1
καὶ ἐταράχθη ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον τῆς πύλης καὶ ἔκλαυσεν καὶ οὕτως εἶπεν ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι αὐτόν υἱέ μου Αβεσσαλωμ υἱέ μου υἱέ μου Αβεσσαλωμ τίς δῴη τὸν θάνατόν μου ἀντὶ σοῦ ἐγὼ ἀντὶ σοῦ Αβεσσαλωμ υἱέ μου υἱέ μου
And the king was shaken, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept; and thus he said as he went: 'My son Absalom, my son, my son! Absalom, would that I had died in your place — I, instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!'
The chapter opens mid-grief: the passive ἐταράχθη ('was shaken / convulsed') registers the king's bodily collapse on hearing of Absalom's death; the threefold cry υἱέ μου with the optative of impossible wish (τίς δῴη … ἀντὶ σοῦ) gives David's lament its raw, repetitive intensity.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐταράχθηwas shaken / troubledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ταράσσωmain verb (king's emotional collapse)→ ingressive aorist passive (entered into agitation)ταράσσω: 'stir up / agitate / trouble deeply'; renders רָגַז; the passive depicts David overcome by grief, his composure shattered on hearing of Absalom's death.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; throughout the chapter ὁ βασιλεύς is David, designated by office rather than name in the narrative frame.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (movement)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; David withdraws upward to the gate-chamber to grieve in private.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπερῷονupper chamberAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationὑπερῷον: 'upper room / chamber'; renders עֲלִיָּה; the room over the city gate, the place of seclusion to which David retreats with his lament.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύληςgateGenitivegenitive of location (the chamber 'of the gate')→ relational specificationπύλη: 'gate'; renders שַׁעַר; the city gate is the public hub where, ironically, David will later be seated to receive the people (v. 9).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαυσενweptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (burst into weeping)κλαίω: 'weep / wail'; renders בָּכָה; the verb of audible mourning, anticipating the public spectacle of the king's grief.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (introducing direct speech)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֹּה; points forward to the lament that follows.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's lament; the aorist marks the utterance as a single completed speech-act, though its content is repetitive.
ἐνin / aspreposition + dative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + infinitive: a temporal Hebraism ('as / while he went'), rendering בְּלֶכְתּוֹ.
τῷtheDativearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορεύεσθαιgoingPres Mid Infin · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive (temporal clause)→ durative present (ongoing movement)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the present infinitive with ἐν τῷ presents the lament as uttered repeatedly as David paced.
αὐτόνheAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: accusative subject of the articular infinitive (Greek idiom for 'as he went').
υἱέsonVocativevocative (direct address in lament)→ direct addressυἱός (voc. υἱέ): 'son'; renders בֵּן; the anguished vocative addressed to the dead Absalom, repeated for emotional weight.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomvocative in apposition to υἱέ (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliteration of Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם ('father of peace'); indeclinable in the LXX; David's rebel son, slain in 18:14–15, whose death drives the lament.
υἱέsonVocativevocative (repetition)→ direct addressυἱέ: meaning 'son'; it serves as vocative (repetition).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
υἱέsonVocativevocative (repetition)→ direct addressυἱέ: meaning 'son'; it serves as vocative (repetition).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomvocative (indeclinable name, repeated)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as vocative (indeclinable name, repeated).
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (idiom of wish)→ participant referenceτίς δῴη: 'who would grant…?', a Greek idiom for an unattainable wish ('would that…!'), rendering מִי יִתֵּן.
δῴηmight grantAor Act Opt 3 Sg · δίδωμιoptative of wish (in idiom τίς δῴη)→ optative of unattainable wishδίδωμι (aor. opt. δῴη): the optative expresses David's impossible longing to have died in Absalom's place.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάνατόνdeathAccusativedirect object of δῴη→ object specificationθάνατος: 'death'; renders מָוֶת; 'would that he had granted my death instead of yours.'
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀντὶinstead ofpreposition + genitive (substitution)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of / in exchange for'; renders תַּחַת; the substitutionary wish — David's life for Absalom's.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀντί.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic pronoun (self-offering)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' intensifies the substitution — David himself, in place of his son.
ἀντὶinstead ofpreposition + genitive (substitution, repeated)→ spatial or relational framingἀντὶ: meaning 'instead of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (substitution, repeated).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀντί.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomvocative (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as vocative (indeclinable name).
υἱέsonVocativevocative (closing repetition)→ direct addressυἱέ: meaning 'son'; it serves as vocative (closing repetition).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
υἱέsonVocativevocative (closing repetition)→ direct addressυἱέ: meaning 'son'; it serves as vocative (closing repetition).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
2
καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Ιωαβ λέγοντες ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεὺς κλαίει καὶ πενθεῖ ἐπὶ Αβεσσαλωμ
And it was reported to Joab, saying, 'Behold, the king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.'
The impersonal passive ἀνηγγέλη with the loosely-attached participle λέγοντες ('they reporting') is a Hebraism; the report of the king's mourning is the trigger for Joab's confrontation in vv. 6–8.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνηγγέληit was reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive)→ constative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report'; renders נָגַד (Hophal); the impersonal passive 'it was reported' is standard LXX narrative idiom.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ιωαβ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωαβJoabdative recipient (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאָב; indeclinable; David's nephew and commander-in-chief, who slew Absalom (18:14) and now rebukes the king's grief.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple introducing direct speech (Hebraizing, loosely attached)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): the masculine plural λέγοντες ('they saying') is a frozen Hebraism (= לֵאמֹר) loosely appended to the impersonal passive ἀνηγγέλη.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (attention-marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; calls attention to the king's mourning.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
κλαίειis weepingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb of the report (vivid present)→ progressive present (ongoing grief)κλαίω: 'weep'; the present tense within the report makes the king's weeping vivid and ongoing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πενθεῖis mourningPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πενθέωmain verb (coordinate with κλαίει)→ progressive presentπενθέω: 'mourn / grieve / lament'; renders אָבַל; the formal verb of bereavement-mourning, anticipating πένθος in v. 3.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (object of mourning)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over / on account of'; marks Absalom as the object of grief.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable name).
3
καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ σωτηρία ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ εἰς πένθος παντὶ τῷ λαῷ ὅτι ἤκουσεν ὁ λαὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ λέγων ὅτι λυπεῖται ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ
And the deliverance on that day became mourning for all the people, for the people heard on that day that the king was grieving over his son.
The verse states the central irony: σωτηρία ('deliverance / victory') turns εἰς πένθος ('into mourning') for the whole army, because the king's private grief has become public knowledge — the soldiers' triumph is robbed of its joy.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοbecameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (transformation: 'became')→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; renders הָיָה; the construction ἐγένετο … εἰς πένθος ('became mourning') is a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σωτηρίαdeliverance / victoryNominativesubject→ participant prominenceσωτηρία: 'deliverance / salvation / victory'; renders תְּשׁוּעָה; here the military victory over Absalom, which the king's grief turns sour.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the day of victory-turned-mourning.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (result: Hebraism ἐγένετο εἰς)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: with ἐγένετο, the result-sense 'became (into)'; renders לְ.
πένθοςmourningAccusativeaccusative of result (predicate with ἐγένετο εἰς)→ object specificationπένθος: 'mourning / grief'; renders אֵבֶל; the antonym of σωτηρία here, capturing the day's inversion.
παντὶallDativeattributive adjective (modifying λαῷ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; emphasizes the universal scope of the army's dampened spirits.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative of disadvantage ('for all the people')→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; here the victorious army of David.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / that'; introduces the cause of the mourning.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of causal clause→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear'; renders שָׁמַע; the people 'heard' (learned) of the king's grief.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of ἤκουσεν→ participant prominenceλαὸς: meaning 'people'; it serves as subject of ἤκουσεν.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρᾳ: meaning 'day'; it serves as dative of time.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective→ sphere or referenceἐκείνῃ: meaning 'that'; it serves as demonstrative adjective.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple introducing reported content (Hebraism)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): singular λέγων agreeing with λαός; the frozen 'saying' (= לֵאמֹר) introducing the content of what was heard.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (introducing content)→ clausal contributionὅτι: recitative/declarative 'that', introducing the report's content.
λυπεῖταιis grievingPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · λυπέωverb of reported content→ progressive presentλυπέω: 'grieve / cause pain'; middle/passive 'is distressed / grieves'; renders עָצַב; describes the king's continuing sorrow.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of λυπεῖται→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject of λυπεῖται.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + dative (object of grief)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'over / on account of'.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῷsonDativedative object of ἐπί→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; Absalom, the object of David's grief.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
4
καὶ διεκλέπτετο ὁ λαὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καθὼς διακλέπτεται ὁ λαὸς οἱ αἰσχυνόμενοι ἐν τῷ αὐτοὺς φεύγειν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ
And the people stole into the city on that day as a people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.
The vivid verb διακλέπτω ('steal away / slip in by stealth') with the comparative καθώς-clause likens the victorious army to defeated, shamefaced fugitives — the king's grief has shamed his own soldiers, the precise charge Joab will press in v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεκλέπτετοstole awayImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · διακλέπτωmain verb (furtive entry)→ durative imperfect (ongoing stealthy movement)διακλέπτω: 'steal away / slip in by stealth'; renders גָּנַב (Hithpael); the imperfect depicts the soldiers sneaking back in, group by group, as if defeated.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλαός: the army, here behaving like a shamed, defeated host.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρᾳ: meaning 'day'; it serves as dative of time.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective→ sphere or referenceἐκείνῃ: meaning 'that'; it serves as demonstrative adjective.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσελθεῖνto enterAor Act Infin · εἰσέρχομαιarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ + inf.)→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; the τοῦ-infinitive expresses purpose: stealing in 'so as to enter' the city.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; Mahanaim, David's base across the Jordan.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; introduces the comparison to a defeated, shamed army.
διακλέπτεταιsteals awayPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · διακλέπτωverb of comparative clause (gnomic present)→ gnomic present (general truth)διακλέπτω (pres.): the gnomic present in the simile describes how a defeated army habitually slinks home in shame.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of διακλέπτεται (the simile-army)→ participant prominenceλαὸς: meaning 'people'; it serves as subject of διακλέπτεται (the simile-army).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle αἰσχυνόμενοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰσχυνόμενοιbeing ashamedPres Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · αἰσχύνωsubstantival participle (in apposition to λαός)→ verbal action or stateαἰσχύνω: 'shame / disgrace'; mid./pass. 'be ashamed'; renders בּוֹשׁ; the soldiers 'who are ashamed' — the key word, since David's grief has imposed this shame on his victors.
ἐνwhen / inpreposition + dative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + inf.: temporal Hebraism, 'when they flee'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτοὺςtheyAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: accusative subject of φεύγειν in the articular-infinitive construction.
φεύγεινto fleePres Act Infin · φεύγωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'when they flee')→ durative presentφεύγω: 'flee'; renders נוּס; the flight of a defeated army, the shame David's behavior mimics.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/circumstantial)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/circumstantial).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμῳbattle / warDativedative of place/circumstance ('in battle')→ sphere or referenceπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the setting of the imagined defeat.
5
καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔκρυψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκραξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγων υἱέ μου Αβεσσαλωμ Αβεσσαλωμ υἱέ μου
And the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!'
David covers his face — a gesture of inconsolable, shameful grief — and cries φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, the public outburst that has shamed his soldiers (v. 4) and now provokes Joab's entry (v. 6); the lament's refrain returns in chiastic order (υἱέ μου Αβεσσαλωμ / Αβεσσαλωμ υἱέ μου).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
ἔκρυψενcovered / hidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρύπτωmain verb→ constative aoristκρύπτω: 'hide / cover / conceal'; renders לָאַט / חָפָה; covering the face is a gesture of overwhelming grief and self-concealment in mourning.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / countenance'; renders פָּנִים; the hidden face mirrors the 'face' (πρόσωπον) of the servants David has shamed (v. 6).
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.
ἔκραξενcried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κράζωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (broke out crying)κράζω: 'cry out / shout'; renders זָעַק; the loud public cry, in tension with the covered face — grief that cannot be hidden.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (resumptive)→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject (resumptive).
φωνῇwith a voiceDativedative of manner/instrument→ sphere or referenceφωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ('with a loud voice') is a stock LXX idiom for an emphatic cry.
μεγάλῃloud / greatDativeattributive adjective (modifying φωνῇ)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great / loud'; intensifies the public, uncontained nature of David's grief.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple introducing direct speech→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): introduces the renewed lament.
υἱέsonVocativevocative (lament refrain)→ direct addressυἱός (voc.): the cry to the dead son resumes.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomvocative (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as vocative (indeclinable name).
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomvocative (indeclinable name, repeated chiastically)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as vocative (indeclinable name, repeated chiastically).
υἱέsonVocativevocative (refrain)→ direct addressυἱέ: meaning 'son'; it serves as vocative (refrain).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
6
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ιωαβ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα εἰς τὸν οἶκον καὶ εἶπεν κατῄσχυνας σήμερον τὸ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν δούλων σου τῶν ἐξαιρουμένων σε σήμερον καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν τῶν υἱῶν σου καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων σου καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν τῶν γυναικῶν σου καὶ τῶν παλλακῶν σου
And Joab came in to the king, into the house, and said, 'You have shamed today the face of all your servants who delivered you today, and the life of your sons and your daughters, and the life of your wives and your concubines,'
Joab's rebuke is startlingly blunt for a subject addressing a king: he begins not with deference but with the accusation κατῄσχυνας ('you have shamed'), the verbal counterpart to the αἰσχυνόμενοι of v. 4. The catalogue of those endangered (servants, sons, daughters, wives, concubines) underlines the magnitude of David's ingratitude toward those who saved them all.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 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 (movement)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; Joab forces his way in to confront the grieving king.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: David's commander; his entry initiates the most outspoken rebuke a subject delivers to David in the narrative.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward person).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction into place)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction into place).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; renders בַּיִת; the gate-chamber where David secludes himself.
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: introduces Joab's blunt rebuke.
κατῄσχυναςyou have shamedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · καταισχύνωmain verb of the rebuke (direct accusation)→ constative aorist (accomplished disgrace)καταισχύνω: 'put to shame / disgrace'; renders בּוֹשׁ (Hiphil); the emphatic opening of Joab's charge — David has publicly humiliated the very men who saved him; cognate with the αἰσχυνόμενοι of v. 4.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; repeated four times in vv. 6–8, hammering the immediacy of the offense and the urgency of the remedy.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativedirect object of κατῄσχυνας→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; renders פָּנִים; to shame the 'face' is to bring public disgrace; ironic echo of David's own hidden face (v. 5).
πάντωνof allGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying δούλων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of David's servants are dishonored.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservantsGenitivegenitive (whose face is shamed)→ relational specificationδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; renders עֶבֶד; here the soldiers who fought for David, whose self-sacrifice he has slighted.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τῶνwhoGenitivearticle (with participle ἐξαιρουμένων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξαιρουμένωνdelivering / savingPres Mid Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · ἐξαιρέωattributive participle (modifying δούλων)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω: 'take out / rescue / deliver'; mid. 'deliver / save'; renders נָצַל; the servants 'who deliver you' — those who saved David's life in battle.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξαιρουμένων→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαιρουμένων.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: meaning 'today'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴνlifeAccusativedirect object (second object of κατῄσχυνας)→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'life' — the servants safeguarded the very lives of David's family.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (whose life)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the king's sons whose lives the army preserved.
