David's taking refuge in a fortified city; renders אִם.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of withdrawal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of withdrawal).
πόλινa cityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (place of refuge)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; a walled town would normally afford safety — but Hushai's vast host will overwhelm even that.
συναχθῇhe withdraws / is gatheredAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · συνάγωverb of conditional clause→ prospective aorist subjunctiveσυνάγω (aor. pass.): here 'gather oneself / withdraw / take refuge'; the passive with reflexive sense — David pulls back into a city; renders יֵאָסֵף.
καὶand / thennarrative conjunction (apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιwill bring / takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (apodosis: all Israel brings ropes)→ predictive futureλαμβάνω: 'take / bring'; renders נָשָׂא / לָקַח; the whole host will fetch ropes — the hyperbolic image of mass labor.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; again the full national host, vast enough to drag a city.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of λήμψεται (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the entire mobilized nation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: to that city)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: to that city).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; the specific refuge-city to be hauled away.
ἐκείνηνthatAccusativedemonstrative (with πόλιν)→ object specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative singles out whatever city David might flee to.
σχοινίαropesAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται→ object specificationσχοινίον: 'rope / cord'; renders חֲבָלִים; the ropes by which the whole host will supposedly drag the city — a hyperbolic image of overwhelming manpower.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συροῦμενwe will dragFut Act Indic 1 Pl · σύρωmain verb (dragging the city)→ predictive future (hyperbolic boast)σύρω: 'drag / haul'; renders סָחַב; the absurdly grand image of dragging an entire city into a ravine epitomizes the overwhelming-numbers rhetoric.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of συροῦμεν (the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the city dragged away.
ἕωςas far asimproper preposition (with εἰς: 'as far as')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; with εἰς forms a compound directional phrase 'right up to the wadi.'
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with χειμάρρουν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουνwadi / torrent-bedAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination of the dragging)→ object specificationχείμαρρος: 'winter-torrent / wadi / ravine'; renders נַחַל; the dry valley into which the rubble of the city would be swept — total demolition.
ὅπωςso thatpurpose conjunction (with μή + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that'; introduces the negative purpose clause 'so that not even a stone be left.'
μὴnotnegative (with subjunctive in purpose clause)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the negative of the purpose clause.
καταλειφθῇmay be leftAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · καταλείπωverb of negative purpose clause→ prospective aorist subjunctiveκαταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders נִשְׁאַר; the passive 'be left' completes the picture — nothing of the city will remain.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; at the city's site nothing will be left.
μηδὲnot evennegative conjunction (climactic: 'not even')→ discourse linkage or contrastμηδέ: 'not even'; intensifies the totality — not so much as a single stone.
λίθοςa stoneNominativesubject of καταλειφθῇ (the minimal remnant)→ participant prominenceλίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; 'not even a stone' is hyperbole for absolute demolition — the rhetorical climax of Hushai's grandiose counsel.
14

καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ἀγαθὴ ἡ βουλὴ Χουσι τοῦ Αραχι ὑπὲρ τὴν βουλὴν Αχιτοφελ καὶ κύριος ἐνετείλατο διασκεδάσαι τὴν βουλὴν Αχιτοφελ τὴν ἀγαθήν ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγάγῃ κύριος ἐπὶ Αβεσσαλωμ τὰ κακὰ πάντα

And Absalom and every man of Israel said, 'The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel'; for the LORD had ordained to frustrate the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring all the evils upon Absalom.

Decision and theological hinge of the chapterκαὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσαλωμ
The turning-point: Absalom and all Israel prefer Hushai's counsel — and the narrator unveils the cause: κύριος ἐνετείλατο διασκεδάσαι τὴν βουλὴν Αχιτοφελ τὴν ἀγαθήν ('the LORD ordained to scatter the good counsel of Ahithophel'). The deliberation of men is overruled by the βουλή of God; the purpose clause (ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγάγῃ … τὰ κακά) discloses the divine intent to bring disaster upon Absalom. Both occurrences of κύριος render the Tetragrammaton.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 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 (collective verdict)→ constative aoristλέγω: aorist εἶπεν; the singular verb with a compound subject (Absalom and all Israel) is a Hebraizing concord — the assembly's unanimous verdict.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject (indeclinable, with πᾶς ἀνήρ)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the prince, whose fateful preference for Hushai seals his doom.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining subjects)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive adjective (with ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ('every man of Israel') = the whole assembly, unanimous as in v. 4 — but now choosing the fatal counsel.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (collective, with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the distributive πᾶς ἀνήρ renders כָּל־אִישׁ ('every man / each one').
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the national assembly that ratifies Hushai's counsel.
ἀγαθὴgood / betterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative force with ὑπέρ)→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; with ὑπέρ ('above') it functions as a comparative — Hushai's counsel is 'better than' Ahithophel's; pointedly the same adjective the narrator then turns ironic (τὴν ἀγαθήν, of Ahithophel's counsel).
theNominativearticle (with βουλή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουλὴcounselNominativesubject (Hushai's counsel)→ participant prominenceβουλή: 'counsel'; the keyword; here Hushai's plan, judged superior.
Χουσιof Hushaigenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧουσι: indeclinable; the author of the preferred counsel.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the gentilic Αραχι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑραχιArchiteappositional gentilic (indeclinable: 'the Archite')→ participant identificationΑραχι: indeclinable; identifies Hushai by clan, as in v. 5.
ὑπὲρabove / thanpreposition + accusative (comparison)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'above / beyond / more than'; here the comparative idiom ('better than') rendering מִן of comparison.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with βουλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουλὴνcounselAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (Ahithophel's counsel)→ object specificationβουλή: 'counsel'; Ahithophel's plan, now rejected as the lesser.
Αχιτοφελof Ahithophelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; the counsellor whose rejected advice was in fact the sound one.
καὶand / fornarrative conjunction (introducing the explanatory aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here the connective introduces the narrator's theological explanation — effectively 'for'.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine agent of the overruling)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the hidden agent who determines the council's verdict — the theological hinge of the whole Absalom narrative.
ἐνετείλατοordained / commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (divine decree)→ constative aorist (decisive divine ordinance)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / ordain / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the LORD 'ordained / gave command' to frustrate Ahithophel's counsel — sovereign determination working through human choice; cf. the same verb of Ahithophel ordering his house (v. 23).
διασκεδάσαιto frustrate / scatterAor Act Inf · διασκεδάζωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐνετείλατο)→ verbal action or stateδιασκεδάζω: 'scatter / disperse / annul / frustrate'; renders הֵפֵר ('break / nullify'); the LORD ordains to bring to nothing the very counsel that would have succeeded — the key verb of the divine overruling.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with βουλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουλὴνcounselAccusativedirect object of διασκεδάσαι→ object specificationβουλή: 'counsel'; Ahithophel's plan, divinely doomed to be scattered.
Αχιτοφελof Ahithophelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; the counsel about to be nullified.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀγαθήν, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθήνgoodAccusativeattributive adjective (with βουλήν)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; the narrator's pointed acknowledgement that Ahithophel's rejected counsel was in fact 'the good (sound) one' — its defeat is purely the LORD's doing, not its merit.
ὅπωςso thatpurpose conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that'; with ἄν introduces the divine purpose clause disclosing why the LORD frustrated the counsel.
ἂνmodal particle (with ὅπως + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle reinforcing the purpose subjunctive; untranslatable in itself.
ἐπαγάγῃmight bring uponAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπάγωverb of purpose clause (divine intent)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (divine purpose)ἐπάγω: 'bring upon / lead against'; the compound ἐπ- marks hostile imposition; renders הֵבִיא; the LORD's purpose is to bring calamity upon Absalom — the rejected counsel would have saved him.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐπαγάγῃ (divine agent, restated)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the restatement of the divine subject within the purpose clause underscores that the disaster on Absalom is the LORD's deliberate act.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the object of the divinely-ordained calamity.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κακά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακὰevils / calamitiesAccusativedirect object of ἐπαγάγῃ (with πάντα)→ object specificationκακός: 'evil / calamity / disaster'; the neuter plural τὰ κακά ('the evils') renders הָרָעָה; the totality of the coming catastrophe on Absalom — defeat and death in ch. 18.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τὰ κακά)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; τὰ κακὰ πάντα ('all the evils') stresses the comprehensiveness of the doom the LORD has ordained for Absalom.
15

καὶ εἶπεν Χουσι ὁ τοῦ Αραχι πρὸς Σαδωκ καὶ Αβιαθαρ τοὺς ἱερεῖς οὕτως καὶ οὕτως συνεβούλευσεν Αχιτοφελ τῷ Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις Ισραηλ καὶ οὕτως καὶ οὕτως συνεβούλευσα ἐγώ

And Hushai the Archite said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, 'Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus have I counselled.'

