Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Second Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 2ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Β′ Β′

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

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

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

Theme

David is anointed in Hebron while Abner raises Saul's house against him and the civil war begins.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 2 Kingdoms 2 (= 2 Samuel 2) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter unfolds in five movements: David's inquiry of the LORD and his anointing as king over Judah at Hebron (vv. 1–4a); his message of blessing to the men of Jabesh-gilead who had buried Saul (vv. 4b–7); Abner's counter-enthronement of Iebosthe (Ish-bosheth) son of Saul over Israel at Mahanaim (vv. 8–11); the combat of twelve champions and the fierce battle at the pool of Gibeon (vv. 12–17); and the death of Asahel by the butt of Abner's spear, followed by Abner's plea and the truce at sundown (vv. 18–32). The narrative is dense with the verbatim transliterations characteristic of the historical books: Χεβρων (Hebron), Ιαβις (Jabesh) τῆς Γαλααδίτιδος (of Gilead), Αβεννηρ (Abner), Ιεβοσθε (Ish-bosheth), Μαναεμ (Mahanaim), Γαβαων (Gibeon), Ασαηλ (Asahel). The LXX renders David's covenantal blessing on Jabesh with the doublet ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν (v. 6), the standard Greek calque of Hebrew חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת. The grim wordplay of v. 16 — μερὶς τῶν ἐπιβούλων ('the portion of the treacherous/plotters'), the LXX's etymological gloss on the place-name חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים — is preserved. Abner's challenge ἀναστήτωσαν δὴ τὰ παιδάρια καὶ παιξάτωσαν ('let the young men arise and play', v. 14) frames the mortal combat with chilling euphemism. Asahel's speed is captured by the simile κοῦφος τοῖς ποσὶν … ὡσεὶ μία δορκὰς ἐν ἀγρῷ ('swift of foot … like a gazelle in the field', v. 18). The death-blow ἐν τῷ ὀπίσω τοῦ δόρατος ('with the hinder part of the spear', v. 23) and Abner's bitter rhetorical question μὴ εἰς νῖκος καταφάγεται ἡ ῥομφαία ('shall the sword devour unto victory?', v. 26) are rendered with the LXX's characteristic Hebraic literalism. Joab's oath ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives', v. 27) and the trumpet of recall (ἐσάλπισεν … τῇ σάλπιγγι, v. 28) close the day's slaughter.

1

καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν Δαυιδ ἐν κυρίῳ λέγων εἰ ἀναβῶ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων Ιουδα καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς αὐτόν ἀνάβηθι καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ποῦ ἀναβῶ καὶ εἶπεν εἰς Χεβρων

And it came to pass after these things that David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?' And the LORD said to him, 'Go up.' And David said, 'Where shall I go up?' And he said, 'To Hebron.'