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.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive (whose life)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת.
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.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴνlifeAccusativedirect object (third object of κατῄσχυνας)→ object specificationψυχή: 'life'; the lives of the wives and concubines, likewise preserved.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικῶνwives / womenGenitivegenitive (whose life)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה.
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.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακῶνconcubinesGenitivegenitive (whose life)→ relational specificationπαλλακή: 'concubine'; renders פִּילֶגֶשׁ; recalls the ten concubines Absalom violated (16:21–22).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
7
τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν τοὺς μισοῦντάς σε καὶ μισεῖν τοὺς ἀγαπῶντάς σε καὶ ἀνήγγειλας σήμερον ὅτι οὔκ εἰσιν οἱ ἄρχοντές σου οὐδὲ παῖδες ὅτι ἔγνωκα σήμερον ὅτι εἰ Αβεσσαλωμ ἔζη πάντες ἡμεῖς σήμερον νεκροί ὅτι τότε τὸ εὐθὲς ἦν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου
by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you; and you have shown today that your commanders and servants are nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive, and all of us today dead, then it would be right in your eyes.
Joab sharpens the charge with a chiastic antithesis (loving haters / hating lovers) and a brutal hypothetical: David would be content if Absalom lived and all his loyal men were dead. The repeated ὅτι-clauses pile up the indictment, and σήμερον again stresses the present crisis.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
τοῦbyGenitivearticle (with epexegetical infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαπᾶνto lovePres Act Infin · ἀγαπάωarticular infinitive (epexegetical: explaining the shame)→ durative presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהֵב; the τοῦ-infinitive explains how David shamed his servants — by loving those who hate him.
τοὺςthe onesAccusativearticle (substantivizing participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισοῦντάςhatingPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · μισέωsubstantival participle (object of ἀγαπᾶν)→ verbal action or stateμισέω: 'hate'; renders שָׂנֵא; 'those who hate you' — Absalom and the rebels whom David mourns.
σεyouAccusativeobject of the participle→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of the participle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μισεῖνto hatePres Act Infin · μισέωarticular infinitive (parallel to ἀγαπᾶν)→ durative presentμισέω: the antithetical half of the chiasm — hating those who love you.
τοὺςthe onesAccusativearticle (substantivizing participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαπῶντάςlovingPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (object of μισεῖν)→ verbal action or stateἀγαπάω (ptcp.): 'those who love you' — David's loyal servants whom he has shamed.
σεyouAccusativeobject of the participle→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of the participle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλαςyou have declaredAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (Joab's interpretation of David's conduct)→ constative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / declare / make plain'; here David's behavior has 'declared / shown' something — that his officers mean nothing to him.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: meaning 'today'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of ἀνήγγειλας)→ clausal contributionὅτι: introduces the content David has 'declared'.
οὔκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates εἰσιν; 'your officers are not (anything to you)'.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (with negative: 'are nothing')→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; with οὐκ, an elliptical idiom — the commanders and servants 'are nothing' / do not count in David's eyes.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντέςcommanders / rulersNominativesubject of εἰσιν→ participant prominenceἄρχων: 'ruler / commander / official'; renders שַׂר; David's military leaders, whom his grief treats as worthless.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative→ clausal contributionοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; extends the negation to the παῖδες.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject (parallel to ἄρχοντες)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / attendant'; renders עֶבֶד; David's retainers, also counted as nothing.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces Joab's inferred certainty.
ἔγνωκαI knowPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (Joab's settled conviction)→ perfect of present state ('I have come to know / I know')γινώσκω (perf.): 'know'; the perfect ἔγνωκα expresses a settled realization — Joab now perceives David's true preference.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: meaning 'today'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of ἔγνωκα)→ clausal contributionὅτι: meaning 'that'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
εἰifconditional conjunction (contrary-to-fact protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; introduces the brutal counterfactual hypothesis.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject of ἔζη (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἔζη (indeclinable name).
ἔζηwere aliveImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of contrary-to-fact protasis→ imperfect (counterfactual: 'if he were living')ζάω: 'live'; the imperfect ἔζη in the counterfactual condition — 'if Absalom were (still) alive'.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive (with ἡμεῖς)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; 'all of us' — David's loyal followers.
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (in the apodosis)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): emphatic 'we' — Joab includes himself and all the loyal.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: meaning 'today'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
νεκροίdeadNominativepredicate adjective (with implied verb 'were')→ participant prominenceνεκρός: 'dead'; the predicate of the apodosis: 'all of us dead' — the monstrous price David would, by his grief, seem to prefer.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for'; introduces the concluding indictment.
τότεthentemporal adverb (apodosis marker)→ adverbial qualificationτότε: 'then / in that case'; 'then it would be right in your eyes'.
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantivizing εὐθὲς)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐθὲςright / straightNominativesubstantival adjective (subject of ἦν: 'the right thing')→ participant prominenceεὐθύς: 'straight / right'; substantival τὸ εὐθές = 'what is right'; renders הַיָּשָׁר; idiom τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('right in the eyes of', cf. v. 19).
ἦνwould be / wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (apodosis of counterfactual)→ imperfect (counterfactual apodosis)εἰμί (impf.): the imperfect ἦν completes the contrary-to-fact construction — 'it would have been right in your eyes'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative idiom).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (Hebraism: 'in the eyes')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in the eyes of') renders בְּעֵינֵי, the Hebraism for personal judgment or estimation.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
8
καὶ νῦν ἀναστὰς ἔξελθε καὶ λάλησον εἰς τὴν καρδίαν τῶν δούλων σου ὅτι ἐν κυρίῳ ὤμοσα ὅτι εἰ μὴ ἐκπορεύσῃ σήμερον εἰ αὐλισθήσεται ἀνὴρ μετὰ σοῦ τὴν νύκτα ταύτην καὶ ἐπίγνωθι σεαυτῷ καὶ κακόν σοι τοῦτο ὑπὲρ πᾶν τὸ κακὸν τὸ ἐπελθόν σοι ἐκ νεότητός σου ἕως τοῦ νῦν
And now arise, go out and speak to the heart of your servants; for by the LORD I have sworn that if you do not go out today, not a man will lodge with you this night — and know this for yourself, this evil will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.
Joab moves from indictment to command: καὶ νῦν ('and now') turns to the imperative ἔξελθε with the idiom λάλησον εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ('speak to the heart' = encourage). The oath ἐν κυρίῳ ὤμοσα (the only Tetragrammaton in the human-speech of the chapter) backs the dire warning that abandonment is imminent — worse than any prior calamity of David's life.
Word-by-word analysis· 49 words
καὶandconjunction (with νῦν, transitional)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to imperative)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν marks the pivot from accusation to demand, a standard LXX rhetorical hinge.
ἀναστὰςhaving arisenAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀνίστημιcircumstantial participle (attendant to ἔξελθε)→ antecedent aorist participle (rising before departing)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the coordinate participle ἀναστάς ('arise and…') is a Hebraism (קוּם) signalling the start of decisive action.
ἔξελθεgo outAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain imperative→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; Joab commands the king to leave his mourning-chamber and show himself to the people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωimperative (coordinate with ἔξελθε)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλαλέω: 'speak'; with εἰς τὴν καρδίαν an idiom 'speak to the heart' = reassure, encourage (cf. Gen 34:3; Isa 40:2).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiomatic with καρδίαν)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiomatic with καρδίαν).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom 'to the heart')→ object specificationκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; λαλεῖν εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ('speak to the heart') = speak kindly/reassuringly, a Hebraism (דִּבֶּר עַל־לֵב).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservantsGenitivegenitive (whose heart)→ relational specificationδοῦλος: 'servant'; David's loyal soldiers, to be reassured.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the oath grounding the command.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (oath formula)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental/oath 'by'; ἐν κυρίῳ ὤμοσα ('I have sworn by the LORD'), the oath-idiom rendering נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בַּיהוה.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative in oath-formula (the LORD sworn by)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Joab swears by the LORD himself — the divine name (not the human 'my lord the king'), as the gravity of the oath demands.
ὤμοσαI have swornAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὀμνύωmain verb (oath)→ constative aorist (solemn declaration)ὀμνύω: 'swear / take an oath'; renders שָׁבַע; Joab binds his warning with a divine oath.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of the oath)→ clausal contributionὅτι: introduces the sworn content (with the εἰ μή idiom of an oath).
εἰifconditional particle (oath-idiom εἰ μή)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: in oaths εἰ/εἰ μή is a Hebraism (אִם) functioning as an emphatic asseveration; here εἰ μή ἐκπορεύσῃ … = 'surely if you do not go out…'.
μὴnotnegative particle (with εἰ in oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with εἰ in the oath-construction.
ἐκπορεύσῃyou go outFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐκπορεύομαιverb of the oath's protasis→ predictive future (condition)ἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out / come forth'; the condition: 'if you do not go out today' to the people.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: meaning 'today'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
εἰsurely notconditional particle (oath-idiom: emphatic negation of result)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: a second oath-εἰ heightening the asseveration — 'surely no man will lodge…' (εἰ in oaths = strong negative).
αὐλισθήσεταιwill lodgeFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · αὐλίζομαιverb of the oath's apodosis→ predictive future (consequence)αὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / spend the night / bivouac'; renders לִין; the warning that the army will desert overnight if David does not act.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of αὐλισθήσεται→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; 'not a man' — the desertion would be total.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of duration ('this night')→ object specificationνύξ: 'night'; accusative of extent of time.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the very night in question.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπίγνωθιknowAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐπιγινώσκωimperative→ ingressive aorist imperativeἐπιγινώσκω: 'recognize / know fully'; with reflexive σεαυτῷ, 'know for yourself / realize'.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive dative (of advantage/reference)→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; dative of reference, 'realize for yourself'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κακόνevilNominativepredicate (nominal clause: 'this is evil')→ participant prominenceκακός: 'bad / evil / calamity'; substantival 'evil'; the desertion would be a calamity for David.
σοιto youDativedative of disadvantage→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative (subject of nominal clause)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this (calamity)'.
ὑπὲρbeyond / worse thanpreposition + accusative (comparative)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'above / beyond / more than'; comparative Hebraism (מִן) — this evil 'worse than all'.
πᾶνallAccusativeattributive (with κακόν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακὸνevilAccusativeobject of ὑπέρ (the standard of comparison)→ object specificationκακός: 'evil / calamity'; the totality of David's prior misfortunes.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with participle ἐπελθόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπελθόνhaving come uponAor Act Ptcp Acc Neut Sg · ἐπέρχομαιattributive participle (modifying κακόν)→ verbal action or stateἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon / befall'; the participle 'that has come upon you' — David's lifetime of troubles.
σοιupon youDativedative (recipient of the calamity)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'upon you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (recipient of the calamity).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (temporal source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (temporal source).
νεότητόςyouthGenitivegenitive of source (temporal: 'from your youth')→ relational specificationνεότης: 'youth'; renders נְעוּרִים; the span 'from youth until now' = David's whole life.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal terminus)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / up to'; marks the endpoint 'until now'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with adverb νῦν substantivized)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νῦνnowadverb (substantivized: 'the now / the present')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; τοῦ νῦν, 'the present moment', closes the temporal span.
9
καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τῇ πύλῃ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἀνήγγειλαν λέγοντες ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεὺς κάθηται ἐν τῇ πύλῃ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ Ισραηλ ἔφυγεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὰ σκηνώματα αὐτοῦ
And the king arose and sat in the gate; and they told all the people, saying, 'Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.' And all the people came in before the king. But Israel had fled, every man to his tents.
David obeys Joab's command (ἀναστὰς ἔξελθε, v. 8): he rises and sits publicly in the gate, the seat of royal judgment and presence. The people gather before him, but the closing clause notes the fracture — Israel (the northern tribes who had followed Absalom) has scattered home, setting up the recall-negotiations.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
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→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; David obeys Joab's ἀναστάς ἔξελθε (v. 8).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενsatAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit / take a seat'; renders יָשַׁב; to sit in the gate is to assume the public posture of royal authority and judgment.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύλῃgateDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπύλη: 'gate'; the public seat of the king, contrasting the private mourning-chamber of v. 1.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with λαός); here as dative-equivalent recipient (Hebraizing)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject/recipient of ἀνήγγειλαν (construction ad sensum)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the report 'all the people were told' (loose Hebraizing syntax with the plural verb).
ἀνήγγειλανthey reportedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal plural)→ constative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; the impersonal third plural ('they told') conveys word spreading to all the people.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple introducing direct speech (Hebraism)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): frozen 'saying' (= לֵאמֹר).
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of κάθηται→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject of κάθηται.
κάθηταιis sittingPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb of the report (vivid present)→ stative present (settled royal posture)κάθημαι: 'sit / be seated'; the present in the report announces the king's restored public presence.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύλῃgateDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπύλῃ: meaning 'gate'; it serves as dative of place.
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 (with collective subject)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; singular verb with collective πᾶς ὁ λαός; the people gather before the king.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: meaning 'all'; it serves as attributive (with λαός).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of εἰσῆλθεν→ participant prominenceλαὸς: meaning 'people'; it serves as subject of εἰσῆλθεν.
κατὰbeforepreposition + accusative (idiom: 'before the face of')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ πρόσωπον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative in prepositional idiom→ spatial or relational framingπρόσωπον: 'face'; in the locution κατὰ πρόσωπον = 'before'.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive (before whose face)→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive (before whose face).
καὶbutconjunction (mild adversative/contrastive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here contrastive — introducing the counter-fact of Israel's scattering.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable name, collective)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here the northern tribes who had followed Absalom, now dispersed.
ἔφυγενhad fledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (collective subject Ισραηλ / ἀνήρ)→ constative aorist (pluperfect sense in English)φεύγω: 'flee'; the army of Israel has scattered to their homes, a fracture David must now mend.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativesubject in apposition (distributive: 'every man')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; distributive 'each man' (= אִישׁ) with the singular verb.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνώματαtents / dwellingsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationσκήνωμα: 'tent / dwelling'; renders אֹהֶל; 'to his tents' is the idiom for dispersing home (cf. 20:1).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
10
καὶ ἦν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς κρινόμενος ἐν πάσαις φυλαῖς Ισραηλ λέγοντες ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυιδ ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξείλατο ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς ἀλλοφύλων καὶ νῦν πέφευγεν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ Αβεσσαλωμ
And all the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, 'King David delivered us from all our enemies, and he himself rescued us from the hand of the foreigners; and now he has fled from the land and from his kingdom, from Absalom.'