Scene transition: Hushai briefs the priestsκαὶ εἶπεν Χουσι
Hushai, his work done in council, secretly briefs the priests Zadok and Abiathar (David's agents, 15:27–29) on both counsels, so a warning can reach David. The colloquial repetition οὕτως καὶ οὕτως ('thus and thus') is a Hebraism (כָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאת) summarizing speech without restating it; the emphatic συνεβούλευσα ἐγώ ('I myself counselled') sets Hushai's advice over against Ahithophel's.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 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 aoristλέγω: aorist εἶπεν; Hushai now turns from the council to the priests.
ΧουσιHushaisubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧουσι: indeclinable; David's agent, relaying intelligence.
theNominativearticle (substantival, with τοῦ Αραχι)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Αραχι, 'the [son/man] of the Archite')→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑραχιArchiteappositional gentilic (indeclinable: 'the Archite')→ participant identificationΑραχι: indeclinable; the construction ὁ τοῦ Αραχι ('the Archite / the one of the Archite [clan]') identifies Hushai by his lineage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΣαδωκZadokaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαδωκ: transliteration of Hebrew צָדוֹק; the priest loyal to David, left in Jerusalem as his informant (15:27–29); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιαθαρAbiatharaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβιαθαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶבְיָתָר; the other priest loyal to David; indeclinable; with Zadok he forms David's intelligence link in Jerusalem.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἱερεῖς, appositional)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σαδωκ and Αβιαθαρ→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; identifies Zadok and Abiathar by office — their priestly access makes them ideal covert messengers.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (summarizing speech)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; the doubled οὕτως καὶ οὕτως ('thus and thus') renders כָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאת, a Hebraism summarizing a report without quoting it in full.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the οὕτως-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (second member of the formula)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: second member of 'thus and thus.'
συνεβούλευσενcounselledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συμβουλεύωmain verb (reporting Ahithophel's counsel)→ constative aoristσυμβουλεύω: 'advise / counsel'; renders יָעַץ; Hushai summarizes the substance of Ahithophel's advice for the priests.
ΑχιτοφελAhithophelsubject of συνεβούλευσεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; whose counsel is being reported to David's agents.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Αβεσσαλωμ, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomindirect object of συνεβούλευσεν (indeclinable, articular dative)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the recipient of Ahithophel's counsel, marked dative by the article τῷ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with πρεσβυτέροις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέροιςeldersDativeindirect object of συνεβούλευσεν (parallel to Αβεσσαλωμ)→ sphere or referenceπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; the elders of Israel, co-recipients of Ahithophel's counsel (cf. v. 4).
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'the elders of Israel.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (second οὕτως-formula, of Hushai's counsel)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: introduces the parallel summary of Hushai's own counsel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (second member)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus and thus' again, now of Hushai's advice.
συνεβούλευσαI counselledAor Act Indic 1 Sg · συμβουλεύωmain verb (Hushai's own counsel)→ constative aoristσυμβουλεύω: 'counsel'; the first-person aorist contrasts Hushai's advice with Ahithophel's; cf. the emphatic συνεβούλευσα ἐγώ of v. 11.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses Hushai's personal authorship of the counter-counsel — and that the priests must act on the discrepancy between the two plans.
16

καὶ νῦν ἀποστείλατε ταχὺ καὶ ἀναγγείλατε τῷ Δαυιδ λέγοντες μὴ αὐλισθῇς τὴν νύκτα ἐν Αραβωθ τῆς ἐρήμου καί γε διαβαίνων σπεῦσον μήποτε καταπίῃ τὸν βασιλέα καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν τὸν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

'And now, send quickly and report to David, saying, Do not lodge this night in the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people with him.'

Hushai's urgent instruction to warn Davidκαὶ νῦν
The transitional καὶ νῦν ('and now', rendering וְעַתָּה) shifts from report to imperative: warn David at once to cross the Jordan rather than camp at the fords. Hushai cannot be sure which counsel will prevail, so he urges immediate flight. The vivid καταπίῃ ('swallow up') pictures the danger of being overtaken at the river crossing.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandconjunction (with νῦν, transitional)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transitional: 'and now')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: the formula καὶ νῦν renders וְעַתָּה, a Hebraism marking the transition from background to the practical demand.
ἀποστείλατεsendAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (urgent command to the priests)→ ingressive aorist imperative (send at once)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; renders שָׁלַח; the imperative sets the relay of the warning in motion.
ταχὺquicklyadverb of manner (urgency)→ clausal contributionταχύς (adv. ταχύ): 'quickly / swiftly'; renders מְהֵרָה; speed is essential — David must cross before any pursuit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναγγείλατεreportAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (command to relay the message)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / bring word'; renders הִגִּיד; the verb of relaying intelligence, recurrent in vv. 16–21.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Δαυιδ, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDavidindirect object of ἀναγγείλατε (indeclinable, articular dative)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king to be warned, marked dative by τῷ.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · λέγωpleonastic participle (Hebraism, introducing direct speech)→ present participle (speech accompanying the objecting)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες reproduces לֵאמֹר, the quotation-marker.
μὴnotnegative (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the negation of the prohibition 'do not lodge.'
αὐλισθῇςlodge / spend the nightAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · αὐλίζομαιprohibitive subjunctive (μή + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not pass the night)αὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night / bivouac'; renders לוּן; David must not camp at the vulnerable fords but press on across the river.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of time (duration: 'through the night')→ object specificationνύξ: 'night'; the accusative of time τὴν νύκτα ('this night') — the very night Ahithophel proposed to strike (cf. v. 1).
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
Αραβωθthe fords / plainsobject of ἐν (transliterated place-term, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑραβωθ: transliteration of Hebrew עַרְבוֹת ('fords / steppes / plains', the Arabah crossings of the Jordan); indeclinable; the dangerous staging-ground David must not linger at.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with ἐρήμου)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμουwildernessGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Αραβωθ: 'fords of the wilderness')→ relational specificationἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; locates the Arabah fords in the desert region David is traversing in his flight.
καίbut / and indeedadverbial conjunction (with γε)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεby all meansemphatic enclitic (καί γε = 'and indeed / by all means')→ clausal contributionγε: with καί (kaige idiom for וְגַם) emphasizes the urgent positive command that follows — 'by all means cross.'
διαβαίνωνcrossing overPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · διαβαίνωcircumstantial participle (with σπεῦσον: 'hasten in crossing')→ verbal action or stateδιαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the participle with σπεῦσον urges David to make the river-crossing without delay; cf. διέβησαν τὸν Ιορδάνην (v. 22).
σπεῦσονhastenAor Act Impv 2 Sg · σπεύδωmain verb (positive command, with participle)→ ingressive aorist imperative (make haste)σπεύδω: 'hasten / hurry'; renders חוּשׁ / מָהַר; the urgent imperative — speed of crossing is David's safety.
μήποτεlestconjunction (negative purpose/fear clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήποτε: 'lest / in case'; renders פֶּן; introduces the feared outcome if David delays.
καταπίῃswallow upAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταπίνωverb of fear clause (μήποτε + subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (the dreaded outcome)καταπίνω: 'swallow down / engulf / destroy'; renders בִּלַּע; the vivid metaphor of being 'swallowed up' depicts the annihilation that would follow capture at the fords.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of καταπίῃ→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; David, who would be 'swallowed up' — the same royal title used in Ahithophel's plan (v. 2).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with λαόν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the whole following would perish with the king.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of καταπίῃ (with βασιλέα)→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; David's whole company, endangered with him.
τὸνthe onesAccusativearticle (attributive, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ ('the people with him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ ('the people with him').
17

καὶ Ιωναθαν καὶ Αχιμαας εἱστήκεισαν ἐν τῇ πηγῇ Ρωγηλ καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἡ παιδίσκη καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ πορεύονται καὶ ἀναγγέλλουσιν τῷ βασιλεῖ Δαυιδ ὅτι οὐκ ἐδύναντο ὀφθῆναι τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν πόλιν

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were standing at the spring Rogel, and the maidservant would go and report to them, and they would go and report to King David; for they could not be seen entering the city.