New narrative episode (post-Saul transition)καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα
The formula καὶ ἐγένετο (rendering Hebrew וַיְהִי) opens a new narrative phase after the death of Saul (ch. 1); μετὰ ταῦτα marks temporal succession. The inquiry-and-answer dialogue (question–command–question–answer) is structured as a tight oracular exchange establishing divine sanction for David's move to Hebron.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative-opening formula)→ constative aorist (event-onset marker)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, the standard LXX episode-opening marker introducing a new narrative scene after Saul's death.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'after'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (temporal).
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal: 'after these things')→ object specificationοὗτος: the demonstrative ταῦτα refers back to the events of ch. 1 (the deaths of Saul and Jonathan and David's lament); μετὰ ταῦτα is a standard LXX temporal connective for narrative succession.
καὶandapodotic καί (resumptive after καὶ ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί following καὶ ἐγένετο … is a Hebraism rendering the waw that opens the main clause after a temporal protasis; it need not be translated.
ἐπηρώτησενinquiredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπερωτάωmain verb (David consults the oracle)→ constative aorist (single act of inquiry)ἐπερωτάω: 'ask / inquire / consult'; the compound ἐπ- intensifies; ἐπερωτάω ἐν κυρίῳ renders שָׁאַל בַּיהוה, the technical idiom for seeking an oracular answer (typically via priest and ephod, cf. 1 Kgdms 23:2; 30:8); the act establishes that David's kingship begins under divine direction.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX of the historical books; the protagonist of 2 Kingdoms, here taking the first step toward the throne under oracular sanction.
ἐνof / inpreposition + dative (means/sphere of inquiry: Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with κυρίῳ here renders Hebrew בַּ (in/by); ἐπερωτάω ἐν κυρίῳ = 'inquire of/by the LORD', a fixed oracular idiom.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐν (the one consulted)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; David consults YHWH himself, marking his kingship as divinely sanctioned from its inception.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptc.): the participle λέγων introducing direct discourse is a Hebraism calquing לֵאמֹר; pervasive in LXX narrative.
εἰwhetherinterrogative particle (introducing direct/deliberative question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if / whether'; here introduces a direct deliberative question ('shall I go up?'), a Hebraism rendering the interrogative ה; common in LXX oracular inquiries.
ἀναβῶshall I go upAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀναβαίνωdeliberative subjunctive (content of the inquiry)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive (asking for divine direction)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the verb is apt for the topographical ascent to the Judean hill country (Hebron sits at c. 930 m); the deliberative subjunctive frames the move as awaiting YHWH's sanction.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).
μίανoneAccusativesubstantival numeral (object of εἰς: 'one of the cities')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; feminine accusative μίαν, partitive with τῶν πόλεων ('one of the cities').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivepartitive genitive (with μίαν)→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the partitive genitive leaves the destination open, to be specified by the oracle as Hebron.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'cities of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable in the LXX; here the tribal territory and emerging kingdom over which David will first reign.
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 (oracular answer)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν here reports YHWH's oracular reply, the answer to David's inquiry.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine respondent)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the LORD answers directly, confirming David's move under divine authorization.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (David)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (David).
ἀνάβηθιgo upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (divine command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive directive)ἀναβαίνω (aor. impv.): the LORD's terse one-word command ἀνάβηθi ('go up') grants the requested sanction; the imperative answers the deliberative subjunctive of David's question.
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 (David's follow-up question)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (direct question)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; David presses for the specific destination, prompting the oracle's naming of Hebron.
ἀναβῶshall I go upAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀναβαίνωdeliberative subjunctive (repeated inquiry)→ deliberative aorist subjunctiveἀναβαίνω: the repeated deliberative ἀναβῶ now narrows the question from whether to where.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (oracular answer, subject 'the LORD' implied)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΧεβρωνHebronaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧεβρων: transliteration of Hebrew חֶבְרוֹן; indeclinable in the LXX; the chief city of Judah's hill country and the burial place of the patriarchs (Gen 23), it becomes David's first royal capital for seven and a half years (v. 11).
2

καὶ ἀνέβη ἐκεῖ Δαυιδ εἰς Χεβρων καὶ ἀμφότεραι αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτοῦ Αχινοομ ἡ Ιεζραηλῖτις καὶ Αβιγαια ἡ γυνὴ Ναβαλ τοῦ Καρμηλίου

And David went up there to Hebron, and both his wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

Narrative fulfilment of the oracle (v. 1)καὶ ἀνέβη
David acts on the LORD's word: the aorist ἀνέβη ('went up') enacts the imperative ἀνάβηθι of v. 1. The verse adds the domestic detail of his two wives, naming Ahinoam and Abigail (former wife of Nabal), grounding the move in the historical record of David's household (cf. 1 Kgdms 25:42–43; 30:5).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
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 (obedient execution of the oracle)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἀναβαίνω: the indicative ἀνέβη fulfils the imperative ἀνάβηθi of v. 1; David's prompt obedience to the oracle characterizes his rise as divinely directed.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; resumptive, pointing to the destination just named; the pleonastic ἐκεῖ … εἰς Χεβρων reflects Hebraic redundancy (שָׁם).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).
ΧεβρωνHebronaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧεβρων: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the wives)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεραιbothNominativepredicate/appositional adjective (nom. fem. pl.: 'both')→ participant prominenceἀμφότερος: 'both / the two'; the feminine plural ἀμφότεραι agrees with γυναῖκες, emphasizing that David brings both his wives up to Hebron.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject (verb 'went up' supplied from ἀνέβη)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; here David's two wives, named in apposition.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ΑχινοομAhinoamnominative in apposition to γυναῖκες (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑχινοομ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲחִינֹעַם; indeclinable in the LXX; Ahinoam of Jezreel, David's wife and mother of Amnon (cf. 1 Kgdms 25:43; 2 Kgdms 3:2).
theNominativearticle (with gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεζραηλῖτιςJezreelitessNominativegentilic adjective (feminine, in apposition to Αχινοομ)→ participant prominenceΙεζραηλῖτις: feminine gentilic, 'the Jezreelite woman'; from Jezreel (יִזְרְעֶאל), here the Judean town of that name (Josh 15:56), not the northern valley; declinable Greek feminine in -ῖτις.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιγαιαAbigailNominativenominative in apposition to γυναῖκες (second wife)→ participant prominenceΑβιγαια: Greek-declined form of Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (first-declension, gen. Αβιγαιας); Abigail, formerly Nabal's wife, whom David married after Nabal's death (1 Kgdms 25).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativeappositional noun ('the wife of Nabal')→ participant prominenceγυνή: here 'wife', identifying Abigail by her former husband; the designation ἡ γυνὴ Ναβαλ recalls the narrative of 1 Kgdms 25.
Ναβαλof Nabalgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wife of Nabal')→ participant identificationΝαβαλ: transliteration of Hebrew נָבָל ('fool'); indeclinable in the LXX; Abigail's deceased first husband, the churlish Carmelite of 1 Kgdms 25.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with gentilic Καρμηλίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚαρμηλίουCarmeliteGenitivegentilic adjective in apposition to Ναβαλ (genitive)→ relational specificationΚαρμήλιος: 'the Carmelite', from Carmel of Judah (כַּרְמֶל, Josh 15:55), not Mount Carmel; declinable Greek gentilic; identifies Nabal's origin and estate.
3

καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ καὶ κατῴκουν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν Χεβρων

And the men who were with him, each one and his household, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

Continuation: David's followers resettle with himκαὶ οἱ ἄνδρες
The verse extends the migration to David's loyal band and their families; the distributive ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ ('each and his household') stresses the comprehensive resettlement of David's faction in the towns surrounding Hebron, building the demographic base of his Judahite kingdom.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (David's followers)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; here David's fighting men and companions who had been with him in exile (cf. 1 Kgdms 27:2–3; 30:1).
οἱthe (who)Nominativeattributive article (with prepositional phrase: 'the ones with him')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ functions relatively, 'those who were with him', an articular-prepositional Hebraism.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativedistributive apposition to ἄνδρες ('each man')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive, pairing each man with his household; renders אִישׁ in distributive sense.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκοςhouseholdNominativesubject (coordinate: 'his household')→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; here the family unit of each man, underscoring the wholesale relocation of David's faction.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandapodotic/resumptive καί (Hebraism before main verb)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the resumptive καί before κατῴκουν reflects Hebrew waw-resumption after a fronted compound subject.
κατῴκουνthey dweltImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb (settled habitation)→ imperfect (durative/customary settlement)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the imperfect κατῴκουν portrays the ongoing, settled residence of David's people in the Hebron district.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place (locative: 'in the cities')→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city / town'; here the satellite towns around Hebron; the dative plural πόλεσιν marks the dispersed settlement of David's followers throughout the district.
Χεβρωνof Hebrongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'cities of Hebron')→ participant identificationΧεβρων: indeclinable; here genitival, 'the towns of Hebron', i.e. the settlements dependent on the city.
4

καὶ ἔρχονται ἄνδρες τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ χρίουσιν τὸν Δαυιδ ἐκεῖ τοῦ βασιλεύειν ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ιουδα καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ Δαυιδ λέγοντες ὅτι οἱ ἄνδρες Ιαβις τῆς Γαλααδίτιδος ἔθαψαν τὸν Σαουλ

And the men of Judea come and anoint David there to be king over the house of Judah. And they reported to David, saying, 'The men of Jabesh of Gilead buried Saul.'