The periphrastic imperfect ἦν … κρινόμενος ('was disputing / arguing') depicts ongoing public debate across the tribes. Their argument is a recital of David's saving deeds (ἐρρύσατο … ἐξείλατο) against the irony that this same deliverer has now fled before Absalom — the rationale for his recall.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with κρινόμενος)→ durative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; forms the periphrastic imperfect ἦν … κρινόμενος, stressing ongoing debate.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: meaning 'all'; it serves as attributive (with λαός).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλαὸς: meaning 'people'; it serves as subject.
κρινόμενοςdisputingPres Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · κρίνωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect→ durative (ongoing)κρίνω: 'judge / decide'; mid. 'dispute / contend / argue'; renders דּוֹן / רִיב; the people argue back and forth over recalling David.
ἐνthroughoutpreposition + dative (distributive locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'throughout'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (distributive locative).
πάσαιςallDativeattributive (with φυλαῖς)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'.
φυλαῖςtribesDativedative of place (throughout the tribes)→ sphere or referenceφυλή: 'tribe'; renders שֵׁבֶט; the debate spans the whole nation.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'tribes of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'the tribes of Israel'.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple introducing direct speech (constructio ad sensum, plural)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): plural by sense (the people as individuals); introduces their argument.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἐρρύσατο (apposition with Δαυιδ)→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject of ἐρρύσατο (apposition with Δαυιδ).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject in apposition (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX; named here to celebrate his past deliverances.
ἐρρύσατοdeliveredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb of the people's recital→ constative aoristῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver / save'; renders נָצַל / יָשַׁע; recalls David's victories over Israel's enemies.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive (with ἐχθρῶν)→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as attributive (with ἐχθρῶν).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy'; renders אֹיֵב; the foes from whom David delivered the nation.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; 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.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself' — emphasizing David personally as deliverer.
ἐξείλατοrescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (parallel to ἐρρύσατο)→ constative aoristἐξαιρέω: 'take out / rescue / deliver'; renders נָצַל; recalls David's deliverance from the Philistines specifically.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
χειρὸςhand / powerGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand of') = from the power of; Hebraism (מִיַּד).
ἀλλοφύλωνforeigners / PhilistinesGenitivegenitive (whose hand)→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the LXX's standard rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים (Philistines), David's archetypal enemies.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (turning to the present problem)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (contrast with past deeds)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; the pivot from David's past glory to his present exile.
πέφευγενhas fledPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (perfect of resultant state)→ perfect (present result of past flight)φεύγω (perf.): 'has fled'; the perfect stresses David's present condition of exile from his realm.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; David's flight from his own land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείαςkingdom / kingshipGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationβασιλεία: 'kingdom / reign'; renders מַלְכוּת; David has fled even from his royal rule.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀπὸfrom / because ofpreposition + genitive (cause/source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here 'from (before) / because of'; David fled on account of Absalom.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: the now-dead usurper whose revolt caused David's flight.
11
καὶ Αβεσσαλωμ ὃν ἐχρίσαμεν ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν ἀπέθανεν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ καὶ νῦν ἵνα τί ὑμεῖς κωφεύετε τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι τὸν βασιλέα καὶ τὸ ῥῆμα παντὸς Ισραηλ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα
'And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in the battle. So now, why are you silent about bringing back the king?' And the word of all Israel came to the king.
Israel's debate reaches its conclusion: the man they anointed (ἐχρίσαμεν) is dead, so why the silence (κωφεύετε) about David's return? The closing clause notes that this consensus 'word of all Israel' reached the king, prompting his own counter-initiative toward Judah in vv. 12–14.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative/argument conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεσσαλωμAbsalomsubject of ἀπέθανεν (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσαλωμ: the anointed usurper now dead.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐχρίσαμεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative 'whom'.
ἐχρίσαμενwe anointedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · χρίωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristχρίω: 'anoint'; renders מָשַׁח; the people confess that they themselves had anointed Absalom king (cf. 15:10) — now a dead end.
ἐφ᾿overpreposition + genitive (authority over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over'; anointed 'over us' as king.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐπί.
ἀπέθανενhas diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; Absalom's death in battle removes the alternative to David.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/circumstance)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/circumstance).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμῳbattleDativedative of place/circumstance→ sphere or referenceπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the battle in the forest of Ephraim (ch. 18).
καὶandconjunction (with νῦν, transitional)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to exhortation)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν introduces the rhetorical demand.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (in idiom ἵνα τί = 'why?')→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why? / to what end?'; idiom rendering לָמָּה.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom ἵνα τί)→ participant referenceτίς/τί: interrogative; with ἵνα, 'why?'.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceσύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): emphatic 'you' — the people charging one another with inaction.
κωφεύετεare silentPres Act Indic 2 Pl · κωφεύωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive present (ongoing silence)κωφεύω: 'be silent / mute / inactive'; from κωφός ('deaf/dumb'); renders חָרַשׁ; 'why are you keeping silent' about restoring the king?
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστρέψαιto bring backAor Act Infin · ἐπιστρέφωarticular infinitive (epexegetical: about which they are silent)→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / bring back / restore'; renders שׁוּב (Hiphil); the keynote verb of the recall (vv. 11, 12, 13, 16, 44).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψαι→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of ἐπιστρέψαι.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing closing note)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαword / reportNominativesubject of ἦλθεν→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / matter / saying'; renders דָּבָר; the consensus of all Israel reaches David.
παντὸςof allGenitiveattributive (with Ισραηλ)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of source (indeclinable: 'word of all Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the whole northern coalition.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the report came to the king's notice.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward person).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
12
καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυιδ ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς Σαδωκ καὶ πρὸς Αβιαθαρ τοὺς ἱερεῖς λέγων λαλήσατε πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους Ιουδα λέγοντες ἵνα τί γίνεσθε ἔσχατοι τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι τὸν βασιλέα εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ λόγος παντὸς Ισραηλ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα
And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, 'Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring back the king to his house? — for the word of all Israel has come to the king.'
David shrewdly does not wait passively; he uses the priests Zadok and Abiathar as envoys to press his own tribe Judah, who lag behind Israel in recalling him. The same rhetorical ἵνα τί ('why?') the people used in v. 11 is now turned on Judah, with the goad that 'all Israel' has already moved.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (apposition with Δαυιδ)→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject (apposition with Δαυιδ).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject in apposition (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; David dispatches envoys to Judah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣαδωκZadokaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαδωκ: transliteration of צָדוֹק; indeclinable; the high priest loyal to David (cf. 15:24–29).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΑβιαθαρAbiatharaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβιαθαρ: transliteration of אֶבְיָתָר; indeclinable; the other priest loyal to David.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἱερεῖς, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (Zadok and Abiathar)→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the priestly envoys.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple introducing direct speech→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): introduces David's message.
λαλήσατεspeakAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαλέωimperative (David's instruction to the priests)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλαλέω: 'speak'; the command to the priests to address Judah's elders.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρουςeldersAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; renders זָקֵן; the leaders of Judah whose support David seeks.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'elders of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; David's own tribe.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple introducing embedded speech (the priests' message)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): the second 'saying', introducing the words the priests are to speak.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'; the same rhetorical goad as v. 11, now aimed at Judah.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom ἵνα τί)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom ἵνα τί).
γίνεσθεare you becomingPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive presentγίνομαι: 'become / be'; 'why do you become last?' — Judah lags behind the northern tribes.
ἔσχατοιlastNominativepredicate adjective (with γίνεσθε)→ participant prominenceἔσχατος: 'last / final'; renders אַחֲרוֹן; the reproach that David's own tribe is slowest to restore him.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστρέψαιto bring backAor Act Infin · ἐπιστρέφωarticular infinitive (epexegetical)→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'bring back / restore'; the recall-verb again.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψαι→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of ἐπιστρέψαι.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; David's royal house in Jerusalem.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶfor / andconjunction (introducing the goad)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λόγοςword / reportNominativesubject of ἦλθεν→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / report'; renders דָּבָר; the consensus of all Israel, used to shame Judah into action.
παντὸςof allGenitiveattributive (with Ισραηλ)→ relational specificationπαντὸς: meaning 'of all'; it serves as attributive (with Ισραηλ).
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of source (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable.
ἦλθενhas comeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the report has reached the king.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
13
ἀδελφοί μου ὑμεῖς ὀστᾶ μου καὶ σάρκες μου ὑμεῖς καὶ ἵνα τί γίνεσθε ἔσχατοι τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι τὸν βασιλέα εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ
'You are my brothers, you are my bones and my flesh; so why are you the last to bring back the king to his house?'
David presses the kinship bond: Judah are his brothers, his 'bone and flesh' (the covenant-kinship idiom of Gen 29:14). The repeated ἵνα τί γίνεσθε ἔσχατοι reinforces the reproach of v. 12 — kinship should make Judah first, not last, to restore him.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativepredicate nominative (nominal clause: 'you are my brothers')→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; the kinship appeal — Judah is David's own tribe.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, nominal clause)→ participant referenceσύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): emphatic 'you' — the men of Judah.
ὀστᾶbonesNominativepredicate nominative (kinship idiom)→ participant prominenceὀστέον (pl. ὀστᾶ): 'bone'; ὀστᾶ … καὶ σάρκες ('bone and flesh') renders the kinship idiom עֶצֶם וּבָשָׂר (Gen 29:14).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σάρκεςfleshNominativepredicate nominative (kinship idiom)→ participant prominenceσάρξ (pl. σάρκες): 'flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; completes the 'bone and flesh' kinship formula.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, resumptive)→ participant referenceὑμεῖς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject (emphatic, resumptive).
καὶand / soconjunction (transition to question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom).
γίνεσθεare you becomingPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive presentγίνομαι: 'become / be'; the reproach repeated from v. 12.
ἔσχατοιlastNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceἔσχατος: 'last'; the kinship makes their tardiness the more reprehensible.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστρέψαιto bring backAor Act Infin · ἐπιστρέφωarticular infinitive (epexegetical)→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'bring back / restore'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψαι→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of ἐπιστρέψαι.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the royal house in Jerusalem.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
14
καὶ τῷ Αμεσσαϊ ἐρεῖτε οὐχὶ ὀστοῦν μου καὶ σάρξ μου σύ καὶ νῦν τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη εἰ μὴ ἄρχων δυνάμεως ἔσῃ ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἀντὶ Ιωαβ
'And to Amasa you shall say, Are you not my bone and my flesh? So may God do to me, and may he add more, if you shall not be commander of the army before me all the days, in place of Joab.'
David sends a separate message to Amasa (Absalom's former general), binding himself by a self-imprecation oath (τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ θεὸς … εἰ μή) to make him commander in Joab's place. This co-opts the rebel commander and pointedly demotes Joab — both a reward for defection and David's revenge for Joab's killing of Absalom and his blunt rebuke (vv. 6–8).
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative/message conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Αμεσσαϊ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμεσσαϊAmasadative recipient (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑμεσσαϊ: transliteration of עֲמָשָׂא (Amasa); indeclinable; Absalom's commander (17:25), now to be won over and set over Judah's forces.
ἐρεῖτεyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Pl · λέγω/ἐρῶmain verb (instruction to the priests)→ directive future (functioning as command)ἐρῶ (fut. of λέγω): 'say / tell'; the future for command — 'you shall say to Amasa'.
οὐχὶnot?interrogative negative (expecting 'yes')→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic 'not'; in a question expecting affirmation, 'are you not…?'.
ὀστοῦνboneNominativepredicate nominative (kinship idiom)→ participant prominenceὀστοῦν: 'bone'; same kinship idiom as v. 13; Amasa, like David, was a kinsman (son of David's sister, 17:25).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σάρξfleshNominativepredicate nominative (kinship idiom)→ participant prominenceσάρξ: 'flesh'; completing the kinship formula.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
σύyouNominativesubject (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you' — Amasa addressed directly.
καὶandconjunction (with νῦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to oath)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν leads into the self-imprecation oath.
τάδεthese things / soAccusativedemonstrative (object in oath-formula)→ object specificationὅδε (pl. τάδε): 'these things'; in the oath τάδε ποιήσαι … καὶ τάδε προσθείη ('may God do thus … and add thus') — the self-curse idiom (כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה … וְכֹה יוֹסִיף).
ποιήσαιmay he doAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ποιέωoptative of wish (oath-imprecation)→ optative of imprecationποιέω: 'do / make'; the aorist optative in the self-curse — 'so may God do to me'.
μοιto meDativedative of disadvantage (object of imprecation)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (object of imprecation).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (of the imprecation verbs)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; invoked as the enforcer of David's oath.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάδεthese things / moreAccusativedemonstrative (object of προσθείη)→ object specificationὅδε (pl. τάδε): the second half of the oath-formula, 'and so may he add'.
προσθείηmay he addAor Act Opt 3 Sg · προστίθημιoptative of wish (oath-imprecation)→ optative of imprecationπροστίθημι: 'add / add more'; renders יָסַף; the standard second clause of the OT self-curse oath.
εἰifconditional particle (oath-idiom εἰ μή)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ μή: in the oath, an emphatic asseveration ('surely you shall be…').
μὴnotnegative particle (with εἰ in oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with εἰ in the oath-construction.
ἄρχωνcommander / rulerNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσῃ)→ participant prominenceἄρχων: 'ruler / commander'; ἄρχων δυνάμεως = 'commander of the army', the post David promises Amasa.
δυνάμεωςof the army / hostGenitivegenitive (what he commands)→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'power / force / army'; renders צָבָא; 'commander of the host' = chief of the armed forces.
ἔσῃyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίverb of the oath's content→ predictive future (sworn promise)εἰμί (fut. ἔσῃ): 'be'; the sworn future appointment of Amasa.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence/service of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism (לִפְנֵי); 'before me' = in my service.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): emphatic 'me'.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive (with ἡμέρας)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration ('all the days')→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας = 'continually / always'; the appointment is to be permanent.
ἀντὶin place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of'; Amasa is to replace Joab.
ΙωαβJoabgenitive object of ἀντί (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: the demoted commander; this slight will later prompt Joab to murder Amasa (20:9–10).
15
καὶ ἔκλινεν τὴν καρδίαν παντὸς ἀνδρὸς Ιουδα ὡς ἀνδρὸς ἑνός καὶ ἀπέστειλαν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα λέγοντες ἐπιστράφητι σὺ καὶ πάντες οἱ δοῦλοί σου
And he bent the heart of every man of Judah as one man, and they sent to the king, saying, 'Return, you and all your servants.'
David's appeal succeeds: he 'bends the heart' of all Judah ὡς ἀνδρὸς ἑνός ('as one man') — perfect unanimity. Judah now sends the formal invitation ἐπιστράφητι ('return'), the imperative counterpart to the recall-verb that has dominated the section.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλινενhe bent / inclinedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλίνωmain verb (David as implicit subject)→ constative aoristκλίνω: 'bend / incline / turn'; renders נָטָה; David 'inclined the heart' of Judah — won their allegiance.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativedirect object→ object specificationκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; the seat of allegiance and will.
παντὸςof everyGenitiveattributive (with ἀνδρὸς)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'.
ἀνδρὸςmanGenitivegenitive (whose heart)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; 'every man of Judah' collectively.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; David's tribe, now unanimous.
ὡςascomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the unanimity simile.
ἀνδρὸςmanGenitivegenitive (in simile 'as of one man')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; ὡς ἀνδρὸς ἑνός = 'as one man', the idiom for total unanimity (cf. Judg 20:8).
ἑνόςoneGenitiveattributive numeral (with ἀνδρός)→ relational specificationεἷς: 'one'; 'as one man' — unanimous.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλανthey sentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (Judah as subject)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; Judah dispatches the invitation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple introducing direct speech→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): introduces the invitation.
ἐπιστράφητιreturnAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωimperative (the formal recall)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἐπιστρέφω (aor. pass. impv.): 'turn back / return'; the imperative climaxes the recall-theme — Judah formally invites David home.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic, with imperative)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you' — the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive (with δοῦλοι)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλοίservantsNominativesubject (with σύ, of the implied return)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; David's whole retinue invited to return with him.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
16
καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ ἄνδρες Ιουδα ἦλθαν εἰς Γαλγαλα τοῦ πορεύεσθαι εἰς ἀπαντὴν τοῦ βασιλέως διαβιβάσαι τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Ιορδάνην
And the king returned and came as far as the Jordan; and the men of Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.
The recall succeeds in action: David returns and reaches the Jordan, while Judah musters at Gilgal to escort him across. The double infinitive of purpose (πορεύεσθαι … διαβιβάσαι) frames the Jordan-crossing that organizes the next section (Shimei, Mephibosheth, Barzillai all meet David at this ford).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; David obeys the invitation ἐπιστράφητι (v. 15) — the recall is enacted.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; David advances toward the Jordan.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (terminus of movement)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'up to / as far as'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (declinable place-name)→ relational specificationΙορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): 'the Jordan'; renders יַרְדֵּן; declined as a first-declension masculine in the LXX; the boundary David must recross to reclaim his realm.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; 'the men of Judah' who come to escort the king.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
ἦλθανcameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the Hellenistic α-aorist form ἦλθαν (= ἦλθον).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΓαλγαλαGilgalaccusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓαλγαλα: transliteration of גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal); indeclinable; the staging-point near the Jordan crossing, historically significant since Joshua.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορεύεσθαιto goPres Mid Infin · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ imperfective (ongoing manner of conduct)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the τοῦ-infinitive of purpose — they came 'in order to go to meet'.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς ἀπαντήν: 'to meet / to a meeting with'; idiom (לִקְרַאת).
ἀπαντὴνa meetingAccusativeaccusative in prepositional idiom (εἰς ἀπαντήν)→ spatial or relational framingἀπαντή / ἀπάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; the recurring idiom εἰς ἀπαντὴν τοῦ βασιλέως (vv. 16, 17, 21, 25) for those who come down to meet David.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive (whom they meet)→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive (whom they meet).
διαβιβάσαιto bring overAor Act Infin · διαβιβάζωinfinitive of purpose (second purpose)→ verbal action or stateδιαβιβάζω: 'cause to cross / bring over'; the causative of διαβαίνω; renders עָבַר (Hiphil); the task of ferrying the king across the Jordan.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of διαβιβάσαι→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of διαβιβάσαι.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the thing crossed (double accusative with διαβιβάσαι)→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): 'the Jordan'; the accusative of the space traversed — to bring the king 'over the Jordan'.
17
καὶ ἐτάχυνεν Σεμεϊ υἱὸς Γηρα υἱοῦ τοῦ Ιεμενι ἐκ Βαουριμ καὶ κατέβη μετὰ ἀνδρὸς Ιουδα εἰς ἀπαντὴν τοῦ βασιλέως Δαυιδ
And Shimei son of Gera, the son of the Benjamite, from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
Shimei, who had cursed and stoned David during his flight (16:5–13), now 'hurries' (ἐτάχυνεν) to be first to welcome him back — a politically urgent act of self-preservation. His Benjamite (Saulide) lineage and his town Bahurim are noted to recall his earlier hostility.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐτάχυνενhurriedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ταχύνωmain verb→ constative aoristταχύνω: 'hasten / hurry'; renders מָהַר; Shimei's haste betrays his anxiety to reach David before judgment can fall.
ΣεμεϊShimeisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣεμεϊ: transliteration of שִׁמְעִי (Shimei); indeclinable; the Benjamite who cursed David in flight (16:5–13).
υἱὸςsonNominativeapposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; in the patronymic 'son of Gera'.
Γηραof Geragenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΓηρα: transliteration of גֵּרָא (Gera); indeclinable; Shimei's father.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (further lineage)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; here 'the son of the Benjamite' — describing Gera/the line.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιεμενι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεμενιBenjamite / Jeminitegenitive of relationship (indeclinable gentilic transliteration)→ participant identificationΙεμενι: transliteration of הַיְמִינִי / בֶּן־הַיְמִינִי ('the Benjamite / son of the right hand'); indeclinable; marks Shimei's Saulide-Benjamite descent.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
ΒαουριμBahurimgenitive of origin (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒαουριμ: transliteration of בַּחֻרִים (Bahurim); indeclinable; the village where Shimei had cursed David (16:5).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέβηcame downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; down to the Jordan valley to meet the king.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
ἀνδρὸςthe menGenitivegenitive object of μετά (collective singular)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Judah'.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς ἀπαντήν: 'to meet'.
ἀπαντὴνa meetingAccusativeaccusative in idiom (εἰς ἀπαντήν)→ object specificationἀπαντή: 'meeting'; the recurring meeting-idiom.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive (whom he meets)→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive (whom he meets).
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive in apposition (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; 'King David'.
18
καὶ χίλιοι ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ Βενιαμιν καὶ Σιβα τὸ παιδάριον τοῦ οἴκου Σαουλ καὶ δέκα πέντε υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἴκοσι δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεύθυναν τὸν Ιορδάνην ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ βασιλέως
And a thousand men with him from Benjamin, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons with him, and his twenty servants with him; and they made straight for the Jordan before the king.
A great Benjamite contingent (a thousand men) and Ziba, Saul's steward, with his large household, all rush to the Jordan ahead of the king. The show of Saulide-Benjamite numbers underscores the political stakes — the house of Saul scrambling to reconcile with the restored David.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χίλιοιa thousandNominativeattributive numeral (with ἄνδρες)→ measure or countχίλιοι: 'thousand'; the large Benjamite escort accompanying Shimei.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (nominal clause: 'a thousand men with him')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'; elided μετ᾿ before vowel.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Βενιαμιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of origin (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΒενιαμιν: transliteration of בִּנְיָמִין (Benjamin); indeclinable; Saul's tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣιβαZibasubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣιβα: transliteration of צִיבָא (Ziba); indeclinable; Saul's household steward who had slandered Mephibosheth (16:1–4).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservant / young manNominativeapposition (Ziba's role)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young servant / lad / steward'; renders נַעַר; here the household servant/steward of Saul's house.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive (whose servant)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; the house of Saul.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of שָׁאוּל (Saul); indeclinable; the former king, David's predecessor and rival house.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δέκαtenindeclinable numeral (with πέντε: 'fifteen')→ measure or countδέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable; with πέντε forms 'fifteen'.
πέντεfiveindeclinable numeral (δέκα πέντε = fifteen)→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; indeclinable; δέκα πέντε = 'fifteen sons'.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (nominal clause)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; Ziba's fifteen sons, a sign of his substantial household.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἴκοσιtwentyindeclinable numeral (with δοῦλοι)→ measure or countεἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable.
δοῦλοιservantsNominativesubject (nominal clause)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; Ziba's twenty servants.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεύθυνανmade straight / rushedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατευθύνωmain verb→ constative aoristκατευθύνω: 'make straight / direct (one's course)'; renders צָלַח / יָשַׁר; they 'made straight for the Jordan', plunging ahead to ford it before the king.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'; the river they hasten to cross.
ἔμπροσθενbeforepreposition + genitive (in front of)→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; they cross ahead of the king to prepare his passage.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of ἔμπροσθεν.
19
καὶ ἐλειτούργησαν τὴν λειτουργίαν τοῦ διαβιβάσαι τὸν βασιλέα καὶ διέβη ἡ διάβασις ἐξεγεῖραι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ Σεμεϊ υἱὸς Γηρα ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως διαβαίνοντος αὐτοῦ τὸν Ιορδάνην
And they performed the service of bringing the king over; and the ferry crossed over to bring over the household of the king and to do what was right in his eyes. And Shimei son of Gera fell on his face before the king as he was crossing the Jordan,
The cognate construction ἐλειτούργησαν τὴν λειτουργίαν ('they served the service') is a Hebraism stressing the dutiful ferrying of the royal household. As the king crosses, Shimei prostrates himself (ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον) — the posture of abject supplication, setting up his confession in v. 20.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλειτούργησανthey performed the serviceAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λειτουργέωmain verb (cognate construction)→ constative aoristλειτουργέω: 'serve / minister / render service'; with cognate object λειτουργίαν, a Hebraism (עָבַד עֲבֹדָה); the dutiful task of ferrying the king's house.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λειτουργίανserviceAccusativecognate accusative (direct object of ἐλειτούργησαν)→ object specificationλειτουργία: 'service / ministry'; the cognate object intensifying the verb.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαβιβάσαιto bring overAor Act Infin · διαβιβάζωepexegetical infinitive (defining the service)→ verbal action or stateδιαβιβάζω: 'bring across'; defines the service rendered.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of διαβιβάσαι→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of διαβιβάσαι.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the crossing itself.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with διάβασις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διάβασιςferry / crossingNominativesubject of διέβη→ participant prominenceδιάβασις: 'crossing / ford / ferry'; here the ferry-boat or crossing-party that transported the royal household.
ἐξεγεῖραιto bring over / fetchAor Act Infin · ἐξεγείρωinfinitive of purpose→ verbal action or stateἐξεγείρω: lit. 'rouse / raise up'; here in the sense of conveying/fetching across the king's household (rendering a Hebrew verb of bringing over).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseholdAccusativedirect object of ἐξεγεῖραι→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; the royal family and retinue being ferried.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Infin · ποιέωarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitive (the commanded action to be carried out)ποιέω: 'do / make'; 'to do what is right in his eyes' — to serve the king's pleasure.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing εὐθές)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐθὲςright / what is rightAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποιῆσαι)→ object specificationεὐθύς: 'straight / right'; τὸ εὐθές = 'what is right'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς idiom for the king's pleasure (cf. v. 7).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes').
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiom)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in the eyes of') = in the estimation of.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣεμεϊShimeisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣεμεϊ: Shimei, now prostrating himself before the king.
υἱὸςsonNominativeapposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Gera'.
Γηραof Geragenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΓηρα: indeclinable; Shimei's father.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ('fell on his face') is the posture of abject supplication and homage.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + accusative (direction of prostration)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of prostration).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative (idiom: 'on his face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; the prostration idiom.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism (לִפְנֵי).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of ἐνώπιον.
διαβαίνοντοςas he crossedPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Sg · διαβαίνωgenitive absolute (temporal)→ durative (concurrent action)διαβαίνω (ptcp.): 'cross over'; in a genitive absolute with αὐτοῦ — 'as he (the king) was crossing the Jordan'.
αὐτοῦheGenitivegenitive subject of the absolute→ relational specificationαὐτός: subject of the genitive absolute (the king).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed (object of διαβαίνοντος)→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'; the river being crossed.
20
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα μὴ διαλογισάσθω ὁ κύριός μου ἀνομίαν καὶ μὴ μνησθῇς ὅσα ἠδίκησεν ὁ παῖς σου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐξεπορεύετο ἐξ Ιερουσαλημ τοῦ θέσθαι τὸν βασιλέα εἰς τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ
And he said to the king, 'Let not my lord reckon iniquity against me, and do not remember all that your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king went out from Jerusalem — that the king should not take it to his heart.'
Shimei begs the king not to 'reckon iniquity' against him nor remember his offense at David's flight (16:5–13). The deferential third-person ὁ κύριός μου ('my lord') and ὁ παῖς σου ('your servant') frame the appeal; the τοῦ-infinitive expresses his hope that the king take none of it 'to heart'.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Shimei's plea.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive/imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: prohibition.
διαλογισάσθωlet him reckonAor Mid Impv 3 Sg · διαλογίζομαιthird-person prohibitive imperative→ prohibitive aorist imperativeδιαλογίζομαι: 'reckon / calculate / impute'; renders חָשַׁב; Shimei begs the king not to 'reckon iniquity' (impute guilt) to him.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόςlordNominativesubject (deferential address)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here human 'my lord' — the deferential title for David (not the Tetragrammaton); ὁ κύριός μου is Shimei's respectful self-distancing third-person address.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἀνομίανiniquity / lawlessnessAccusativedirect object of διαλογισάσθω→ object specificationἀνομία: 'lawlessness / iniquity'; renders עָוֹן; the guilt Shimei begs not to be charged with.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: prohibition.
μνησθῇςrememberAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιprohibitive subjunctive (second person)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctiveμιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember / call to mind'; renders זָכַר; 'do not remember' = do not hold against me.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἠδίκησεν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; 'all that your servant did wrong'.
ἠδίκησενdid wrongAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀδικέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristἀδικέω: 'do wrong / act unjustly'; renders עָוָה / חָטָא; Shimei's wrongdoing at David's flight.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / child'; ὁ παῖς σου ('your servant') — Shimei's humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the day of David's flight.
ᾗon whichDativerelative pronoun (dative of time)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative; 'the day on which'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόςlordNominativesubject (deferential)→ participant prominenceκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεύς, the standard honorific.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativeapposition (ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεύς)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific phrase 'my lord the king'.
ἐξεπορεύετοwas going outImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐκπορεύομαιverb of relative clause→ durative imperfect (ongoing departure)ἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out / depart'; the imperfect describes David's flight from Jerusalem as it was unfolding.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; indeclinable; the capital David fled and now returns toward.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θέσθαιto take to / setAor Mid Infin · τίθημιarticular infinitive (purpose/result: 'so as to take to heart')→ verbal action or stateτίθημι (aor. mid.): 'put / set / place'; θέσθαι εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ('take to heart') is a Hebraism (שִׂים עַל־לֵב); Shimei pleads the king not lay it to heart.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive→ object specificationβασιλεύς: accusative subject of θέσθαι — 'that the king (not) take it to heart'.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom with καρδίαν)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς τὴν καρδίαν: 'to the heart'; idiom for taking to heart / brooding over.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom)→ object specificationκαρδία: 'heart'; the seat of memory and grudge.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
21
ὅτι ἔγνω ὁ δοῦλός σου ὅτι ἐγὼ ἥμαρτον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἦλθον σήμερον πρότερος παντὸς οἴκου Ιωσηφ τοῦ καταβῆναι εἰς ἀπαντὴν τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ βασιλέως
'For your servant knows that I have sinned; and behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to come down to meet my lord the king.'
Shimei completes his plea with an explicit confession (ἐγὼ ἥμαρτον, 'I have sinned') and the politic claim that he is first of the 'house of Joseph' (the northern tribes) to come down to David — turning his guilt into a demonstration of renewed loyalty.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the plea of v. 20.
ἔγνωknowsAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb→ constative aorist (with present force)γινώσκω: 'know / acknowledge'; renders יָדַע; Shimei's self-aware acknowledgment of guilt.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant') — Shimei's humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of ἔγνω)→ clausal contributionὅτι: introduces the confession.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — Shimei owning his sin personally.
ἥμαρτονhave sinnedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of confession→ constative aorist (acknowledged act)ἁμαρτάνω: 'sin / miss the mark / err'; renders חָטָא; the explicit confession of wrongdoing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; calls attention to his demonstrative act of loyalty.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' again — stressing his initiative.
ἦλθονhave comeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; Shimei has come down to meet David.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the day of David's return.
πρότεροςfirst / beforeNominativepredicate adjective (priority: 'as the first')→ participant prominenceπρότερος: 'former / first / earlier'; Shimei claims to be the first of the northern tribes to welcome David back.
παντὸςof allGenitiveattributive (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of comparison/partitive (first of the house)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; 'house of Joseph' = the northern tribes collectively.
Ιωσηφof Josephgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliteration of יוֹסֵף (Joseph); indeclinable; 'house of Joseph' is shorthand for the northern (Israel) tribes.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβῆναιto come downAor Act Infin · καταβαίνωarticular infinitive of purpose→ verbal action or stateκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; to the Jordan valley to meet the king.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς ἀπαντήν: 'to meet'.
ἀπαντὴνa meetingAccusativeaccusative in idiom (εἰς ἀπαντήν)→ object specificationἀπαντή: 'meeting'.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlordGenitivegenitive (whom he meets, deferential)→ relational specificationκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; the honorific τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ βασιλέως.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitiveapposition (my lord the king)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific 'my lord the king'.
22
καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Αβεσσα υἱὸς Σαρουιας καὶ εἶπεν μὴ ἀντὶ τούτου οὐ θανατωθήσεται Σεμεϊ ὅτι κατηράσατο τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου
And Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, 'Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the anointed of the LORD?'
Abishai (son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother) interrupts the pardon with a demand for death, on the legally weighty ground that Shimei cursed τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου ('the anointed of the LORD') — invoking the sacrosanctity of YHWH's anointed king (cf. 1 Sam 24:7). The divine name κυρίου here is the Tetragrammaton.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / respond'; renders עָנָה; Abishai intervenes against the pardon.
ΑβεσσαAbishaisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑβεσσα: transliteration of אֲבִישַׁי (Abishai); indeclinable; Joab's brother, son of Zeruiah, a zealous and violent warrior who had earlier offered to behead Shimei (16:9).
υἱὸςsonNominativeapposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Zeruiah'.
Σαρουιαςof Zeruiahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαρουιας: transliteration of צְרוּיָה (Zeruiah); David's sister, mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; the matronymic marks the volatile 'sons of Zeruiah'.
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: introduces Abishai's demand.
μὴnot?interrogative particle (with following οὐ, indignant question)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: introduces an indignant rhetorical question; combined with οὐ ('shall not…?') it presses for execution.
ἀντὶfor / in return forpreposition + genitive (ground/recompense)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in return for / for'; 'for this (offense)'.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative (object of ἀντί)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the offense of cursing the king.
οὐnotnegative particle (in rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation; with μή frames the indignant 'shall he not be put to death?'.
θανατωθήσεταιshall be put to deathFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ predictive/deliberative futureθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders מוּת (Hophal/Hiphil); Abishai demands capital punishment for Shimei.
ΣεμεϊShimeisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣεμεϊ: the object of Abishai's demand.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the legal ground.
κατηράσατοhe cursedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταράομαιverb of causal clause→ constative aoristκαταράομαι: 'curse / call down evil upon'; renders קָלַל / אָרַר; Shimei's crime at 16:5–13 — cursing the LORD's anointed.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χριστὸνanointedAccusativedirect object of κατηράσατο→ object specificationχριστός: 'anointed (one)'; renders מָשִׁיחַ; the king as the LORD's anointed, whose person is sacrosanct (cf. 1 Sam 24:7; 26:9).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (the LORD's anointed)→ relational specificationκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה — 'the anointed of the LORD'; the divine name (not the human 'my lord'), grounding the sacrilege of the curse.
23
καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τί ἐμοὶ καὶ ὑμῖν υἱοὶ Σαρουιας ὅτι γίνεσθέ μοι σήμερον εἰς ἐπίβουλον σήμερον οὐ θανατωθήσεταί τις ἀνὴρ ἐξ Ισραηλ ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα εἰ σήμερον βασιλεύω ἐγὼ ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ
And David said, 'What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should become a plotter against me today? Today no man shall be put to death in Israel, for do I not know that today I am king over Israel?'
David rebuffs Abishai with the Hebraism τί ἐμοὶ καὶ ὑμῖν ('what to me and to you?' = mind your own affair). He proclaims a general amnesty — no execution 'today,' the day his kingship is restored — turning the occasion into a display of magnanimous royal clemency rather than vengeance.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's rebuke and amnesty.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (idiom τί ἐμοὶ καὶ ὑμῖν)→ participant referenceτίς/τί: in the idiom τί ἐμοὶ καὶ ὑμῖν ('what to me and to you?'), a Hebraism (מַה־לִּי וְלָכֶם) expressing dissociation/rebuke.
ἐμοὶto meDativedative (in idiom)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): 'to me'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (in idiom)→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): 'to you'; addressed to the sons of Zeruiah.
υἱοὶsonsVocativevocative (direct address)→ direct addressυἱός (voc. pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the address 'sons of Zeruiah' here carries reproach.
Σαρουιαςof Zeruiahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαρουιας: indeclinable; David repeatedly distances himself from the harsh 'sons of Zeruiah' (cf. 3:39; 16:10).
ὅτιthatconjunction (result/explanation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / because'; introduces the reason for the rebuke.
γίνεσθέyou becomePres Mid Indic 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb→ progressive presentγίνομαι: 'become'; 'you become a plotter against me' — the sons of Zeruiah's harshness is itself a hindrance.
μοιto me / against meDativedative of disadvantage→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. μοι): 'to/against me'.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the day of restoration must not be marred by bloodshed.
εἰςas / intopreposition + accusative (predicate: 'as')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: with γίνομαι, predicate sense 'become as'.
ἐπίβουλονa plotter / adversaryAccusativepredicate accusative (what they become)→ object specificationἐπίβουλος: 'plotter / one who lays snares / adversary'; renders שָׂטָן; the sons of Zeruiah become an obstacle/accuser against David's purposes.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb (emphatic repetition)→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; repeated for emphasis on the day of amnesty.
οὐnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation of θανατωθήσεται.
θανατωθήσεταίshall be put to deathFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (royal decree)→ predictive future (declarative decree)θανατόω: 'put to death'; David's amnesty: no execution today.
τιςanyNominativeindefinite pronoun (with ἀνήρ)→ participant referenceτις: 'anyone / some'; 'not any man'.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of θανατωθήσεται→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; 'no man in Israel'.
ἐξfrom / inpreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from among'; 'of/in Israel'.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive (partitive, indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the whole nation now under David's restored rule.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the amnesty in David's restored kingship.
οὐκnotnegative particle (in rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'do I not know…?', a rhetorical affirmation.
οἶδαI knowPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (rhetorical question)→ perfect with present force ('I know')οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); 'do I not know that today I reign?' — a confident assertion of restored sovereignty.
εἰthat / whetherconjunction (introducing the known fact, idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: here introduces the content of οἶδα ('that…'), in a rhetorical-question construction = 'surely I know that I reign today'.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the very day his kingship is reasserted.
βασιλεύωI am king / I reignPres Act Indic 1 Sg · βασιλεύωverb of the content-clause→ progressive present (current reign)βασιλεύω: 'be king / reign'; renders מָלַךְ; David affirms his renewed reign over all Israel.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — David himself, the restored king.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (rule over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over'; royal authority 'over Israel'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable name, with article)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the realm David rules.
24
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Σεμεϊ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεύς
And the king said to Shimei, 'You shall surely not die.' And the king swore to him.
David grants Shimei a sworn, emphatic acquittal (οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς, 'you shall by no means die') sealed with an oath. The reader knows the irony: David will later charge Solomon to bring Shimei's gray head to the grave in blood (1 Kgs 2:8–9), the oath binding David personally but not his heir.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 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: introduces the pardon.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΣεμεϊShimeiaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣεμεϊ: the pardoned man.
οὐby no meansnegative (with μή, emphatic denial)→ participant referenceοὐ μή: emphatic double negative with the aorist subjunctive — 'you shall surely not / by no means'.
μὴnotnegative (in οὐ μή construction)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: part of the emphatic οὐ μή.
ἀποθάνῃςyou shall dieAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωsubjunctive in emphatic denial (οὐ μή + aor. subj.)→ emphatic future denialἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς = 'you shall by no means die' — the strongest form of acquittal.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤμοσενsworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωmain verb→ constative aoristὀμνύω: 'swear'; renders שָׁבַע; David binds the pardon with an oath — the oath he will later instruct Solomon to circumvent (1 Kgs 2:8–9).
αὐτῷto himDativedative (indirect object: to whom he swore)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object: to whom he swore).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject (resumptive)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject (resumptive).
25
καὶ Μεμφιβοσθε υἱὸς Ιωναθαν υἱοῦ Σαουλ κατέβη εἰς ἀπαντὴν τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ οὐκ ἐθεράπευσεν τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ὠνυχίσατο οὐδὲ ἐποίησεν τὸν μύστακα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔπλυνεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἧς ἀπῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεύς ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ἧς αὐτὸς παρεγένετο ἐν εἰρήνῃ
And Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came down to meet the king; and he had not tended his feet, nor trimmed his nails, nor dressed his moustache, and his clothes he had not washed, from the day the king departed until the day he himself came back in peace.
Mephibosheth, Jonathan's lame son, comes down to meet David. The catalogue of neglected grooming (untended feet, untrimmed nails, undressed moustache, unwashed clothes) is the conventional sign of mourning — visible evidence that he had grieved David's exile throughout, refuting Ziba's slander (16:1–4).
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΜεμφιβοσθεMephiboshethsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΜεμφιβοσθε: transliteration of מְפִיבֹשֶׁת (Mephibosheth); indeclinable; Jonathan's lame son, whom David had restored to Saul's lands and his table (ch. 9).
υἱὸςsonNominativeapposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Jonathan'.
Ιωναθανof Jonathangenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliteration of יְהוֹנָתָן (Jonathan); indeclinable; Saul's son and David's covenant-friend.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (further lineage)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; 'the son of Saul' (i.e. Jonathan, son of Saul / Mephibosheth the grandson).
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; the deposed dynasty to which Mephibosheth belongs.
κατέβηcame downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; down to meet the returning king.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς ἀπαντήν: 'to meet'.
ἀπαντὴνa meetingAccusativeaccusative in idiom (εἰς ἀπαντήν)→ object specificationἀπαντή: 'meeting'.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive (whom he meets)→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive (whom he meets).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation.
ἐθεράπευσενtended / cared forAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θεραπεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (with pluperfect English sense)θεραπεύω: 'tend / care for / treat'; renders עָשָׂה; he 'had not tended his feet' — a mourner's neglect of personal care.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπούς: 'foot'; the lame Mephibosheth's feet, left untended in mourning.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative→ clausal contributionοὐδέ: 'nor'.
ὠνυχίσατοtrimmed his nailsAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ὀνυχίζωmain verb (middle: did to himself)→ constative aoristὀνυχίζω: 'pare / trim the nails'; from ὄνυξ ('nail / claw'); renders עָשָׂה צִפֹּרֶן; another neglected grooming sign of mourning.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative→ clausal contributionοὐδέ: 'nor'.
ἐποίησενdressed / didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make / dress'; ἐποίησεν τὸν μύστακα ('did/dressed his moustache') = trimmed/groomed it; renders עָשָׂה שָׂפָם.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μύστακαmoustache / upper lipAccusativedirect object→ object specificationμύσταξ: 'upper lip / moustache'; renders שָׂפָם; leaving the moustache untrimmed was a mourning rite (cf. Ezek 24:17).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαclothes / garmentsAccusativedirect object (fronted)→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; renders בֶּגֶד; unwashed clothes complete the mourning picture.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation.
ἔπλυνενwashedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πλύνωmain verb→ constative aoristπλύνω: 'wash (clothes)'; renders כָּבַס; the final neglected duty of grooming.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (temporal start)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the temporal span begins.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time (start point)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the day David fled.
ἧςwhen / on whichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive of time)→ relational specificationὅς: relative; 'the day on which'.
ἀπῆλθενdepartedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the king's flight from Jerusalem.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject of ἀπῆλθεν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject of ἀπῆλθεν.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal terminus)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; the span's endpoint.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time (end point)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the day of David's peaceful return.
ἧςwhen / on whichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive of time)→ relational specificationὅς: relative; 'the day on which'.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself' — the king.
παρεγένετοcame back / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristπαραγίνομαι: 'arrive / come / be present'; the king's safe return.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/condition)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner/condition).
εἰρήνῃpeaceDativedative of manner ('in peace')→ sphere or referenceεἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the king returns safe and victorious.
26
καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεύς τί ὅτι οὐκ ἐπορεύθης μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ Μεμφιβοσθε
And it happened, when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, 'Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?'
The narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') with a temporal ὅτε-clause sets up David's pointed question: why did Mephibosheth not accompany him in flight? The question presupposes Ziba's accusation (16:3) that Mephibosheth had stayed behind hoping to regain Saul's throne.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιnarrative formula verb (καὶ ἐγένετο)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') is the stock LXX narrative-transition formula rendering וַיְהִי.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal frame.
εἰσῆλθενhe cameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; Mephibosheth's coming to meet the king.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: indeclinable; the city the king is returning to.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς ἀπάντησιν: 'to meet'; variant of the meeting-idiom.
ἀπάντησινa meetingAccusativeaccusative in idiom (εἰς ἀπάντησιν)→ object specificationἀπάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; the synonym of ἀπαντή used here.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive (whom he meets)→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive (whom he meets).
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (after ἐγένετο ὅτε)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί introducing the main clause after the temporal frame (Hebraism).
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the king's question.
αὐτῷto himDativedative (indirect object)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
τίwhyinterrogative pronoun (τί ὅτι = 'why?')→ participant referenceτίς/τί: in τί ὅτι ('why is it that…?'), an interrogative idiom rendering מַדּוּעַ.
ὅτιthatconjunction (in idiom τί ὅτι)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: with τί, 'why is it that…'.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation.
ἐπορεύθηςdid you goAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the king's question)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; 'why did you not go with me?' — i.e. in flight from Absalom.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me'.
ΜεμφιβοσθεMephiboshethvocative (direct address, indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΜεμφιβοσθε: indeclinable; addressed directly by the king.