Background: the relay mechanism of the messengersκαὶ Ιωναθαν καὶ Αχιμαας
The narrator describes the courier system: the priests' sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz wait outside the city at En-rogel; a maidservant carries word out to them, and they relay it to David — because they could not risk being seen entering Jerusalem. The shift to the present tense (πορεύονται, ἀναγγέλλουσιν) is a vivid historic present describing the customary procedure.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶand / nownarrative conjunction (scene-setting)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן; son of the priest Abiathar (cf. 15:27, 36); one of the two couriers; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑχιμααςAhimaazsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑχιμαας: transliteration of Hebrew אֲחִימַעַץ; son of the priest Zadok; the other courier (later the runner of 18:19–29); indeclinable.
εἱστήκεισανwere standingPlpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (background pluperfect, stative)→ stative pluperfect (they were posted/waiting)ἵστημι: the pluperfect εἱστήκεισαν ('had taken their stand / were standing') with stative force; renders עֹמְדִים; the couriers were posted at the spring, out of sight of the city.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with πηγῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πηγῇspringDativedative of place (where they stood)→ sphere or referenceπηγή: 'spring / fountain'; renders עֵין; with Ρωγηλ = En-rogel, the spring just outside Jerusalem; a discreet rendezvous point.
ΡωγηλRogelappositional place-name (indeclinable: 'spring of Rogel')→ participant identificationΡωγηλ: transliteration of Hebrew רֹגֵל (En-rogel); indeclinable; the spring south of Jerusalem where the couriers waited unseen.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwould goAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (customary action of the maidservant)→ customary/iterative aorist (the regular procedure)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; renders הָלַךְ; the maidservant's regular trips carried the intelligence out to the waiting couriers.
theNominativearticle (with παιδίσκη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativesubject of ἐπορεύθη→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: 'maidservant / young female slave'; renders שִׁפְחָה; an inconspicuous courier who could move between city and spring without arousing suspicion.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλενwould reportAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (customary report to the couriers)→ customary/iterative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'report / bring word'; the maidservant relayed the priests' intelligence to Jonathan and Ahimaaz.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object of ἀνήγγειλεν (the couriers)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'them'; Jonathan and Ahimaaz.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject (intensive pronoun, the couriers)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'they themselves'; the couriers, who in turn carry the word onward to David.
πορεύονταιgoPres Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid customary action)πορεύομαι (pres.): the historic present vivifies the couriers' regular runs to David — they would go and relay the news.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναγγέλλουσινreportPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid customary action)ἀναγγέλλω (pres.): the historic present continues the vivid description of the relay — they report to the king.
τῷtheDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativeindirect object of ἀναγγέλλουσιν→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; David, the recipient of the relayed warning.
ΔαυιδDavidapposition to βασιλεῖ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; 'King David', the goal of the courier chain.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explaining the relay)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason for the indirect relay — the couriers could not be seen in the city.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἐδύναντο)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: negates ἐδύναντο — 'they could not.'
ἐδύναντοthey couldImpf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb of causal clause→ imperfect of ability (ongoing inability)δύναμαι: 'be able'; the imperfect with the negative marks an ongoing constraint — they dared not be seen; renders יָכֹל.
ὀφθῆναιto be seenAor Pass Inf · ὁράωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐδύναντο)→ purpose infinitive (in order to present oneself)ὁράω (aor. pass. inf.): 'be seen / appear'; renders נִרְאָה; the couriers could not afford to be observed entering Jerusalem, hence the spring-rendezvous.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the infinitive εἰσελθεῖν, articular)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσελθεῖνto enterAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιarticular infinitive of purpose/epexegesis ('in entering')→ constative aorist infinitiveεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; the articular infinitive τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν explains the danger — they could not be seen 'in the act of entering' the city.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (Jerusalem)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; here Jerusalem, now in Absalom's hands, into which the couriers could not safely go.
18

καὶ εἶδεν αὐτοὺς παιδάριον καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ δύο ταχέως καὶ εἰσῆλθαν εἰς οἰκίαν ἀνδρὸς ἐν Βαουριμ καὶ αὐτῷ λάκκος ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ καὶ κατέβησαν ἐκεῖ

But a boy saw them and told Absalom; so the two went off quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.

Complication: the couriers are spotted and hideκαὶ εἶδεν αὐτοὺς παιδάριον
The relay is jeopardized when a boy spots the couriers and informs Absalom. They flee to Bahurim — the same hostile town where Shimei had cursed David (16:5) — and hide in a well (λάκκος) in a sympathizer's courtyard. The terse parataxis (εἶδεν … ἀπήγγειλεν … ἐπορεύθησαν … εἰσῆλθαν … κατέβησαν) drives the suspense.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (complication)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (the boy spots the couriers)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; renders רָאָה; the chance sighting that threatens to betray the mission.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of εἶδεν (the couriers)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; Jonathan and Ahimaaz.
παιδάριονa boy / ladNominativesubject of εἶδεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young boy / servant-lad'; renders נַעַר; the unnamed boy whose report endangers the couriers — a small detail heightening the tension.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλενtoldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (the boy informs Absalom)→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; renders הִגִּיד; the boy carries word to Absalom, setting off the pursuit.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Αβεσσαλωμ, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomindirect object of ἀπήγγειλεν (indeclinable, articular dative)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; informed of the couriers, he will send servants in pursuit (v. 20).
καὶand / sonarrative conjunction (consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανwent offAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the couriers flee)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / depart'; the couriers hurry away to escape detection.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with δύο)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral substantive (subject: 'the two')→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable numeral; οἱ δύο ('the two') = Jonathan and Ahimaaz.
ταχέωςquicklyadverb of manner (urgency)→ clausal contributionταχέως: 'quickly / swiftly'; renders מְהֵרָה; speed is vital to evade the pursuit Absalom will send.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθανcame / enteredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entering the man's house)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; the alpha-aorist form εἰσῆλθαν (Koine) for classical εἰσῆλθον; renders בּוֹא; they take refuge in a friendly house.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (refuge)→ object specificationοἰκία: 'house / dwelling'; renders בַּיִת; the home of a David-sympathizer in Bahurim.
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of possession (the man's house)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the unnamed householder who shelters the couriers.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΒαουριμBahurimobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒαουριμ: transliteration of Hebrew בַּחֻרִים; a village on the route from Jerusalem to the Jordan (cf. 16:5, where Shimei cursed David); indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (parenthetical detail)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto him / he hadDativedative of possession (the man had a well)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative of possession (καὶ αὐτῷ λάκκος = 'and he had a well') renders the Hebrew possessive לוֹ construction; introduces the hiding-place.
λάκκοςa well / cisternNominativesubject (of the possessive clause)→ participant prominenceλάκκος: 'pit / cistern / well'; renders בְּאֵר; the dry well in the courtyard becomes the couriers' refuge — recalling Joseph's pit (Gen 37:24) and Jeremiah's cistern (Jer 38:6).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with αὐλῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐλῇcourtyardDativedative of place (location of the well)→ sphere or referenceαὐλή: 'courtyard / enclosure'; renders חָצֵר; the household courtyard where the concealing well stood.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέβησανthey went downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (descending into the well)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; the couriers climb down into the well to hide.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; into the well, their place of concealment.
19

καὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ γυνὴ καὶ διεπέτασεν τὸ ἐπικάλυμμα ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ λάκκου καὶ ἔψυξεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ Αραφωθ καὶ οὐκ ἐγνώσθη ῥῆμα

And the woman took and spread the covering over the mouth of the well, and scattered groats upon it, and the thing was not known.