Climax of section A: David's anointing over Judahκαὶ ἔρχονται
The historic presents ἔρχονται … χρίουσιν ('come … anoint') heighten the decisive moment: David is anointed king over Judah, the first of two such anointings (cf. 5:3 over all Israel). The verse then pivots (καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν) to the report about Jabesh-gilead, which triggers David's message of vv. 5–7 and links the new king to the legacy of Saul.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔρχονταιcomePres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid narrative immediacy)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the historic present ἔρχονται renders the Hebrew narrative verb vividly; the historical books frequently use the present for such decisive arrivals.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (the men of Judah)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; here the men of Judah acting collectively to anoint David; renders אַנְשֵׁי ('men of').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιουδαίαςof JudeaGenitivegenitive of relationship ('men of Judea/Judah')→ relational specificationΙουδαία: 'Judea / Judah (the region)'; declinable Greek feminine; here the territory whose men anoint David; equivalent to the tribal land of Ιουδα.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χρίουσινanointPres Act Indic 3 Pl · χρίωmain verb (historic present: the royal anointing)→ historic present (decisive act)χρίω: 'anoint'; renders מָשַׁח; the verb from which χριστός ('anointed one') derives; David's anointing over Judah (his second after Samuel's private anointing, 1 Kgdms 16:13) publicly inaugurates his reign; the cognate χριστὸν κυρίου recurs of Saul at v. 5.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddirect object of χρίουσιν (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the article τὸν marks the syntactic accusative even though the name does not inflect.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at Hebron)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there', i.e. at Hebron, the place of David's new royal seat.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύεινto be kingPres Act Inf · βασιλεύωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ + inf.)→ telic present infinitive (purpose of the anointing)βασιλεύω: 'reign / be king'; renders מָלַךְ; the τοῦ-infinitive expresses purpose ('in order to reign'), a common LXX construction calquing the Hebrew לְ + infinitive construct.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (rule over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over'; with βασιλεύω marks the domain of rule ('reign over').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (domain of rule)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; ὁ οἶκος Ιουδα ('the house of Judah') denotes the tribe/kingdom of Judah as a corporate body, the realm David now rules.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; defines the house ruled — the kingdom of Judah, distinct from the northern tribes Abner will claim for Iebosthe.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (scene-shift to the report)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλανthey reportedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (delivery of news to David)→ constative aorist (single report)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce / bring word'; renders נָגַד (Hiphil); the impersonal plural ('they reported') introduces the news about Jabesh-gilead that prompts David's diplomatic overture.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Δαυιδ, dative indirect object)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddative indirect object (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative indirect object (indeclinable, articular).
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ progressive participleλέγω (pres. ptc.): λέγοντες introducing the report is the Hebraizing לֵאמֹר-calque marking direct discourse.
ὅτιthatὅτι recitativum (introducing quoted report)→ clausal contributionὅτι: here recitative, functioning like quotation marks before the reported speech; not to be translated as 'because'.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (the men of Jabesh)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: here the men of Jabesh-gilead who rescued and buried Saul's body (cf. 1 Kgdms 31:11–13).
Ιαβιςof Jabeshgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙαβις: transliteration of Hebrew יָבֵשׁ (Jabesh); indeclinable; Jabesh-gilead, the Transjordanian town whose men Saul had rescued early in his reign (1 Kgdms 11) and who repaid him by recovering his body.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Γαλααδίτιδος)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Γαλααδίτιδοςof GileadGenitivegentilic adjective (genitive: 'of Gileadite [territory]')→ relational specificationΓαλααδῖτις (gen. Γαλααδίτιδος): feminine gentilic, 'the Gileadite (land)'; from Gilead (גִּלְעָד), the Transjordanian highland region; specifies Jabesh as Jabesh-of-Gilead.
ἔθαψανburiedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θάπτωmain verb of the quoted report→ constative aorist (completed act of burial)θάπτω: 'bury'; renders קָבַר; the men of Jabesh buried Saul, an act of ḥesed that David honors in vv. 5–7; the verb recurs (ἐθάψατε, v. 5; θάπτουσιν, v. 32) as a structural keyword of the chapter.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Σαουλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαουλSauldirect object of ἔθαψαν (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁאוּל; indeclinable; the fallen first king of Israel, whose honorable burial by the men of Jabesh frames David's magnanimous response.
5

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ ἀγγέλους πρὸς τοὺς ἡγουμένους Ιαβις τῆς Γαλααδίτιδος καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς εὐλογημένοι ὑμεῖς τῷ κυρίῳ ὅτι πεποιήκατε τὸ ἔλεος τοῦτο ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον ὑμῶν ἐπὶ Σαουλ τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου καὶ ἐθάψατε αὐτὸν καὶ Ιωναθαν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ

And David sent messengers to the leaders of Jabesh of Gilead and said to them, 'Blessed are you by the LORD, because you have done this kindness to your lord, to Saul the anointed of the LORD, and have buried him and Jonathan his son.'