27
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Μεμφιβοσθε κύριέ μου βασιλεῦ ὁ δοῦλός μου παρελογίσατό με ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ παῖς σου αὐτῷ ἐπίσαξόν μοι τὴν ὄνον καὶ ἐπιβῶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν καὶ πορεύσομαι μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ὅτι χωλὸς ὁ δοῦλός σου
And Mephibosheth said to him, 'My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said to him, Saddle me the donkey, that I may mount it and go with the king — for your servant is lame.'
Mephibosheth answers that his steward Ziba deceived him (παρελογίσατό με): he had ordered the donkey saddled to go with David but, being lame (χωλός), was unable, and Ziba both abandoned and slandered him. The deferential κύριέ μου βασιλεῦ and ὁ παῖς σου / ὁ δοῦλός σου frame the appeal.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 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: introduces Mephibosheth's defense.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
ΜεμφιβοσθεMephiboshethsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΜεμφιβοσθε: indeclinable.
κύριέlordVocativevocative (deferential address)→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): human 'my lord' — David; the vocative honorific (not the Tetragrammaton).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
βασιλεῦO kingVocativevocative (direct address)→ direct addressβασιλεύς (voc. βασιλεῦ): 'O king'; the honorific 'my lord, O king'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (Ziba: 'my servant')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; ὁ δοῦλός μου = Mephibosheth's servant, Ziba.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
παρελογίσατόdeceivedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραλογίζομαιmain verb (the accusation against Ziba)→ constative aoristπαραλογίζομαι: 'deceive / defraud / mislead by false reasoning'; renders רָמָה; Mephibosheth charges Ziba with betrayal and slander.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the explanation.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of causal clause→ constative aoristλέγω: Mephibosheth recounts his own instruction to Ziba.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant'; ὁ παῖς σου ('your servant') — Mephibosheth's humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
αὐτῷto himDativedative (indirect object: to Ziba)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object: to Ziba).
ἐπίσαξόνsaddleAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐπισάσσωimperative (quoted command to Ziba)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἐπισάσσω: 'saddle / put a saddle on'; renders חָבַשׁ; Mephibosheth's order to ready the donkey so he could accompany David.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνονdonkeyAccusativedirect object of ἐπίσαξόν→ object specificationὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; the mount the lame Mephibosheth needed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιβῶI may mountAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἐπιβαίνωsubjunctive of purpose→ aorist subjunctive (purpose)ἐπιβαίνω: 'mount / get up on'; renders רָכַב; the purpose of saddling — to ride out with the king.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + accusative (elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: 'on / upon'.
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the donkey)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it' — the donkey (feminine ὄνος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πορεύσομαιI will goFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (purpose/intent)→ predictive future (intent)πορεύομαι: 'go'; Mephibosheth's intent to travel with David in his flight.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; gives the reason he needed the donkey.
χωλὸςlameNominativepredicate adjective (nominal clause: 'your servant is lame')→ participant prominenceχωλός: 'lame / crippled'; renders פִּסֵּחַ; Mephibosheth had been crippled in both feet (4:4), hence dependent on the donkey.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant') — humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
28
καὶ μεθώδευσεν ἐν τῷ δούλῳ σου πρὸς τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν βασιλέα καὶ ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεὺς ὡς ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ποίησον τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου
'And he dealt craftily with your servant before my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes.'
Mephibosheth accuses Ziba of slander (μεθώδευσεν, 'dealt deceitfully') and then submits entirely to David's judgment, flattering him as ὡς ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ ('like an angel of God', a wisdom-topos for the discerning king, cf. 14:17, 20). His closing ποίησον τὸ ἀγαθόν surrenders the verdict to the king.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative/argument conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μεθώδευσενdealt craftily / slanderedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μεθοδεύωmain verb (the charge against Ziba)→ constative aoristμεθοδεύω: 'deal craftily / use trickery / scheme against'; from μέθοδος ('stratagem'); Ziba slandered Mephibosheth to the king (16:3).
ἐνagainst / withpreposition + dative (object of the scheming)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here 'against / with respect to'; Hebraizing use.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλῳservantDativedative (object of μεθώδευσεν: against your servant)→ sphere or referenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; τῷ δούλῳ σου — Mephibosheth's humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
πρὸςbefore / topreposition + accusative (before whom)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: 'to / before'; the slander made before the king.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόνlordAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (deferential)→ object specificationκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; the honorific (not the Tetragrammaton).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeapposition (my lord the king)→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific 'my lord the king'.
καὶbut / andconjunction (mild contrastive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introducing the contrasting commendation of the king.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόςlordNominativesubject (nominal clause, deferential)→ participant prominenceκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεύς.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativeapposition (subject of nominal clause)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the honorific.
ὡςas / likecomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the wisdom-comparison.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativepredicate nominative ('as an angel of God')→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: 'messenger / angel'; renders מַלְאָךְ; ὡς ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ is a courtly topos for the king's superhuman discernment (cf. 14:17, 20).
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (angel of God)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים.
καὶso / andconjunction (introducing the request)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'so'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποίησονdoAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ποιέωimperative (submission to the king's verdict)→ ingressive aorist imperativeποιέω: 'do / make'; Mephibosheth surrenders judgment to the king — 'do what is good in your eyes'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἀγαθόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgood / what is goodAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποίησον)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; τὸ ἀγαθόν = 'what is good'; with ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς, idiom for the king's judgment/pleasure.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes').
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiom)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in your eyes') = in your judgment.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
29
ὅτι οὐκ ἦν πᾶς ὁ οἶκος τοῦ πατρός μου ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ὅτι ἄνδρες θανάτου τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ ἔθηκας τὸν δοῦλόν σου ἐν τοῖς ἐσθίουσιν τὴν τράπεζάν σου καὶ τί ἐστίν μοι ἔτι δικαίωμα καὶ τοῦ κεκραγέναι με ἔτι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα
'For all the house of my father were nothing but men deserving death before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. So what right have I any longer, even to cry out any more to the king?'
Mephibosheth waives all rights: his whole (Saulide) house deserved death from David, yet the king had set him at the royal table (ch. 9). Given such grace, he has no δικαίωμα ('legal claim / justification') to press, no ground even to keep crying out — a posture of total gratitude that morally undercuts Ziba.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the surrender of v. 28.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation; with ἀλλ᾿ ἤ forms 'were nothing but'.
ἦνwas / wereImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with collective subject)→ durative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; singular verb with collective πᾶς ὁ οἶκος.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with οἶκος)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκοςhouseNominativesubject→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house / household'; the house of Mephibosheth's father — the Saulide line.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; Saul's house (through Jonathan).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative (in idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('except / nothing but') — Hebraism rendering כִּי אִם.
ἢthan / butparticle (in idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than / or'; with ἀλλά forms 'nothing but'.
ὅτιthatconjunction (resumptive/explanatory)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here resumptive — 'nothing but that they were men of death'.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativepredicate nominative ('men of death')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; ἄνδρες θανάτου ('men of death') = men deserving death; Hebraism (אַנְשֵׁי מָוֶת).
θανάτουof deathGenitivegenitive of quality (deserving death)→ relational specificationθάνατος: 'death'; the genitive of quality marks them as 'doomed to death'.
τῷto / before theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳlordDativedative (before/with respect to my lord, deferential)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ βασιλεῖ, the honorific.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativeapposition (my lord the king)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific.
καὶyet / andconjunction (mild adversative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here 'yet' — the contrast between deserved death and granted grace.
ἔθηκαςyou set / placedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (David's grace)→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'put / set / place'; renders שִׂים / שִׁית; David had placed Mephibosheth among the king's table-companions (ch. 9).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόνservantAccusativedirect object (deferential self-designation)→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'servant'; τὸν δοῦλόν σου — humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (membership)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'among'; placed among the table-companions.
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantivizing participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐσθίουσινeatingPres Act Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · ἐσθίωsubstantival participle (those who eat)→ durative presentἐσθίω: 'eat'; 'those who eat at your table' = the king's privileged table-companions.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τράπεζάνtableAccusativeaccusative object (eating at the table)→ object specificationτράπεζα: 'table'; renders שֻׁלְחָן; eating at the king's table marks honored, sustained favor (cf. 9:7, 11, 13).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶso / andconjunction (introducing the rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'so'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἐστίν)→ participant referenceτίς/τί: 'what?'; 'what right have I…?'.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (rhetorical question)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'what claim is there to me still?'.
μοιto meDativedative of possession→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession.
ἔτιstill / any longertemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / any longer'.
δικαίωμαright / just claimNominativepredicate nominative (the claim in question)→ participant prominenceδικαίωμα: 'just claim / legal right / justification'; renders צְדָקָה (in the sense of a rightful plea); Mephibosheth disclaims any legal ground for complaint.
καὶeven / andconjunction (epexegetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'even'; specifying the right disclaimed — to cry out.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεκραγέναιto cry outPerf Act Infin · κράζωarticular infinitive (epexegetical: the right 'to cry out')→ perfect (settled, continuing appeal)κράζω (perf. infin. κεκραγέναι): 'cry out / appeal loudly'; the perfect infinitive denotes a sustained crying-out; Mephibosheth has no standing even to keep petitioning the king.
μεI / for meAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): accusative subject of κεκραγέναι.
ἔτιstill / any moretemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'any more'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
30
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεύς ἵνα τί λαλεῖς ἔτι τοὺς λόγους σου εἶπον σὺ καὶ Σιβα διελεῖσθε τὸν ἀγρόν
And the king said to him, 'Why do you still speak your words? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the field.'
David cuts off the debate (ἵνα τί λαλεῖς ἔτι, 'why speak further?') and renders a Solomonic compromise: Mephibosheth and Ziba shall divide the field — a reversal of his earlier grant of all to Ziba (16:4), but stopping short of full vindication, perhaps because David cannot determine the truth or will not wholly alienate Ziba.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 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: introduces the king's verdict.
αὐτῷto himDativedative (indirect object)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'; David's impatient dismissal of further pleading.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom).
λαλεῖςdo you speakPres Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive presentλαλέω: 'speak'; 'why do you keep speaking?' — the king ends the matter.
ἔτιstilltemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / any longer'.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object→ object specificationλόγος: 'word'; 'your words' — Mephibosheth's continued pleading.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἶπονI have said / I decreeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (performative declaration)→ constative aorist (performative: 'I hereby decide')λέγω (aor. εἶπον): 'I have said' = 'I decree / my decision is'; a performative aorist closing the matter.
σὺyouNominativesubject (with Σιβα)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you' — Mephibosheth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣιβαZibasubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣιβα: indeclinable; the steward who is to share the field.
διελεῖσθεshall divideFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · διαιρέωmain verb (the verdict)→ directive future (decree)διαιρέω: 'divide / distribute'; renders חָלַק; the king's compromise — split the disputed estate between the two.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρόνfield / landAccusativedirect object of διελεῖσθε→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field / land / estate'; renders שָׂדֶה; Saul's ancestral lands, earlier granted wholly to Ziba (16:4).
31
καὶ εἶπεν Μεμφιβοσθε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καί γε τὰ πάντα λαβέτω μετὰ τὸ παραγενέσθαι τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν βασιλέα ἐν εἰρήνῃ εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ
And Mephibosheth said to the king, 'Let him even take it all, now that my lord the king has come back in peace to his house.'
Mephibosheth caps his loyalty by renouncing even his half: let Ziba take everything (τὰ πάντα λαβέτω) — the king's safe homecoming is all that matters. The gesture proves his devotion is to David's person, not Saul's estate, and quietly indicts Ziba's mercenary motives.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 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: introduces the renunciation.
ΜεμφιβοσθεMephiboshethsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΜεμφιβοσθε: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
καίeven / indeedconjunction (with γε, emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί γε: 'even / indeed'; emphatic particle-cluster rendering וְגַם.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: enclitic intensive; with καί, 'even / indeed'.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with πάντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάνταall things / everythingAccusativedirect object of λαβέτω→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; τὰ πάντα = 'everything' — the whole estate.
λαβέτωlet him takeAor Act Impv 3 Sg · λαμβάνωthird-person imperative→ permissive aorist imperativeλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; 'let Ziba take it all' — Mephibosheth's voluntary renunciation.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc. (with articular infinitive): 'after / now that'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παραγενέσθαιcoming / has comeAor Mid Infin · παραγίνομαιarticular infinitive (temporal clause)→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι: 'arrive / come back'; the articular infinitive with μετὰ τό = 'after the king's coming back / now that the king has returned'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόνlordAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive (deferential)→ object specificationκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; accusative subject of παραγενέσθαι; the honorific τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν βασιλέα.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeapposition (my lord the king)→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/condition)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner/condition).
εἰρήνῃpeaceDativedative of manner ('in peace')→ sphere or referenceεἰρήνη: 'peace'; the king's safe homecoming is the one thing Mephibosheth values.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the royal house in Jerusalem.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
32
καὶ Βερζελλι ὁ Γαλααδίτης κατέβη ἐκ Ρωγελλιμ καὶ διέβη μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως τὸν Ιορδάνην ἐκπέμψαι αὐτὸν τὸν Ιορδάνην
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogellim and crossed the Jordan with the king, to escort him over the Jordan.
Barzillai, the wealthy aged Gileadite who had provisioned David at Mahanaim during the revolt (17:27–29), comes down from Rogellim to accompany the king across the Jordan — an act of loyal honor that sets up David's offer and Barzillai's gracious refusal in the verses following.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΒερζελλιBarzillaisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΒερζελλι: transliteration of בַּרְזִלַּי (Barzillai); indeclinable; the rich, aged Gileadite who sustained David at Mahanaim (17:27–29).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Γαλααδίτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδίτηςGileaditeNominativeapposition (gentilic, declinable)→ participant prominenceΓαλααδίτης: 'Gileadite'; gentilic from Γαλααδ (Gilead); declinable, hence kind 'n' with case; marks Barzillai's Transjordanian origin.
κατέβηcame downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; down to the Jordan to escort the king.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
ΡωγελλιμRogellimgenitive of origin (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡωγελλιμ: transliteration of רֹגְלִים (Rogelim); indeclinable; Barzillai's home town in Gilead.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; Barzillai accompanies David across the river.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'; the river crossed.
ἐκπέμψαιto send off / escortAor Act Infin · ἐκπέμπωinfinitive of purpose→ verbal action or stateἐκπέμπω: 'send out / escort / see off'; renders שָׁלַח; Barzillai's purpose — to give the king an honorable send-off across the river.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐκπέμψαι (the king)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' — the king.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed (object of ἐκπέμψαι)→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'; to escort him 'over the Jordan'.
33
καὶ Βερζελλι ἀνὴρ πρεσβύτερος σφόδρα υἱὸς ὀγδοήκοντα ἐτῶν καὶ αὐτὸς διέθρεψεν τὸν βασιλέα ἐν τῷ οἰκεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν Μαναϊμ ὅτι ἀνὴρ μέγας ἐστὶν σφόδρα
Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age; and he had sustained the king while he dwelt at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
A narratorial aside establishes the three facts that frame the exchange: Barzillai's great age (eighty years), his prior provisioning of David at Mahanaim during the revolt, and his great wealth (ἀνὴρ μέγας σφόδρα). These set up both David's gratitude-offer and Barzillai's reason to decline.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶnow / andnarrative conjunction (introducing aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΒερζελλιBarzillaisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΒερζελλι: indeclinable.