Concealment: the woman's ruseκαὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ γυνὴ
The householder's wife completes the concealment: she spreads a covering over the well-mouth and scatters Αραφωθ (groats / crushed grain) on it as if drying it, disguising the hiding-place. The result-clause καὶ οὐκ ἐγνώσθη ῥῆμα ('and the thing was not known') echoes 19's earlier theme and assures the reader the ruse succeeded — recalling Rahab's concealment of the spies (Josh 2:6).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the woman acts)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; renders לָקַח; the first of the woman's swift, decisive actions to hide the couriers.
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject of ἔλαβεν and διεπέτασεν→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the householder's wife, who like Rahab (Josh 2) shields the agents and lies to the pursuers.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεπέτασενspread outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαπετάννυμιmain verb (spreading the cover)→ constative aoristδιαπετάννυμι: 'spread out / stretch over'; renders פָּרַשׂ; the woman draws a covering across the well-mouth to conceal the men below.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπικάλυμμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικάλυμμαcoveringAccusativedirect object of διεπέτασεν→ object specificationἐπικάλυμμα: 'covering / cover'; renders מָסָךְ; the cloth or screen spread over the well to hide its opening.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (position over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position over).
πρόσωπονface / mouthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the well's surface)→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / surface'; ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ λάκκου ('over the face of the well') is a Hebraism (עַל־פְּנֵי) for the well's mouth or opening.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λάκκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκουwellGenitivegenitive of relationship (the well's mouth)→ relational specificationλάκκος: 'well / cistern'; the same well of v. 18, now covered over.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔψυξενspread to dry / scatteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ψύχωmain verb (drying out the grain)→ constative aoristψύχω: 'cool / dry (in the air)'; here 'spread out to dry'; renders שָׁטַח; the woman spreads grain on the cover as if drying it, making the spot look ordinary.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + dative (position; elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (position; elided).
αὐτῷitDativedative object of ἐπ᾿ (the covering)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; the covering, on which the grain is spread.
Αραφωθgroats / crushed graindirect object of ἔψυξεν (transliterated term, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑραφωθ: transliteration of Hebrew הָרִפוֹת ('crushed grain / groats'); the LXX leaves the Hebrew untranslated; the grain spread to dry is the camouflage that completes the disguise.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἐγνώσθη)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: negates ἐγνώσθη — the matter stayed hidden.
ἐγνώσθηwas knownAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (result: concealment succeeded)→ constative aorist (passive)γινώσκω (aor. pass.): 'be known / found out'; renders נוֹדַע; the ruse worked — the pursuers learned nothing.
ῥῆμαthe thing / matterNominativesubject of ἐγνώσθη→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; the Hebraism ῥῆμα (= דָּבָר, 'thing / affair') means 'the matter was not discovered' — the couriers' presence remained secret.
20

καὶ ἦλθαν οἱ παῖδες Αβεσσαλωμ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ εἶπαν ποῦ Αχιμαας καὶ Ιωναθαν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ γυνή παρῆλθαν μικρὸν τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἐζήτησαν καὶ οὐχ εὗραν καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ

And Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, 'Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' And the woman said to them, 'They have gone over a little beyond the water.' And they searched and did not find them, and returned to Jerusalem.

The pursuit foiled by the woman's lieκαὶ ἦλθαν οἱ παῖδες Αβεσσαλωμ
Absalom's servants arrive and interrogate the woman; her brief misdirection — παρῆλθαν μικρὸν τοῦ ὕδατος ('they have crossed a little beyond the water') — sends them on a fruitless search, and they return empty-handed to Jerusalem. The episode closely mirrors Rahab's deflection of the king of Jericho's men (Josh 2:4–7).
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθανcameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the servants arrive)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the Koine alpha-aorist ἦλθαν for ἦλθον; renders בּוֹא; Absalom's pursuers arrive at the house.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject of ἦλθαν→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / attendant'; renders עֲבָדִים; Absalom's men sent to capture the couriers.
Αβεσσαλωμof Absalomgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; 'Absalom's servants.'
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman'; the same wife who concealed the couriers (v. 19), now questioned.
εἰςat / intopreposition + accusative (place)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (place).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the house)→ object specificationοἰκία: 'house'; the same dwelling where the couriers hid.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the servants question)→ constative aoristλέγω: the Koine alpha-aorist εἶπαν for εἶπον; the servants put their question.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (direct question)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; renders אַיֵּה / אֵיפֹה; the servants demand the couriers' whereabouts.
ΑχιμααςAhimaazsubject of the elliptical question (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιμαας: indeclinable; named first among the sought couriers.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject of the elliptical question (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: indeclinable; the second courier sought.
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 (the woman's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: aorist εἶπεν; the woman's deflecting answer.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object of εἶπεν (the servants)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of εἶπεν (the servants).
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνήwomanNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the quick-witted wife whose lie saves the couriers.
παρῆλθανthey have gone overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρέρχομαιmain verb of direct speech (the woman's lie)→ constative aorist (within the deceptive report)παρέρχομαι: 'pass by / go past / cross over'; the Koine alpha-aorist παρῆλθαν; renders עָבַר; the woman claims the men 'have gone on past the water' — a false trail.
μικρὸνa littleAccusativeadverbial accusative (extent: 'a little way')→ object specificationμικρός: 'small / little'; the adverbial accusative μικρόν ('a little') vaguely places the couriers just beyond reach, sending the pursuers off.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ὕδατος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive of separation/place (beyond the water)→ relational specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the genitive (μικρὸν τοῦ ὕδατος, 'a little beyond the water') — the stream or brook past which the woman claims the men went.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐζήτησανthey searchedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ζητέωmain verb (the fruitless search)→ constative aoristζητέω: 'seek / search'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; the servants hunt along the false trail.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐχnotnegative (with εὗραν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: negates εὗραν — the search failed.
εὗρανfoundAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εὑρίσκωmain verb (failure to find)→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find'; the Koine alpha-aorist εὗραν; renders מָצָא; the pursuers find nothing — the ruse holds.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψανreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (the servants give up)→ constative aoristἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the pursuers return to Jerusalem empty-handed, the danger past.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַͅם; indeclinable in the LXX; the city, now Absalom's base, to which the foiled pursuers return.
21

ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ ἀπελθεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν τῷ βασιλεῖ Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Δαυιδ ἀνάστητε καὶ διάβητε ταχέως τὸ ὕδωρ ὅτι οὕτως ἐβουλεύσατο περὶ ὑμῶν Αχιτοφελ

And it came to pass, after they had gone away, that they came up out of the well and went and reported to King David; and they said to David, 'Arise and cross over the water quickly, for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.'