Section B opening: David's diplomatic blessing on Jabeshκαὶ ἀπέστειλεν
David responds to the report of v. 4 by sending an embassy to Jabesh-gilead. The blessing-formula εὐλογημένοι ὑμεῖς τῷ κυρίῳ ('blessed are you by the LORD') and the language of τὸ ἔλεος ('kindness/ḥesed') frame his message as both an acknowledgment of their loyalty to Saul and an implicit bid for their future allegiance to himself.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (dispatch of messengers)→ constative aorist (single act of sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; David sends an official embassy, an act of statecraft toward a town outside his Judahite base.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἀγγέλουςmessengersAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationἄγγελος: 'messenger / envoy' (also 'angel'); here human envoys; renders מַלְאָךְ; the diplomatic mission carries David's blessing to Jabesh.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with participle ἡγουμένους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡγουμένουςleadersPres Mid Part Acc Pl Masc · ἡγέομαιsubstantival participle (object of πρός: 'the leaders')→ verbal action or stateἡγέομαι: 'lead / govern'; the articular participle οἱ ἡγούμενοι ('the leaders / rulers') renders a Hebrew term for the town's elders or chiefs; substantivized, it functions as a noun for the civic authorities of Jabesh.
Ιαβιςof Jabeshgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙαβις: indeclinable; Jabesh-gilead; here genitival, 'the leaders of Jabesh'.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Γαλααδίτιδοςof GileadGenitivegentilic adjective (genitive, specifying Jabesh)→ relational specificationΓαλααδῖτις (gen. Γαλααδίτιδος): 'the Gileadite (land)'; identifies the town as Jabesh-of-Gilead, in the Transjordan.
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 (introducing David's message)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the content of David's message conveyed through the messengers; 'said' here = 'sent word'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
εὐλογημένοιblessedPerf Pass Part Nom Pl Masc · εὐλογέωpredicate participle (periphrastic blessing-formula with ὑμεῖς)→ perfect (settled state of blessedness)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of'; the perfect passive participle εὐλογημένοι in a blessing-formula renders Hebrew בְּרוּכִים ('blessed [be] you'); the construction εὐλογημένοι ὑμεῖς τῷ κυρίῳ invokes divine favor upon the men of Jabesh for their loyalty.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject of the blessing-formula→ participant referenceὑμεῖς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject of the blessing-formula.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative of agent/cause ('blessed by the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the dative τῷ κυρίῳ marks YHWH as the source of the blessing ('blessed by/to the LORD'), grounding David's commendation in divine sanction.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground of the blessing)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the reason for the blessing — the kindness shown to Saul.
πεποιήκατεyou have donePerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of causal clause→ resultative perfect (a deed whose effect abides)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the perfect πεποιήκατε stresses the abiding significance of their act of loyalty (ποιέω ἔλεος = עָשָׂה חֶסֶד, 'show kindness'), a deed whose merit still stands.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἔλεος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλεοςkindnessAccusativedirect object of πεποιήκατε→ object specificationἔλεος: 'mercy / kindness / loyalty'; the standard LXX rendering of חֶסֶד (covenant loyalty); ποιέω ἔλεος ἐπί = 'show ḥesed toward'; the burial of Saul is reckoned an act of covenant faithfulness.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔλεος)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; deictic, pointing to the specific act of loyalty just reported.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (beneficiary of the kindness)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: with ἔλεος marks the recipient of kindness ('toward / upon'), a Hebraism for חֶסֶד עִם / אֶל.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονlordAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Saul as their human lord)→ object specificationκύριος: here in the human sense 'lord / master' (= אֲדוֹן), referring to Saul as the rightful sovereign of the men of Jabesh; the qualifier ὑμῶν ('your lord') marks this as the human, not divine, use of the term.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (apposition: 'upon Saul')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (apposition: 'upon Saul').
ΣαουλSaulin apposition to τὸν κύριον ὑμῶν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; named in apposition to 'your lord', specifying the object of the kindness.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with χριστὸν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χριστὸνanointedAccusativeappositional noun ('the anointed of the LORD')→ object specificationχριστός: 'anointed (one)'; verbal adjective of χρίω; ὁ χριστὸς κυρίου ('the LORD's anointed') is the standard designation of the sacrosanct king (cf. 1 Kgdms 24:7; 26:9); David's use of the title for Saul affirms the inviolable dignity he always accorded him.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship ('anointed of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the genitive χριστὸν κυρίου marks Saul as YHWH's own anointed, a sacred status David never violated.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθάψατεyou buriedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · θάπτωmain verb (the specific act of kindness)→ constative aorist (completed burial)θάπτω: 'bury'; the aorist ἐθάψατε specifies the kindness — the honorable burial of Saul (and Jonathan); echoes ἔθαψαν of v. 4.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Saul)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Saul).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansecond direct object of ἐθάψατε (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן; indeclinable; Saul's son and David's covenant-friend, buried together with his father by the men of Jabesh (1 Kgdms 31:11–13).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with υἱὸν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeappositional noun ('his son')→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; identifies Jonathan as Saul's son.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
6

καὶ νῦν ποιήσαι κύριος μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν καί γε ἐγὼ ποιήσω μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν τὰ ἀγαθὰ ταῦτα ὅτι ἐποιήσατε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο

And now may the LORD do with you mercy and truth; and I also will do with you this good, because you did this thing.