ἀνὴρmanNominativepredicate nominative (nominal clause)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; 'a very old man'.
πρεσβύτεροςold / agedNominativepredicate adjective (with σφόδρα)→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτερος: 'old / elder / aged'; renders זָקֵן; here comparative form used absolutely, 'very aged'.
σφόδραveryadverb of degree (intensifying πρεσβύτερος)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד.
υἱὸςson / agedNominativeapposition (idiom 'son of … years' = years old)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς ὀγδοήκοντα ἐτῶν ('son of eighty years') is a Hebraism (בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה) for 'eighty years old'.
ὀγδοήκονταeightyindeclinable numeral→ measure or countὀγδοήκοντα: 'eighty'; indeclinable; Barzillai's advanced age.
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (with the number-idiom)→ relational specificationἔτος: 'year'; genitive in the age-idiom 'of eighty years'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself' — Barzillai personally provided for David.
διέθρεψενsustained / provisionedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διατρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristδιατρέφω: 'sustain / nourish / support'; renders כּוּל; Barzillai supplied David's needs at Mahanaim (cf. 17:27–29).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object.
ἐνwhile / inpreposition + dative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + infinitive: temporal 'while he dwelt'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκεῖνdwellingPres Act Infin · οἰκέωarticular infinitive (temporal clause)→ durative presentοἰκέω: 'dwell / live'; 'while he (David) was dwelling at Mahanaim' during the revolt.
αὐτὸνheAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: accusative subject of οἰκεῖν (the king).
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΜαναϊμMahanaimlocative (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜαναϊμ: transliteration of מַחֲנַיִם (Mahanaim); indeclinable; David's Transjordanian base during Absalom's revolt.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; explains how Barzillai could provision the king.
ἀνὴρmanNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; 'a very great man' = wealthy and influential.
μέγαςgreatNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; renders גָּדוֹל; here of wealth and standing.
ἐστὶνis / wasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present (in past narrative context)εἰμί: 'be'; the present in a past-narrative aside (a vivid characterization).
σφόδραveryadverb of degree→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; Barzillai's wealth was great indeed.
34
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς Βερζελλι σὺ διαβήσῃ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ διαθρέψω τὸ γῆράς σου μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ
And the king said to Barzillai, 'You shall cross over with me, and I will sustain your old age with me in Jerusalem.'
David offers to repay Barzillai's kindness in kind: as Barzillai 'sustained' (διέθρεψεν) him, so David will 'sustain' (διαθρέψω) Barzillai's old age in Jerusalem — a place at the royal court, the highest honor and security David can bestow.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 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: introduces David's offer.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΒερζελλιBarzillaiaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΒερζελλι: indeclinable.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you' — Barzillai.
διαβήσῃyou shall cross overFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (invitation as future)→ directive future (invitation/command)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; David invites Barzillai to cross the Jordan and come to the court.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαθρέψωI will sustainFut Act Indic 1 Sg · διατρέφωmain verb (David's promise)→ predictive future (reciprocal pledge)διατρέφω: 'sustain / nourish / support'; the same verb as v. 33 — David pledges to repay Barzillai in kind, sustaining his old age.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆράςold ageAccusativedirect object of διαθρέψω→ object specificationγῆρας: 'old age'; renders זִקְנָה / שֵׂיבָה; David will provide for Barzillai's declining years.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemlocative (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: indeclinable; the royal city where Barzillai is invited to live at court.
35
καὶ εἶπεν Βερζελλι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα πόσαι ἡμέραι ἐτῶν ζωῆς μου ὅτι ἀναβήσομαι μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως εἰς Ιερουσαλημ
And Barzillai said to the king, 'How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?'
Barzillai answers David's offer with a rhetorical question of mortality (πόσαι ἡμέραι ἐτῶν ζωῆς μου, 'how many the days of my life?'): so few remain that the court at Jerusalem would profit him nothing. The refusal is the opening of a dignified, wistful speech on old age (vv. 35–37).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 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: introduces Barzillai's reply.
ΒερζελλιBarzillaisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΒερζελλι: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
πόσαιhow manyNominativeinterrogative adjective (with ἡμέραι)→ participant prominenceπόσος: 'how much / how many'; the interrogative of Barzillai's mortality-reflection.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativesubject (nominal question)→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; 'how many the days…?'.
ἐτῶνof the yearsGenitivegenitive (days 'of years')→ relational specificationἔτος: 'year'; the chain 'days of the years of my life' (Hebraism, cf. Gen 47:9).
ζωῆςof lifeGenitivegenitive (of my life)→ relational specificationζωή: 'life'; renders חַיִּים; the remaining lifespan Barzillai weighs.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅτιthatconjunction (consecutive: 'that')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; consecutive — 'so few that I should go up?'.
ἀναβήσομαιI should go upFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (deliberative future)→ deliberative futureἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; to Jerusalem (always an 'ascent' in OT idiom); Barzillai questions the point of the journey.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: indeclinable; the court Barzillai declines to join.
36
υἱὸς ὀγδοήκοντα ἐτῶν ἐγώ εἰμι σήμερον μὴ γνώσομαι ἀνὰ μέσον ἀγαθοῦ καὶ κακοῦ ἢ γεύσεται ὁ δοῦλός σου ἔτι ὃ φάγομαι ἢ πίομαι ἢ ἀκούσομαι ἔτι φωνὴν ᾀδόντων καὶ ᾀδουσῶν ἵνα τί ἔσται ἔτι ὁ δοῦλός σου εἰς φορτίον ἐπὶ τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν βασιλέα
'I am eighty years old today. Can I tell the difference between good and bad? Or can your servant still taste what I eat or drink? Or can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why then should your servant still be a burden to my lord the king?'
Barzillai catalogues the losses of age — discernment, taste, hearing the singers' voices — to argue that court luxuries would be wasted on him; he would only be a φορτίον ('burden') to the king. The three rhetorical questions (μὴ γνώσομαι … ἢ γεύσεται … ἢ ἀκούσομαι) build a poignant, dignified declination.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
υἱὸςson / agedNominativepredicate nominative (age-idiom)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς ὀγδοήκοντα ἐτῶν = 'eighty years old' (Hebraism).
ὀγδοήκονταeightyindeclinable numeral→ measure or countὀγδοήκοντα: 'eighty'; indeclinable.
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (age-idiom)→ relational specificationἔτος: 'year'.
ἐγώINominativeemphatic pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'I am eighty today'.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'.
μὴsurely not?interrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: introduces a question expecting the answer 'no'.
γνώσομαιshall I know / discernFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ deliberative futureγινώσκω: 'know / discern'; 'can I (still) discern between good and bad?' — loss of judgment/taste in old age.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: 'between / in the midst of'; Hebraism (בֵּין) for 'between'.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in idiom (ἀνὰ μέσον)→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle'; in ἀνὰ μέσον = 'between'.
ἀγαθοῦgoodGenitivegenitive (between good…)→ relational specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; one pole of discernment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κακοῦbad / evilGenitivegenitive (…and bad)→ relational specificationκακός: 'bad / evil'; the other pole.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the next rhetorical question.
γεύσεταιshall tasteFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · γεύομαιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ deliberative futureγεύομαι: 'taste'; renders טָעַם; 'can your servant still taste what he eats?' — loss of taste.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; ὁ δοῦλός σου — Barzillai's humble self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἔτιstilltemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'.
ὃwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of φάγομαι)→ participant referenceὅς: relative 'what'; 'what I eat or drink'.
φάγομαιI shall eatFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐσθίωverb of relative clause→ predictive futureἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; 'what I eat'.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'.
πίομαιI shall drinkFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πίνωverb (coordinate with φάγομαι)→ predictive futureπίνω (fut. πίομαι): 'drink'; 'or drink'.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the third question.
ἀκούσομαιshall I hearFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ deliberative futureἀκούω: 'hear'; 'can I still hear the singers?' — loss of hearing, the third sensory failure.
ἔτιstilltemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still'.
φωνὴνvoiceAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσομαι→ object specificationφωνή: 'voice / sound'; the voice of the court singers.
ᾀδόντωνof male singersPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · ᾄδωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of those singing')→ durative presentᾄδω: 'sing'; the substantival participle 'singing men' = male singers; renders שָׁרִים.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾀδουσῶνof female singersPres Act Ptcp Gen Fem Pl · ᾄδωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of women singing')→ durative presentᾄδω (fem. ptcp.): 'singing women' = female singers; renders שָׁרוֹת; the pairing denotes the full musical entertainment of the court.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom).
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (rhetorical question)→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; 'why should your servant still be a burden?'.
ἔτιstilltemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; ὁ δοῦλός σου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicate: 'as a burden')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: with ἔσται, predicate sense 'become/be as'.
φορτίονburden / loadAccusativepredicate accusative (what he would become)→ object specificationφορτίον: 'burden / load'; renders מַשָּׂא; Barzillai would only be a dead weight on the king at court.
ἐπὶupon / topreposition + accusative (burden upon)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; a burden 'upon' the king.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόνlordAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (deferential)→ object specificationκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; the honorific τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν βασιλέα.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeapposition (my lord the king)→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific.
37
ὡς βραχὺ διαβήσεται ὁ δοῦλός σου τὸν Ιορδάνην μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἵνα τί ἀνταποδίδωσίν μοι ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν ἀνταπόδοσιν ταύτην
'Your servant will go over the Jordan with the king but a little way; so why should the king repay me with this reward?'
Barzillai disclaims any reward: he will accompany the king only 'a little way' (ὡς βραχύ) across the river, so there is no cause for the king to repay him with so great a recompense (ἀνταπόδοσιν). The cognate ἀνταποδίδωσιν … ἀνταπόδοσιν underscores the language of reciprocity he gently waves off.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ὡςas / aboutadverbial particle (with βραχύ: 'just a little')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: here adverbial with βραχύ, 'just a little / a short way'.
βραχὺa little / short wayAccusativeadverbial accusative (extent: a little way)→ object specificationβραχύς: 'short / little'; adverbial 'a little way'; renders מְעַט; Barzillai will only escort the king a short distance over the river.
διαβήσεταιwill go overFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb→ predictive futureδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; Barzillai will cross only a little way with the king.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; ὁ δοῦλός σου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'; the river crossed.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
καὶso / andconjunction (introducing question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'so'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom).
ἀνταποδίδωσίνrepays / recompensesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνταποδίδωμιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive/futuristic presentἀνταποδίδωμι: 'repay / recompense / requite'; renders גָּמַל / שִׁלֵּם; Barzillai gently declines so great a recompense.
μοιmeDativedative (indirect object)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνταπόδοσινreward / recompenseAccusativecognate accusative (direct object of ἀνταποδίδωσιν)→ object specificationἀνταπόδοσις: 'recompense / repayment'; the cognate accusative with ἀνταποδίδωσιν stresses the great reward Barzillai modestly refuses.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the lavish reward of a place at court.
38
καθισάτω δὴ ὁ δοῦλός σου καὶ ἀποθανοῦμαι ἐν τῇ πόλει μου παρὰ τῷ τάφῳ τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ τῆς μητρός μου καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ δοῦλός σου Χαμααμ διαβήσεται μετὰ τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ποίησον αὐτῷ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου
'Let your servant remain, I pray, and let me die in my own city, by the tomb of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham — let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your eyes.'
Barzillai asks only to remain (καθισάτω) and die in his own city by his parents' grave. In his place he commends Χαμααμ (Chimham, traditionally his son) to receive the king's favor — preserving the bond of patronage into the next generation without himself accepting the court.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καθισάτωlet him remain / dwellAor Act Impv 3 Sg · καθίζωthird-person imperative (polite request)→ permissive aorist imperativeκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / remain'; here 'let your servant stay (at home)'.
δὴplease / nowentreaty particle (softening the request)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic/entreaty particle, 'pray / please'; renders נָא.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (deferential self-designation)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; ὁ δοῦλός σου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθανοῦμαιI shall dieFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (Barzillai's wish)→ predictive future (desired)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; Barzillai wishes to die in his own city, not in the alien court.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; his own home town.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
παρὰby / besidepreposition + dative (location: beside)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + dat.: 'beside / near'.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάφῳtomb / graveDativedative of place (beside the tomb)→ sphere or referenceτάφος: 'tomb / grave'; renders קֶבֶר; burial with one's ancestors was the desired end (cf. Gen 49:29–31).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρόςmotherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶbut / andconjunction (introducing the substitute)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; introduces Chimham as the substitute.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativeapposition (Chimham as 'your servant')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; here applied to Chimham.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ΧαμααμChimhamsubject in apposition (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΧαμααμ: transliteration of כִּמְהָם (Chimham); indeclinable; traditionally Barzillai's son, sent to enjoy the king's favor in his stead.
διαβήσεταιlet him cross overFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (jussive future)→ directive future (let him cross)διαβαίνω: 'cross over'; Chimham is to cross with the king in Barzillai's place.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlordGenitivegenitive object of μετά (deferential)→ relational specificationκύριος: human 'my lord' — David; the honorific τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ βασιλέως.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitiveapposition (my lord the king)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; in the honorific.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποίησονdoAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ποιέωimperative (request for Chimham's benefit)→ ingressive aorist imperativeποιέω: 'do / make'; 'do for him what is good in your eyes' — transferring the king's favor to Chimham.
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of advantage (Chimham)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (Chimham).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἀγαθόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgood / what is goodAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποίησον)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; τὸ ἀγαθόν = 'what is good'; with ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς, idiom for the king's pleasure.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes').
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiom)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου = 'in your judgment'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
39
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεύς μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαβήτω Χαμααμ κἀγὼ ποιήσω αὐτῷ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐκλέξῃ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοί ποιήσω σοι
And the king said, 'Let Chimham cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your eyes; and whatever you choose of me, I will do for you.'
David honors Barzillai's wishes exactly: Chimham shall cross with him and receive royal favor, and Barzillai may name any further request (πάντα ὅσα ἐκλέξῃ … ποιήσω σοι) — an open-ended pledge of royal gratitude that respects the old man's autonomy.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's reply.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided, fronted)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me'.
διαβήτωlet him cross overAor Act Impv 3 Sg · διαβαίνωthird-person imperative→ permissive aorist imperativeδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; 'let Chimham cross with me' — David grants the request.
ΧαμααμChimhamsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΧαμααμ: indeclinable; Barzillai's substitute.
κἀγὼand INominativesubject (crasis of καὶ ἐγώ, emphatic)→ participant prominenceκἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ ('and I'); the emphatic first-person pledge of the king.
ποιήσωI will doFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (royal pledge)→ predictive future (promise)ποιέω: 'do'; David pledges to do for Chimham what pleases Barzillai.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage (Chimham)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (Chimham).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἀγαθόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgood / what is goodAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποιήσω)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; τὸ ἀγαθόν, echoing Barzillai's own words in v. 38.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (Hebraism 'in the eyes').
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiom)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου = 'as is good in your sight' (addressed to Barzillai).