Resolution: the warning reaches Davidἐγένετο δὲ
The danger past, the couriers emerge and deliver the warning. The formula ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ ἀπελθεῖν ('and it came to pass after their going') with articular infinitive is a Hebraism (וַיְהִי). The urgent imperatives ἀνάστητε … διάβητε ταχέως ('arise, cross quickly') relay Hushai's instruction (v. 16) directly to the king.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal formula)→ constative aorist (Hebraism: 'and it came to pass')γίνομαι: the formula ἐγένετο δέ ('and it came to pass') renders וַיְהִי, a standard LXX narrative-time marker introducing the next event.
δὲand / nownarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: continuative particle marking the next narrative phase.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; with the articular infinitive forms the temporal clause 'after their going away.'
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with the infinitive ἀπελθεῖν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπελθεῖνto go awayAor Act Inf · ἀπέρχομαιarticular infinitive (temporal clause)→ verbal action or stateἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the articular infinitive 'after their departing' refers to Absalom's servants leaving; renders the Hebrew infinitive construct with אַחֲרֵי.
αὐτοὺςthey / themAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive (the servants)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the accusative subject of the infinitive — 'after they (the servants) departed.'
καὶand / thatnarrative conjunction (apodosis after ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the resumptive καί after ἐγένετο reflects the Hebrew waw of the apodosis (וַיְהִי … וַ-).
ἀνέβησανcame upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (couriers emerge from the well)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up'; renders עָלָה; the couriers climb out of the well (reversing κατέβησαν, v. 18).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λάκκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκουwellGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (the hiding-place)→ relational specificationλάκκος: 'well / cistern'; the hiding-place of vv. 18–19, now left behind.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανwentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (they set off to David)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; the couriers hurry to deliver the warning.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλανreportedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (delivering the message)→ constative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'report / bring word'; the couriers deliver the intelligence to David, fulfilling Hushai's instruction (v. 16).
τῷtheDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativeindirect object of ἀνήγγειλαν→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; David, the recipient of the warning.
ΔαυιδDavidapposition to βασιλεῖ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; 'King David.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the couriers' urgent speech)→ constative aoristλέγω: the Koine alpha-aorist εἶπαν; introduces the direct warning to David.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king addressed.
ἀνάστητεariseAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (urgent command to David's party)→ ingressive aorist imperative (get up at once)ἀνίστημι: 'rise up / set out'; renders קוּם; the plural addresses David and his company — they must move immediately.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διάβητεcross overAor Act Impv 2 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (command to cross the Jordan)→ ingressive aorist imperativeδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; renders עָבַר; the imperative urges immediate crossing of the Jordan — the heart of Hushai's warning.
ταχέωςquicklyadverb of manner (urgency)→ clausal contributionταχέως: 'quickly'; renders מְהֵרָה; speed is the message's whole point.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of διάβητε (the Jordan)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; here the Jordan, which David must cross to safety; cf. v. 22 (τὸν Ιορδάνην).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounds for the urgency)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the reason — Ahithophel's lethal counsel.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (referring to the counsel)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus'; summarizes Ahithophel's plan as relayed to the priests (v. 15).
ἐβουλεύσατοhas counselled / plottedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · βουλεύωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aoristβουλεύω (mid.): 'take counsel / plot'; renders יָעַץ; here with hostile sense, 'plotted against you'; the same root as βουλή throughout the chapter.
περὶconcerning / againstpreposition + genitive (reference: 'against you')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning / about'; here with hostile nuance 'against you' (David's party).
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of περί (David and his men)→ relational specificationσύ (pl.): 'you'; the plural embraces David and all his company, the targets of Ahithophel's plot.
ΑχιτοφελAhithophelsubject of ἐβουλεύσατο (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; the plotter whose advice, though rejected, prompts David's urgent flight.
22

καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ διέβησαν τὸν Ιορδάνην ἕως τοῦ φωτὸς τοῦ πρωί ἕως ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔλαθεν ὃς οὐ διῆλθεν τὸν Ιορδάνην

So David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan by the light of morning; not so much as one was missing who had not crossed the Jordan.

Obedient response: David crosses the Jordanκαὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ
David acts at once on the warning, and by dawn the entire company has crossed the Jordan — emphatically not one left behind (ἕως ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔλαθεν ὃς οὐ διῆλθεν). The double negative idiom underscores the completeness of the crossing, and the time-marker ἕως τοῦ φωτὸς τοῦ πρωί ('until the morning light') shows the night-long urgency that defeats Ahithophel's planned night-strike.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶand / sonarrative conjunction (response)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (David's immediate obedience)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise up / set out'; renders קוּם; David acts at once on the courier's command (ἀνάστητε, v. 21).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king, now moving to safety across the river.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining subjects)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ὁ λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole company crosses together.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (with Δαυιδ)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; David's whole following — the very λαός Ahithophel hoped to scatter (v. 2).
the onesNominativearticle (attributive, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ ('the people with him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ ('the people with him').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβησανcrossedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the crossing accomplished)→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; renders עָבַר; the company fords the Jordan, escaping the trap; fulfils the imperative διάβητε (v. 21).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διέβησαν→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan river; unlike most names in this chapter, Ιορδάνης is declinable in the LXX (first-declension masc., acc. Ιορδάνην) and so is parsed as a noun with case.
ἕωςuntil / byimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; marks the time by which the crossing was complete — the morning light.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with φωτός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωτὸςlightGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal: 'until the light')→ relational specificationφῶς: 'light'; ἕως τοῦ φωτὸς τοῦ πρωί ('until the morning light') marks the night-long haste — the crossing was finished before daybreak, foiling any night-strike.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πρωί)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίmorningadverb used substantivally (genitive of time: 'of the morning')→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'early / morning'; an indeclinable adverb here used substantivally with the article (τοῦ πρωί, 'of the morning'); renders בֹּקֶר; pinpoints daybreak as the completion of the crossing.
ἕωςeven / so much asadverbial particle (with ἑνός: 'down to one')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: here adverbial 'down to / even', in the idiom ἕως ἑνός ('to a single one'); renders עַד־אֶחָד; intensifies the completeness — not one was left.
ἑνὸςoneGenitivegenitive (with ἕως: 'so much as one')→ relational specificationεἷς: 'one'; ἕως ἑνός ('to the very last one') emphasizes that no single person failed to cross.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἔλαθεν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: negates ἔλαθεν — none escaped notice / was left behind.
ἔλαθενwas missing / escaped noticeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λανθάνωmain verb (the litotes of completeness)→ constative aoristλανθάνω: 'escape notice / be hidden'; here 'not one was unaccounted-for / left behind'; the idiom ἕως ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔλαθεν ('not so much as one was missing') stresses the total, orderly crossing.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of διῆλθεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; 'who (had not) crossed' — completes the double-negative emphasis on totality.
οὐnotnegative (with διῆλθεν, in the relative clause)→ participant referenceοὐ: the second negative in the litotes ('there was none who did not cross') = everyone crossed.
διῆλθενcrossedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristδιέρχομαι: 'go through / cross over'; renders עָבַר; the double negative ὃς οὐ διῆλθεν ('who did not cross') confirms that the whole company made it over the Jordan.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διῆλθεν→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan (declinable, acc. Ιορδάνην); the repetition frames the verse — the safe crossing of the river is the chapter's first decisive deliverance of David.
23

καὶ Αχιτοφελ εἶδεν ὅτι οὐκ ἐγενήθη ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέσαξεν τὴν ὄνον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνετείλατο τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπήγξατο καὶ ἀπέθανεν καὶ πάρεξ ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not carried out, he saddled his donkey and arose and went off to his house, to his city; and he gave orders to his household, and hanged himself and died, and he was buried in the tomb of his father.