Transition to invocation and pledge (καὶ νῦν = 'and now')καὶ νῦν
καὶ νῦν (Hebrew וְעַתָּה) marks the rhetorical turn from commendation to wish-and-pledge. David invokes YHWH's ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθειαν (the ḥesed-we'emet doublet) upon them and binds himself to reciprocate their kindness, deftly courting Jabesh's allegiance while honoring their loyalty to Saul.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandtransitional conjunction (with νῦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (rhetorical pivot)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; the formula καὶ νῦν renders וְעַתָּה, a standard Hebrew discourse-marker turning from past commendation to present exhortation/wish.
ποιήσαιmay he doAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ποιέωoptative of wish (precative blessing)→ volitive aorist optative (invocation of divine action)ποιέω (aor. opt.): the optative ποιήσαι expresses a wish/prayer ('may [the LORD] do'); a precative optative invoking YHWH's reciprocal kindness on the men of Jabesh.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of the optative wish→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; YHWH is invoked as the one who will requite the men of Jabesh with covenant kindness.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; ποιέω ἔλεος μετά τινος ('do kindness with someone') is a Hebraism for עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
ἔλεοςmercyAccusativedirect object of ποιήσαι→ object specificationἔλεος: 'mercy / loyal kindness'; renders חֶסֶד; paired with ἀλήθεια in the classic doublet ḥesed we'emet, denoting steadfast, faithful covenant love.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀλήθειανtruthAccusativedirect object of ποιήσαι (coordinate with ἔλεος)→ object specificationἀλήθεια: 'truth / faithfulness'; renders אֱמֶת; the doublet ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθεια ('mercy and truth') is the LXX calque of חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, a covenantal formula of loyal reliability (cf. Gen 24:27; Exod 34:6).
καίandconjunction (with γε: emphatic 'and indeed')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here part of the emphatic combination καί γε ('and indeed / moreover'), a Hebraism rendering וְגַם.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: enclitic emphatic particle; καί γε intensifies, here adding David's own pledge to YHWH's invoked kindness ('I too, for my part').
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic first-person pronoun; David personally commits to reciprocate the kindness, foregrounding his own agency alongside YHWH's.
ποιήσωI will doFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (David's personal pledge)→ predictive/promissory future (a binding commitment)ποιέω (fut.): the future ποιήσω is promissory — David pledges to do good to Jabesh in return, an act of statesmanlike reciprocity.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμεθ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἀγαθὰ)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὰgood thingsAccusativesubstantival adjective (direct object: 'this good')→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; the neuter plural τὰ ἀγαθά ('the good [deeds/things]') renders הַטּוֹבָה; the goodness David pledges mirrors the ἔλεος καὶ ἀλήθεια he invoked from YHWH.
ταῦταthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἀγαθὰ)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'this / these'; the neuter plural ταῦτα agrees with τὰ ἀγαθά.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground of the pledge)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the deed of Jabesh is again cited as the ground of David's reciprocal goodwill.
ἐποιήσατεyou didAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the completed deed)ποιέω (aor.): ἐποιήσατε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('you did this thing'); the threefold repetition of ποιέω in vv. 5–6 (πεποιήκατε / ποιήσαι / ποιήσω / ἐποιήσατε) binds Jabesh's deed, YHWH's recompense, and David's pledge into a single reciprocal economy of kindness.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthingAccusativedirect object of ἐποιήσατε→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / matter / thing'; renders דָּבָר, which like the Greek can mean both 'word' and 'deed/matter'; here 'this thing/deed', i.e. the burial of Saul.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as demonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα).
7

καὶ νῦν κραταιούσθωσαν αἱ χεῖρες ὑμῶν καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς υἱοὺς δυνατούς ὅτι τέθνηκεν ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν Σαουλ καί γε ἐμὲ κέχρικεν ὁ οἶκος Ιουδα ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτοὺς εἰς βασιλέα

And now let your hands be strengthened, and become valiant sons, because your lord Saul has died; and me also the house of Judah has anointed over themselves as king.