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.
πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object (of ποιήσω, fronted)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all that you choose'.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξῃ)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as / whatever'.
ἐκλέξῃyou chooseAor Mid Subj 2 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select'; renders בָּחַר; David offers Barzillai an open choice of any reward.
ἐπ᾿of / frompreposition + dative (from me, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: here 'of / from me' — whatever you ask of me.
ἐμοίmeDativedative object of ἐπί→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): 'me'.
ποιήσωI will doFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (royal pledge, resumptive)→ predictive future (promise)ποιέω: 'do'; the open-ended pledge — 'I will do (it) for you'.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
40
καὶ διέβη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς διέβη καὶ κατεφίλησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν Βερζελλι καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτόν καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ
And all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed; and the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
The crossing is accomplished: people and king pass over. David's farewell to Barzillai — a kiss and a blessing (κατεφίλησεν … εὐλόγησεν) — is a touching, dignified close to the episode; the old man returns home (ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ) to die, as he wished, among his own.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (collective subject)→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; the whole company fords the Jordan.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the army and retinue.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; the king himself crosses, the goal of the whole section achieved.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεφίλησενkissedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταφιλέωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταφιλέω: 'kiss (warmly/repeatedly)'; the intensive compound of φιλέω; renders נָשַׁק; David's affectionate farewell to Barzillai.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (resumptive)→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject (resumptive).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Βερζελλι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒερζελλιBarzillaidirect object (indeclinable name, with article)→ participant identificationΒερζελλι: indeclinable; the aged benefactor honored at parting.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλόγησενblessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb→ constative aoristεὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of'; renders בָּרַךְ; the royal blessing as a parting gift.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (Barzillai as subject)→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Barzillai goes home to die among his own, as he had asked.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; renders מָקוֹם; Barzillai's home in Gilead.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
41
καὶ διέβη ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς Γαλγαλα καὶ Χαμααμ διέβη μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς Ιουδα διαβαίνοντες μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως καί γε τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ λαοῦ Ισραηλ
And the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed with him; and all the people of Judah were crossing with the king, and also half the people of Israel.
The king reaches Gilgal with Chimham, all Judah, and 'half the people of Israel.' The asymmetry — all of Judah but only half of Israel — is the spark of the quarrel that follows: Judah has monopolized the king's return, leaving the northern tribes feeling slighted.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; the king proceeds toward Gilgal.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΓαλγαλαGilgalaccusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓαλγαλα: indeclinable; the gathering-point west of the Jordan where the escort assembles.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΧαμααμChimhamsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΧαμααμ: indeclinable; Barzillai's substitute, now in the king's company.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over'; Chimham crosses with the king as promised.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with λαός)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; all Judah — the totality is the point of grievance.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (of διαβαίνοντες)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the people of Judah.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
διαβαίνοντεςcrossingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · διαβαίνωpredicative participle (constructio ad sensum, plural)→ durative present (ongoing crossing)διαβαίνω (ptcp.): 'crossing'; plural participle by sense with the collective λαός — the people were in the act of crossing.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
καίand alsoconjunction (with γε, emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί γε: 'and also / even'; rendering וְגַם.
γεalso / evenemphatic particle (with καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: enclitic intensive.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (partitive: 'half the people')→ participant prominenceἥμισυς: 'half'; renders חֲצִי; only half of Israel attended — the asymmetry that sparks the quarrel.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivepartitive genitive (half 'of the people')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the people of Israel.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern tribes, only half-present.
42
καὶ ἰδοὺ πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ παρεγένοντο πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ εἶπον πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τί ὅτι ἔκλεψάν σε οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν ἀνὴρ Ιουδα καὶ διεβίβασαν τὸν βασιλέα καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ πάντες ἄνδρες Δαυιδ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ
And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, 'Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?'
The men of Israel confront David with the charge that Judah 'stole' him (ἔκλεψάν σε) — appropriating the honor of the king's return to themselves alone. The complaint exposes the deep north-south rivalry that will erupt in Sheba's revolt (ch. 20) and ultimately in the kingdom's division.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces the confrontation.
πᾶςall / everyNominativeattributive (with ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; 'every man of Israel'.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (collective)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'every man of Israel' = the northern tribes.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable.
παρεγένοντοcame / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (plural by sense)→ constative aoristπαραγίνομαι: 'arrive / come'; the plural by sense (collective subject) — the Israelites came to the king.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Israel's complaint.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative object of πρός.
τίwhyinterrogative pronoun (τί ὅτι = 'why?')→ participant referenceτίς/τί: in τί ὅτι ('why is it that…?').
ὅτιthatconjunction (in idiom τί ὅτι)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: with τί, 'why is it that…'.
ἔκλεψάνstole awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κλέπτωmain verb (the accusation)→ constative aoristκλέπτω: 'steal'; renders גָּנַב; Israel charges Judah with 'stealing' the king — appropriating his return secretly and exclusively.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (the king)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the king).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἀδελφοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject of ἔκλεψαν→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; the men of Judah called 'our brothers' — the bond that makes the slight more galling.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἀνὴρthe menNominativeapposition (collective: 'the men of Judah')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Judah', in apposition to οἱ ἀδελφοί.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεβίβασανbrought overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβιβάζωmain verb (coordinate with ἔκλεψαν)→ constative aoristδιαβιβάζω: 'bring across / convey over'; Judah ferried the king over the Jordan — the very act Israel resents being excluded from.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of διεβίβασαν→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of διεβίβασαν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseholdAccusativedirect object (coordinate)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; the royal family conveyed across.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): 'the Jordan'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive (with ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (nominal clause: 'all David's men with him')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; 'all David's men' — his personal followers.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; 'David's men'.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά: 'with'.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
43
καὶ ἀπεκρίθη πᾶς ἀνὴρ Ιουδα πρὸς ἄνδρα Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπαν διότι ἐγγίζει πρός με ὁ βασιλεύς καὶ ἵνα τί οὕτως ἐθυμώθης περὶ τοῦ λόγου τούτου μὴ βρώσει ἐφάγαμεν ἐκ τοῦ βασιλέως ἢ δόμα ἔδωκεν ἢ ἄρσιν ἦρεν ἡμῖν
And every man of Judah answered the men of Israel and said, 'Because the king is near of kin to me. And why are you so angry about this matter? Have we eaten anything at all at the king's expense, or has he given us any gift, or has he lifted any portion for us?'
Judah defends its priority by kinship (ἐγγίζει πρός με ὁ βασιλεύς, 'the king is near to me') and denies any self-interest: they took no food, gift, or portion from the king. The three rhetorical questions (βρώσει ἐφάγαμεν … δόμα ἔδωκεν … ἄρσιν ἦρεν) rebut any charge of profiteering from the king's return.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (collective subject)→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer'; renders עָנָה; Judah responds to Israel's charge.
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive (with ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (collective)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'every man of Judah'.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ἄνδραthe menAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (collective)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Israel'.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable.
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 (Hellenistic α-aorist)→ constative aoristλέγω (εἶπαν, Hellenistic form): introduces Judah's reply.
διότιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδιότι: 'because / for the reason that'; Judah's grounds for its priority.
ἐγγίζειis near / is close kinPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγγίζωmain verb (causal clause)→ stative presentἐγγίζω: 'draw near / be near'; here of kinship — 'the king is near of kin to me'; renders קָרוֹב (closeness of relation).
πρόςto / untopreposition + accusative (relation: near to)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: 'to / near to'; expressing kinship-nearness.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me' — Judah personified.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject of ἐγγίζει→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; David, a Judahite, is Judah's own kinsman.
καὶandconjunction (transition to question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom).
οὕτωςsoadverb of manner→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'so / thus'; 'why are you so angry?'.
ἐθυμώθηςare you angryAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · θυμόωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aorist (with present resonance)θυμόω: 'make angry'; pass. 'be angry / enraged'; renders חָרָה; Judah disputes Israel's indignation.
περὶaboutpreposition + genitive (concerning)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning / about'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουmatter / wordGenitivegenitive object of περί→ relational specificationλόγος: 'word / matter'; renders דָּבָר; 'this matter' of the king's escort.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'.
μὴsurely not?interrogative particle (expecting 'no')→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: introduces a question expecting the answer 'no'.
βρώσειwith eating / as foodDativecognate dative (intensifying ἐφάγαμεν: 'eaten at all')→ sphere or referenceβρῶσις: 'eating / food'; the cognate dative βρώσει ἐφάγαμεν ('have we eaten with eating?') is a Hebraism intensifying the verb — 'have we eaten anything at all?'
ἐφάγαμενhave we eatenAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aoristἐσθίω (ἐφάγαμεν): 'eat'; Judah denies having fed at the king's expense.
ἐκat the expense of / frompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / at the cost of'; 'eaten from the king' = at his expense.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive object of ἐκ.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the second denial.
δόμαgiftAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν→ object specificationδόμα: 'gift'; renders מַתָּנָה; Judah denies receiving any present from the king.
ἔδωκενhas he givenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; 'has he given us a gift?'.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the third denial.
ἄρσινportion / presentAccusativedirect object of ἦρεν (cognate)→ object specificationἄρσις: 'a lifting / portion / levy'; renders מַשְׂאֵת ('gift / portion'); the cognate ἄρσιν ἦρεν ('lifted a lifting') intensifies — 'has he granted us any allowance?'
ἦρενhas he lifted / grantedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (rhetorical question, cognate)→ constative aoristαἴρω: 'lift / take up / bear'; with cognate ἄρσιν, a Hebraism for granting a portion/allowance; Judah denies any material gain.
ἡμῖνto us / for usDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (pl. dat. ἡμῖν): 'to/for us'.
44
καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ τῷ ἀνδρὶ Ιουδα καὶ εἶπεν δέκα χεῖρές μοι ἐν τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ πρωτότοκος ἐγὼ ἢ σύ καί γε ἐν τῷ Δαυιδ εἰμὶ ὑπὲρ σέ καὶ ἵνα τί τοῦτο ὕβρισάς με καὶ οὐκ ἐλογίσθη ὁ λόγος μου πρῶτός μοι τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι τὸν βασιλέα ἐμοί καὶ ἐσκληρύνθη ὁ λόγος ἀνδρὸς Ιουδα ὑπὲρ τὸν λόγον ἀνδρὸς Ισραηλ
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, 'I have ten shares in the king, and even in David I am more than you; and the firstborn am I rather than you. So why have you insulted me? Was not my word the first to bring back my king to me?' And the word of the men of Judah prevailed harshly over the word of the men of Israel.
Israel escalates the rivalry: ten tribal 'shares' (δέκα χεῖρες) in the king, the firstborn's precedence, and the claim to have spoken first of the recall. The chapter ends with the narrator's foreboding verdict — ἐσκληρύνθη ('hardened / prevailed harshly') — Judah's word overpowered Israel's, sowing the bitterness that erupts in Sheba's revolt (ch. 20) and foreshadows the kingdom's permanent schism.
Word-by-word analysis· 58 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (collective subject)→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer'; Israel rejoins the dispute.
ἀνὴρthe menNominativesubject (collective: 'the men of Israel')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Israel'.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὶthe menDativedative (to whom they answer, collective)→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Judah'.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: 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: introduces Israel's escalation.
δέκαtenindeclinable numeral (with χεῖρες)→ measure or countδέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable; the ten northern tribes' shares in the king.
χεῖρέςhands / sharesNominativesubject (nominal clause: 'ten shares are mine')→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; here idiomatically 'shares / portions' (Hebraism יָד = 'part / share'); 'ten shares' = the ten tribes' claim on the king.
μοιI have / to meDativedative of possession→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. μοι): dative of possession, 'ten shares are mine'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: a stake in)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in'; a stake/claim 'in the king'.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (object of the claim: shares in the king)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the object of the disputed claim.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρωτότοκοςfirstbornNominativepredicate nominative ('I am firstborn')→ participant prominenceπρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; renders בְּכוֹר; Israel claims the precedence of the firstborn over Judah.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — Israel.
ἢthancomparative particle ('rather than')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than'; comparative, 'firstborn rather than you'.
σύyouNominativecomparison-standard (than you)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you' — Judah.
καίand evenconjunction (with γε, emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί γε: 'and even / indeed'.
γεevenemphatic particle (with καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: enclitic intensive.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in'; a claim 'in David'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddative (object of the claim, indeclinable name with article)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; even in David personally Israel claims greater stake.
εἰμὶI amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'I am (more) than you'.
ὑπὲρmore thanpreposition + accusative (comparative)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'above / more than'; comparative Hebraism (מִן).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (standard of comparison)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): 'you' — Judah.
καὶso / andconjunction (transition to question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'so'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (idiom ἵνα τί)→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why?'.
τίwhatinterrogative pronoun (in idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (in idiom).
τοῦτοthisAccusativeadverbial accusative / inner object ('in this')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'why in this have you insulted me?'.
ὕβρισάςhave you insulted / despisedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὑβρίζωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aoristὑβρίζω: 'insult / treat with contempt / outrage'; renders קָלַל / בָּזָה; Israel charges Judah with humiliating it.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandconjunction (introducing the complaint)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (in rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation; 'was not my word…?'.
ἐλογίσθηwas reckoned / regardedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · λογίζομαιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aoristλογίζομαι: 'reckon / regard / take into account'; renders חָשַׁב; Israel complains its proposal was not given priority.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγοςword / proposalNominativesubject of ἐλογίσθη→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / proposal'; Israel's recall-proposal (cf. vv. 10–11).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
πρῶτόςfirstNominativepredicate adjective (priority: 'first')→ participant prominenceπρῶτος: 'first'; Israel claims it spoke first of recalling the king.
μοιfor me / mineDativedative of reference/advantage→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. μοι): 'for/to me'.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστρέψαιto bring backAor Act Infin · ἐπιστρέφωarticular infinitive (epexegetical)→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'bring back / restore'; the recall-verb that has framed the whole chapter, here in the closing dispute.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψαι→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as direct object of ἐπιστρέψαι.
ἐμοίto meDativedative of advantage (bring back the king 'to me')→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): emphatic 'to me'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the closing verdict)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσκληρύνθηprevailed harshly / was hardAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · σκληρύνωmain verb (narratorial conclusion)→ constative aoristσκληρύνω: 'harden / make harsh / be severe'; renders קָשָׁה; the word of Judah 'was harsher / prevailed roughly' over Israel's — the narrator's ominous close, the seed of the schism (ch. 20).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγοςwordNominativesubject of ἐσκληρύνθη→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word'; the word/argument of Judah.
ἀνδρὸςof the menGenitivegenitive of source (collective: 'of the men of Judah')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Judah'.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
ὑπὲρover / beyondpreposition + accusative (comparative: prevailed over)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'above / over / beyond'; Judah's word overpowered Israel's.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγονwordAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (standard of comparison)→ object specificationλόγος: 'word'; the word/argument of Israel, overborne by Judah's.
ἀνδρὸςof the menGenitivegenitive of source (collective: 'of the men of Israel')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; collective 'the men of Israel'.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the slighted northern tribes, whose grievance will fuel Sheba's revolt.