Ahithophel's suicide (the counsel's consequence for its author)καὶ Αχιτοφελ εἶδεν
The rejected counsellor's end: seeing his βουλή set aside (οὐκ ἐγενήθη ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ), Ahithophel methodically saddles his donkey, returns home, sets his affairs in order (ἐνετείλατο τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ — echoing the LORD's ἐνετείλατο in v. 14), and hangs himself (ἀπήγξατο). His dignified, premeditated suicide — unique in the historical books apart from Saul — is the personal counterpart to the divine frustration of his plan.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑχιτοφελAhithophelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑχιτοφελ: indeclinable; the counsellor, now facing the collapse of his standing.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (Ahithophel's perception)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see / perceive'; renders רָאָה; Ahithophel discerns that his counsel has been definitively rejected.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause after εἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces what Ahithophel saw.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἐγενήθη)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: negates ἐγενήθη — his counsel was not enacted.
ἐγενήθηwas carried outAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of object clause→ constative aorist (passive)γίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'happen / come about / be done'; οὐκ ἐγενήθη ἡ βουλὴ αὐτοῦ ('his counsel did not come to pass') marks the realization of the divine διασκεδάσαι of v. 14 in Ahithophel's own experience.
theNominativearticle (with βουλή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουλὴcounselNominativesubject of ἐγενήθη→ participant prominenceβουλή: 'counsel'; Ahithophel's now-defeated plan — the keyword that has driven the whole chapter.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (his counsel)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (his counsel).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέσαξενsaddledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισάσσωmain verb (preparing to depart)→ constative aoristἐπισάσσω: 'saddle / load (a beast)'; renders חָבַשׁ; the deliberate, unhurried saddling of the donkey marks the composure of Ahithophel's final acts.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνονdonkeyAccusativedirect object of ἐπέσαξεν→ object specificationὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; the mount Ahithophel saddles to ride home for his final preparations.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (his donkey)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (his donkey).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (setting out)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise up / set out'; renders קוּם; Ahithophel rises to make his way home.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθενwent offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (departure for home)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; Ahithophel leaves the council for the last time.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (his home)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; Ahithophel returns to his own home to settle his affairs.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (appositional goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (appositional goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (apposition: 'to his city')→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; Ahithophel's home town (Giloh, cf. 15:12); the apposition 'to his house, to his city' renders the Hebrew double-phrase.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνετείλατοgave ordersAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (final instructions)→ constative aoristἐντέλλομαι: 'command / give charge / set in order'; renders צִוָּה; Ahithophel sets his household affairs in order before his death — pointedly the same verb used of the LORD's decree in v. 14, an ironic echo (the LORD commanded; now the doomed man commands his own house).
τῷtheDativearticle (with οἴκῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseholdDativeindirect object of ἐνετείλατο→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house / household'; here the family/estate to which Ahithophel gives his final instructions — a last act of orderly responsibility before suicide.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγξατοhanged himselfAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀπάγχωmain verb (the suicide)→ constative aorist (reflexive middle)ἀπάγχω (mid. ἀπάγχομαι): 'strangle / hang oneself'; renders חָנַק (Niphal); the reflexive middle ἀπήγξατο ('he hanged himself') — the only such suicide-by-hanging in the OT; cf. Matt 27:5 (Judas, ἀπήγξατο), a deliberate NT echo of this scene.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (death)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; states plainly the outcome of the hanging.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάρεξwas laid / buriedadverbial term (here in the sense of being laid out/buried)→ clausal contributionπάρεξ: lit. 'beside / apart'; the LXX uses it here for the Hebrew וַיִּקָּבֵר ('and he was buried'); the clause καὶ πάρεξ ἐν τῷ τάφῳ ('and [he was laid] in the tomb') reflects an idiomatic rendering — Ahithophel is interred in his ancestral grave; treated as indeclinable particle/adverb.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: place of burial)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: place of burial).
τῷtheDativearticle (with τάφῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάφῳtombDativedative of place (where he was buried)→ sphere or referenceτάφος: 'tomb / grave'; renders קֶבֶר; the ancestral tomb — even in suicide Ahithophel receives an honorable family burial.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession (his father's tomb)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the tomb 'of his father' — Ahithophel is gathered to his ancestors, the customary honorable burial.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
24

καὶ Δαυιδ διῆλθεν εἰς Μαναϊμ καὶ Αβεσσαλωμ διέβη τὸν Ιορδάνην αὐτὸς καὶ πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And David came to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

Scene shift: the two armies converge on Transjordanκαὶ Δαυιδ διῆλθεν
A double movement frames the coming battle: David reaches the fortified town of Mahanaim (Saul's old capital, 2:8), while Absalom and all Israel cross the Jordan in pursuit. The parallel διῆλθεν / διέβη and the merism αὐτὸς καὶ πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ set the stage for ch. 18.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; now safely across the Jordan and heading to refuge.
διῆλθενcame / went throughAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (David's arrival)→ constative aoristδιέρχομαι: 'go through / come'; renders בּוֹא; David reaches Mahanaim, his base for the coming conflict.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΜαναϊμMahanaimaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜαναϊμ: transliteration of Hebrew מַחֲנַיִם ('two camps'); a fortified town in Gilead east of the Jordan, once Ish-bosheth's capital (2:8); indeclinable; David's refuge and headquarters.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (contrasting movement)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; in pursuit, crossing the Jordan with the national host as Hushai had advised (v. 11).
διέβηcrossedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (Absalom's crossing)→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; renders עָבַר; Absalom too crosses the Jordan — the pursuit Hushai's counsel set in motion.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διέβη→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan (declinable, acc. Ιορδάνην); Absalom now crosses the same river David crossed by night.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (in apposition to Αβεσσαλωμ)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he himself'; emphasizes that Absalom personally leads the host — exactly the role Hushai flattered him into (τὸ πρόσωπόν σου πορευόμενον, v. 11).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςevery / allNominativeattributive adjective (with ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ('every man of Israel') = the whole levy crossing with Absalom.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (collective, with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; πᾶς ἀνήρ renders כָּל־אִישׁ ('every man / all the men'), the assembled host.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'all the men of Israel' following Absalom across the river.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (with Absalom)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'him'; the host crosses 'with him' (Absalom).
25

καὶ τὸν Αμεσσαϊ κατέστησεν Αβεσσαλωμ ἀντὶ Ιωαβ ἐπὶ τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ Αμεσσαϊ υἱὸς ἀνδρὸς καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ιοθορ ὁ Ισραηλίτης οὗτος εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς Αβιγαιαν θυγατέρα Ναας ἀδελφὴν Σαρουιας μητρὸς Ιωαβ

And Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab; now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.