Exhortation and self-disclosure (climax of section B)καὶ νῦν
A second καὶ νῦν turns from pledge to exhortation: 'let your hands be strengthened … be valiant'. The double ground (Saul's death; David's own anointing by Judah) makes the implicit appeal explicit — with the old king gone, David offers himself as the new locus of allegiance. The verbatim Hebraism κραταιούσθωσαν αἱ χεῖρες ('let the hands be strong') = תֶּחֱזַקְנָה יְדֵיכֶם, an idiom for courage.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandtransitional conjunction (with νῦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (second rhetorical pivot)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: the repeated καὶ νῦν (וְעַתָּה) advances from pledge (v. 6) to direct exhortation.
κραταιούσθωσανlet them be strengthenedPres Pass Impv 3 Pl · κραταιόωmain verb (third-person imperative exhortation)→ durative present imperative (sustained courage)κραταιόω: 'strengthen / make strong'; the passive imperative κραταιούσθωσαν αἱ χεῖρες renders the Hebrew idiom חָזַק יָד ('let the hands be strong'), a metaphor for taking courage and resolve (cf. Judg 7:11; Zech 8:9).
αἱtheNominativearticle (with χεῖρες)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖρεςhandsNominativesubject of κραταιούσθωσαν→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; in the idiom 'let your hands be strengthened', the hand stands by metonymy for strength, courage, and capacity for action.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: 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.
γίνεσθεbecomePres Mid Impv 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (second-person imperative)→ durative present imperative ('be / keep being')γίνομαι (pres. impv.): 'become / be'; γίνεσθε εἰς ('become into') is a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ) meaning 'become / prove yourselves to be'; David urges them to be men of valor.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate complement: Hebraism εἰς)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: in γίνομαι εἰς renders the Hebrew הָיָה לְ ('become as/into'); the εἰς + accusative serves as a predicate complement.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativepredicate accusative (with γίνεσθε εἰς)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the idiom υἱοὶ δυνάμεως / δυνατοί ('sons of might / valiant men') is a Hebraism (בְּנֵי חַיִל) for warriors of courage and capability.
δυνατούςvaliantAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying υἱοὺς)→ object specificationδυνατός: 'mighty / able / valiant'; renders חַיִל; υἱοὶ δυνατοί = 'valiant warriors', men of proven strength.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground of the exhortation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the twofold ground — Saul's death and David's anointing.
τέθνηκενhas diedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωmain verb of causal clause→ resultative perfect (the abiding state of being dead)θνῄσκω (perf.): 'die / be dead'; the perfect τέθνηκεν stresses the settled fact that Saul is now dead — the dynastic vacuum David's words address.
theNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςlordNominativesubject of τέθνηκεν (Saul as human lord)→ participant prominenceκύριος: human sense 'lord / master' (= אֲדוֹן); ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν Σαουλ ('your lord Saul') is the human, not divine, use; David acknowledges Saul's legitimate lordship over the men of Jabesh up to his death.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ΣαουλSaulin apposition to ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; named in apposition to 'your lord'.
καίandconjunction (with γε: emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: part of καί γε ('and indeed / moreover'), rendering וְגַם; introduces David's self-disclosure.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: emphatic enclitic; καί γε here heightens the pointed self-reference ('and what is more, me...').
ἐμὲmeAccusativefronted direct object (emphatic: 'me')→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): the emphatic, fronted ἐμέ ('me') foregrounds David himself as the new anointed king — the implicit object of the men of Jabesh's hoped-for allegiance.
κέχρικενhas anointedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · χρίωmain verb (David's anointing as accomplished fact)→ resultative perfect (an anointing whose effect stands)χρίω (perf.): 'anoint'; the perfect κέχρικεν stresses the abiding result — David stands anointed king of Judah (cf. χρίουσιν, v. 4); the perfect contrasts pointedly with the perfect τέθνηκεν (Saul is dead; David is anointed).
theNominativearticle (with οἶκος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκοςhouseNominativesubject of κέχρικεν→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house'; ὁ οἶκος Ιουδα ('the house of Judah') is the corporate agent of David's anointing.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; the house/kingdom of Judah.
ἐφ᾿overpreposition + accusative (rule over; elided before rough breathing)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over'; with the reflexive ἑαυτούς ('over themselves'), marking Judah's self-subjection to David's kingship.
ἑαυτοὺςthemselvesAccusativereflexive pronoun (object of ἐπί)→ participant referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτούς ('over themselves') stresses that Judah freely set David as king over their own body politic.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate: 'as king')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: predicate-result εἰς ('as / to be'), Hebraism for לְ; χρίω … εἰς βασιλέα = 'anoint as king'.
βασιλέαkingAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as king')→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the role to which David has been anointed over Judah.
8

καὶ Αβεννηρ υἱὸς Νηρ ἀρχιστράτηγος τοῦ Σαουλ ἔλαβεν τὸν Ιεβοσθε υἱὸν Σαουλ καὶ ἀνεβίβασεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς εἰς Μαναεμ

And Abner son of Ner, the commander-in-chief of Saul, took Iebosthe son of Saul and brought him up from the camp to Mahanaim.