Background note: Absalom's army-commander and his lineageκαὶ τὸν Αμεσσαϊ κατέστησεν
A genealogical aside introduces Amasa, Absalom's appointed general, replacing David's commander Joab. The note that Amasa's mother Abigail was sister of Zeruiah (Joab's mother) makes Amasa and Joab cousins — a detail that explains the later blood-feud and Joab's murder of Amasa (20:9–10). The parentage is given in characteristic Hebraic apposition.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Αμεσσαϊ, marking accusative)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμεσσαϊAmasadirect object of κατέστησεν (indeclinable, articular accusative)→ participant identificationΑμεσσαϊ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲמָשָׂא (Amasa); indeclinable; Absalom's general, later pardoned and appointed by David, then killed by Joab (19:14; 20:9–10).
κατέστησενappointed / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (the appointment)→ constative aoristκαθίστημι: 'appoint / set in charge'; renders שָׂם / הִפְקִיד; Absalom installs Amasa as commander of his rebel army.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject of κατέστησεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; the one who appoints his general.
ἀντὶin place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί + gen.: 'instead of / in place of'; renders תַּחַת; Amasa replaces Joab, David's commander — the rebel army's counterpart.
ΙωαβJoabgenitive object of ἀντί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאָב; David's veteran commander; indeclinable; here named as the man Amasa supplants.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + genitive (authority over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over / in charge of'; renders עַל; marks Amasa's command over the army.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεως)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmy / forceGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the army)→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'power / army / host'; here the military sense 'army'; renders צָבָא / חַיִל; the same root used of David's 'mighty men' (vv. 8, 10), now of Absalom's forces.
καὶand / nownarrative conjunction (introducing genealogical aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑμεσσαϊAmasasubject of the verbless genealogical clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑμεσσαϊ: indeclinable; subject of the parenthetical note on his parentage.
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate nominative (verbless clause: 'was son of a man')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; introduces Amasa's paternity.
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; 'son of a man whose name was Ithra' — the father is then named.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the name)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of verbless naming-clause ('his name was')→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; the Hebraism καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ('and his name [was]') renders וּשְׁמוֹ, the standard naming-formula.
αὐτῷto him / hisDativedative of possession ('his name')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative of possession in the naming-formula — 'the name belonging to him.'
ΙοθορIthra / Jetherpredicate (the father's name, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙοθορ: transliteration of Hebrew יִתְרָא / יֶתֶר (Ithra/Jether); indeclinable; Amasa's father; called 'the Israelite' here (in 1 Chr 2:17 'the Ishmaelite').
theNominativearticle (with the gentilic Ισραηλίτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ισραηλίτηςthe IsraeliteNominativeappositional gentilic (with Ιοθορ)→ participant prominenceΙσραηλίτης: 'Israelite'; a declinable gentilic noun (hence parsed with case), unlike the indeclinable Ισραηλ; identifies Ithra's nationality (cf. the variant 'Ishmaelite' in 1 Chr 2:17).
οὗτοςthis one / whoNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject: 'this man / who')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this one'; resumes the father Ithra as subject of the following clause about his marriage to Abigail.
εἰσῆλθενwent in toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (euphemism for marital union)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in to'; the idiom εἰσῆλθεν πρός ('went in to') renders the Hebrew בּוֹא אֶל, a euphemism for marital/sexual union; explains Amasa's maternal descent.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (with the idiom εἰσῆλθεν πρός)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (with the idiom εἰσῆλθεν πρός).
ΑβιγαιανAbigailAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Amasa's mother)→ object specificationΑβιγαια: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (Abigail); here declined (acc. Αβιγαιαν) as a first-declension noun, hence parsed with case; Amasa's mother, David's half-sister (distinct from Abigail wife of Nabal).
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αβιγαιαν→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; identifies Abigail as 'daughter of Nahash.'
Νααςof Nahashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝαας: transliteration of Hebrew נָחָשׁ (Nahash); indeclinable; here the father (or, per 1 Chr 2:16, an alternate tradition) of Abigail; cf. Nahash king of Ammon, father of Shobi (v. 27).
ἀδελφὴνsisterAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αβιγαιαν→ object specificationἀδελφή: 'sister'; renders אָחוֹת; Abigail is further identified as 'sister of Zeruiah' — linking Amasa to Joab's family.
Σαρουιαςof ZeruiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀδελφήν)→ relational specificationΣαρουια: transliteration of Hebrew צְרוּיָה (Zeruiah); declined (gen. Σαρουιας) as a first-declension noun, hence parsed with case; David's sister and Joab's mother — making Amasa and Joab first cousins.
μητρὸςmotherGenitivegenitive in apposition to Σαρουιας→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; Zeruiah is 'the mother of Joab' — the genealogical point that the rival generals Amasa and Joab are kin (cf. 20:9–10).
Ιωαβof Joabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; the closing word ties the genealogy back to Joab — Amasa's cousin and eventual killer.
26

καὶ παρενέβαλεν πᾶς Ισραηλ καὶ Αβεσσαλωμ εἰς τὴν γῆν Γαλααδ

And all Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

Stage-setting: Absalom's army encamps in Gileadκαὶ παρενέβαλεν
A brief notice locating Absalom's host in Gilead, the Transjordanian region around Mahanaim — setting the geographical stage for the decisive battle of ch. 18. The singular verb παρενέβαλεν with the compound subject (all Israel and Absalom) is a Hebraizing concord.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρενέβαλενencampedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (the encampment)→ constative aoristπαρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp'; renders חָנָה; the singular verb with a compound subject is Hebraizing concord; the same verb Hushai used of the planned envelopment (v. 12), now of Absalom's host settling in Gilead.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole rebel host.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of παρενέβαλεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the assembled levy following Absalom.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining subjects)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject (with πᾶς Ισραηλ, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: indeclinable; encamped with his army in Gilead, opposite David at Mahanaim.
εἰςin / intopreposition + accusative (place, with verb of motion-into-rest)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'into / in'; with παρεμβάλλω the directional εἰς marks the region into which the host moved and settled.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the territory)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / region'; with Γαλααδ = 'the land of Gilead', the Transjordanian highlands where the armies face off.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'land of Gilead')→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד (Gilead); indeclinable; the region east of the Jordan, around Mahanaim — the theater of the coming battle.
27

καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἦλθεν Δαυιδ εἰς Μαναϊμ Ουεσβι υἱὸς Ναας ἐκ Ραββαθ υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ Μαχιρ υἱὸς Αμιηλ ἐκ Λωδαβαρ καὶ Βερζελλι ὁ Γαλααδίτης ἐκ Ρωγελλιμ

And it came to pass, when David came to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,

The benefactors introduced (provision narrative)καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα
The temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ('and it came to pass when') introduces three Transjordanian benefactors who supply David's exhausted force at Mahanaim. Notably Shobi son of Nahash is an Ammonite from Rabbah — a foreigner aiding the king — alongside Machir of Lo-debar (Mephibosheth's earlier host, 9:4) and the wealthy Barzillai the Gileadite. The list of names sets up the provision-inventory of vv. 28–29.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ 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 (temporal formula)→ constative aorist (Hebraism: 'and it came to pass')γίνομαι: the formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') renders וַיְהִי, introducing the provision-episode.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunction (with ἦλθεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the temporal clause locating the benefactors' aid at David's arrival.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; renders בּוֹא; David's arrival at Mahanaim is the occasion of the gifts.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ἦλθεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king arriving at his Transjordanian refuge.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΜαναϊμMahanaimaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜαναϊμ: indeclinable; Mahanaim, David's base (cf. v. 24).
ΟυεσβιShobisubject of the main clause (indeclinable, with the verb in v. 28)→ participant identificationΟυεσβι: transliteration of Hebrew שֹׁבִי (Shobi); indeclinable; an Ammonite, son of Nahash, from Rabbah — a foreign benefactor; the first of the three subjects whose action (ἤνεγκαν) comes in v. 28.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositional nominative (with Ουεσβι)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; identifies Shobi's paternity.
Νααςof Nahashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝαας: transliteration of Hebrew נָחָשׁ (Nahash); indeclinable; here the Ammonite king of Rabbah (cf. 10:2), making Shobi a member of the Ammonite royal house aiding David.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
ΡαββαθRabbahgenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡαββαθ: transliteration of Hebrew רַבַּת (Rabbah); indeclinable; the Ammonite capital (modern Amman), Shobi's home town.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Αμμων: 'Rabbah of the Ammonites')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Αμμων ('of the sons of Ammon') = 'the Ammonites'; the Hebraism בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן for the Ammonite people.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliteration of Hebrew עַמּוֹן (Ammon); indeclinable; 'Rabbah of the sons of Ammon' = the Ammonite capital.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second benefactor)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΜαχιρMachirsubject (second of the three benefactors, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΜαχιρ: transliteration of Hebrew מָכִיר (Machir); indeclinable; of Lo-debar, the man who had earlier sheltered Saul's grandson Mephibosheth (9:4–5) — now a supporter of David.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositional nominative (with Μαχιρ)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; identifies Machir's paternity.
Αμιηλof Ammielgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑμιηλ: transliteration of Hebrew עַמִּיאֵל (Ammiel); indeclinable; Machir's father.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
ΛωδαβαρLo-debargenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΛωδαβαρ: transliteration of Hebrew לוֹ דְבָר (Lo-debar); indeclinable; a town in Gilead, Machir's home (cf. 9:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third benefactor)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΒερζελλιBarzillaisubject (third benefactor, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΒερζελλι: transliteration of Hebrew בַּרְזִלַּי (Barzillai); indeclinable; the wealthy Gileadite who provisions David and later escorts him back over the Jordan (19:32–40).
theNominativearticle (with the gentilic Γαλααδίτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Γαλααδίτηςthe GileaditeNominativeappositional gentilic (with Βερζελλι)→ participant prominenceΓαλααδίτης: 'Gileadite'; a declinable gentilic noun (hence parsed with case), unlike the indeclinable place-name Γαλααδ; marks Barzillai as a native of Gilead.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
ΡωγελλιμRogelimgenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡωγελλιμ: transliteration of Hebrew רֹגְלִים (Rogelim); indeclinable; Barzillai's home town in Gilead.
28

ἤνεγκαν δέκα κοίτας καὶ ἀμφιτάπους καὶ λέβητας δέκα καὶ σκεύη κεράμου καὶ πυροὺς καὶ κριθὰς καὶ ἄλευρον καὶ ἄλφιτον καὶ κύαμον καὶ φακὸν

brought ten beds and coverlets and ten basins and vessels of earthenware, and wheat and barley and flour and parched grain and beans and lentils,

The provisions inventory (part 1)ἤνεγκαν
The main verb ἤνεγκαν ('they brought') governs the long inventory begun here and completed in v. 29; its subjects are the three benefactors of v. 27. The list runs from furnishings and vessels (beds, coverlets, basins, earthenware) through staple grains and pulses (wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils), a vivid catalogue of abundant relief for the famished army.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἤνεγκανthey broughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φέρωmain verb (the benefactors' action; subjects in v. 27)→ constative aoristφέρω: 'bring / carry'; renders הִגִּישׁ / נָגַשׁ; the suppletive aorist ἤνεγκαν governs the whole provision-list of vv. 28–29; the three Transjordanian benefactors are its subjects.
δέκαtennumeral (indeclinable, with κοίτας)→ measure or countδέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable numeral; quantifies the beds.
κοίταςbedsAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / couch'; renders מִשְׁכָּב; bedding for the weary king and household.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφιτάπουςcoverlets / rugsAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationἀμφίταπος: 'double-piled rug / coverlet'; a thick woven covering; the LXX term renders a Hebrew furnishing-word; bedding-covers for the camp.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λέβηταςbasins / cauldronsAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationλέβης: 'basin / cauldron / kettle'; renders סַף / כְּלִי; cooking and washing vessels for the household.
δέκαtennumeral (indeclinable, with λέβητας)→ measure or countδέκα: 'ten'; quantifies the basins.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σκεύηvesselsAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel / implement'; renders כְּלִי; here earthenware utensils.
κεράμουof earthenwareGenitivegenitive of material (with σκεύη: 'vessels of pottery')→ relational specificationκέραμος: 'potter's clay / earthenware'; the genitive of material — 'vessels of pottery'; renders יוֹצֵר / חֶרֶשׂ; clay pots for cooking and storage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πυροὺςwheatAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationπυρός: 'wheat'; renders חִטִּים; the staple grain, first of the foodstuffs.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κριθὰςbarleyAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationκριθή: 'barley'; renders שְׂעֹרִים; the second grain, fodder and bread-grain alike.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄλευρονflourAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationἄλευρον: 'wheat flour / meal'; renders קֶמַח; milled flour ready for baking.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄλφιτονparched grain / barley-mealAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationἄλφιτον: 'barley-groats / parched (roasted) grain'; renders קָלִי; roasted grain, a ready field-ration.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύαμονbeansAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationκύαμος: 'bean(s)'; renders פּוֹל; a pulse, source of protein for the troops.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φακὸνlentilsAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationφακός: 'lentil(s)'; renders עֲדָשִׁים; another pulse (cf. Esau's stew, Gen 25:34); closes the grain-and-pulse portion of the inventory.
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καὶ μέλι καὶ βούτυρον καὶ πρόβατα καὶ Σαφφωθ βοῶν καὶ προσήνεγκαν τῷ Δαυιδ καὶ τῷ λαῷ τῷ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ φαγεῖν ὅτι εἶπαν ὁ λαὸς πεινῶν καὶ ἐκλελυμένος καὶ διψῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ

and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of the herd; and they brought them to David and to the people with him to eat, for they said, 'The people is hungry and faint and thirsty in the wilderness.'

The provisions inventory (part 2) and its purposeκαὶ μέλι
The inventory concludes with luxury and dairy items (honey, butter, sheep, cheese), then the second verb προσήνεγκαν ('they offered') restates the act of provision and gives its purpose (φαγεῖν, 'to eat') and motive: the people were πεινῶν καὶ ἐκλελυμένος καὶ διψῶν ('hungry, faint, and thirsty') in the wilderness. The participle ἐκλελυμένος pointedly echoes Ahithophel's word for the weary David (v. 2) — the king the benefactors now restore.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιhoneyAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (continued from v. 28)→ object specificationμέλι: 'honey'; renders דְּבַשׁ; a prized food, evoking the abundance of the land (cf. 'milk and honey').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βούτυρονbutter / curdsAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationβούτυρον: 'butter / curds'; renders חֶמְאָה; a dairy staple of the pastoral economy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρόβαταsheepAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (list item)→ object specificationπρόβατον (pl. πρόβατα): 'sheep / flock'; renders צֹאן; live animals supplying meat for the army.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
Σαφφωθcheesesdirect object of ἤνεγκαν (transliterated term, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαφφωθ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁפוֹת ('cheeses / curds'); the LXX leaves the Hebrew untranslated; with βοῶν = 'cheeses of the herd', i.e. cow's-milk cheese.
βοῶνof cattle / the herdGenitivegenitive of source (with Σαφφωθ: 'cheese of the herd')→ relational specificationβοῦς: 'ox / cow'; the genitive plural βοῶν ('of cattle') with Σαφφωθ = 'cheeses of the herd'; renders בָּקָר; completes the dairy provision.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resumptive: the act of giving)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσήνεγκανthey offered / broughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · προσφέρωmain verb (resuming/summing up the provision)→ constative aoristπροσφέρω: 'bring to / offer / present'; renders הִגִּישׁ; the compound προσ- ('toward') resumes ἤνεγκαν (v. 28), summarizing the whole act of provisioning David.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Δαυιδ, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDavidindirect object of προσήνεγκαν (indeclinable, articular dative)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king, recipient of the provisions.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativeindirect object of προσήνεγκαν (parallel to Δαυιδ)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; David's whole following, also provisioned.
τῷthe onesDativearticle (attributive, with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ ('the people with him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ ('the people with him').
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive of purpose (with προσήνεγκαν)→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the infinitive of purpose 'to eat'; renders לֶאֱכֹל; the provisions are given for the army's nourishment.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounds for the gift)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the benefactors' stated reason.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb of causal clause (the benefactors' reasoning)→ constative aoristλέγω: the Koine alpha-aorist εἶπαν; the benefactors' explanation for their generosity.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of the quoted assessment (with participial predicates)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; David's exhausted company, the object of the benefactors' compassion.
πεινῶνhungryPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · πεινάωpredicate participle (with ὁ λαός: 'is hungry')→ verbal action or stateπεινάω: 'be hungry / hunger'; renders רָעֵב; the first of three predicate participles describing the people's plight in the wilderness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκλελυμένοςfaint / exhaustedPerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Masc Sg · ἐκλύωpredicate participle (with ὁ λαός: 'is faint')→ verbal action or stateἐκλύω: 'loose / enfeeble / make faint'; the perfect participle ἐκλελυμένος ('grown faint') pointedly echoes its use of the weary David in Ahithophel's plan (v. 2, ἐκλελυμένος χερσίν) — the king Ahithophel hoped to exploit is now sustained by these gifts.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διψῶνthirstyPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · διψάωpredicate participle (with ὁ λαός: 'is thirsty')→ verbal action or stateδιψάω: 'be thirsty / thirst'; renders צָמֵא; the third predicate participle; the trio hungry-faint-thirsty sums up the wilderness ordeal that the provisions relieve.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἐρήμῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (where the people suffered)→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the harsh terrain of David's flight; the chapter ends with the king sustained in the wilderness — a quiet sign of providential preservation before the battle of ch. 18.