Section C opening: the rival enthronement (scene-shift to Israel)καὶ Αβεννηρ
The narrative pivots from David's kingdom to the north: Abner, Saul's army-commander, takes the initiative to perpetuate the Saulide dynasty by installing Iebosthe (Ish-bosheth). The fronted subject Αβεννηρ … ἀρχιστράτηγος signals the new power-broker; the move to Mahanaim (Transjordan) reflects the loss of the western heartland after Gilboa.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (scene-shift)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: transliteration of Hebrew אַבְנֵר (Abner); indeclinable in the LXX; Saul's cousin and commander-in-chief, the dominant figure of the northern kingdom and David's chief military rival in chs. 2–3.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositional noun ('son of Ner')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; the patronymic identifies Abner's lineage.
Νηρof Nergenitive of relationship (indeclinable patronymic)→ participant identificationΝηρ: transliteration of Hebrew נֵר (Ner); indeclinable; Abner's father, uncle of Saul (cf. 1 Kgdms 14:50–51).
ἀρχιστράτηγοςcommander-in-chiefNominativeappositional noun (Abner's office)→ participant prominenceἀρχιστράτηγος: 'commander-in-chief / chief general'; compound of ἀρχι- ('chief') + στρατηγός ('general'); renders שַׂר־צָבָא ('captain of the host'); Abner's office gives him the authority to make and unmake kings.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Σαουλ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; the article τοῦ marks the genitive ('Saul's commander').
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Abner's initiative)→ constative aorist (decisive act)λαμβάνω: 'take / seize / lay hold of'; renders לָקַח; Abner's taking of Iebosthe is the kingmaking act — the dynastic counter-move to David's anointing in Judah.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιεβοσθε)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβοσθεIebosthedirect object of ἔλαβεν (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΙεβοσθε: LXX transliteration of Hebrew אִישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת (Ish-bosheth, 'man of shame'; also Eshbaal, 1 Chr 8:33); indeclinable; Saul's surviving son, set up as figurehead king of Israel under Abner's control.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeappositional noun ('son of Saul')→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; patronymic identifying Iebosthe's claim — he is heir of the house of Saul.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; Iebosthe's dynastic credential.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβίβασενbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβιβάζωmain verb (transfer to Mahanaim)→ constative aorist (causative)ἀναβιβάζω: 'bring/lead up' (causative of ἀναβαίνω); renders עָלָה (Hiphil); Abner conducts Iebosthe across to Mahanaim, a defensible Transjordanian center safe from the Philistines who controlled the western lowlands after Gilboa.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Iebosthe)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Iebosthe).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρεμβολῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army-encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; here the military camp from which Abner conducts Iebosthe — possibly a wordplay anticipating Μαναεμ (Mahanaim, 'two camps').
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΜαναεμMahanaimaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜαναεμ: LXX transliteration of Hebrew מַחֲנַיִם (Mahanaim, 'two camps'); indeclinable; a Transjordanian town in Gilead (cf. Gen 32:2), chosen by Abner as the seat of Iebosthe's rump kingdom, secure east of the Jordan.
9

καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν Γαλααδῖτιν καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Θασιρι καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ιεζραελ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Εφραιμ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Βενιαμιν καὶ ἐπὶ πάντα Ισραηλ

And he made him king over Gilead and over the Ashurite and over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over all Israel.

Continuation: the extent of Iebosthe's realmκαὶ ἐβασίλευσεν
The causative ἐβασίλευσεν αὐτόν ('he made him king') keeps Abner as subject and Iebosthe as object — Iebosthe reigns, but Abner rules. The sixfold anaphora ἐπὶ … καὶ ἐπί enumerates the territories, sweeping from Transjordanian Gilead through the central tribes (Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin) and climaxing in the claim ἐπὶ πάντα Ισραηλ — the maximal counter-claim to David's Judah.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβασίλευσενhe made kingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (causative: Abner enthrones Iebosthe)→ causative constative aorist ('made [him] reign')βασιλεύω: normally intransitive 'reign', but here transitive/causative with object αὐτόν — 'he made him king' (rendering Hiphil הִמְלִיךְ); the construction keeps Abner the true power behind Iebosthe's throne.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Iebosthe, the one made king)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Iebosthe, the one made king).
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (domain of rule)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over'; the sixfold repetition enumerates the realm claimed for Iebosthe.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Γαλααδῖτιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδῖτινGileadAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (first territory)→ object specificationΓαλααδῖτις (acc. Γαλααδῖτιν): 'the Gileadite (land)'; declinable feminine; the Transjordanian highland in which Mahanaim lies, the secure base of Iebosthe's kingdom.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Θασιρι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Θασιριthe Ashuriteaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable; second territory)→ participant identificationΘασιρι: LXX transliteration corresponding to Hebrew הָאֲשׁוּרִי ('the Ashurite'), the gentilic taken with the article (תּ from הַ); indeclinable; the people/region of the Asherites (cf. Judg 1:32), part of Iebosthe's northern claim.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιεζραελ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεζραελJezreelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable place-name; third territory)→ participant identificationΙεζραελ: transliteration of Hebrew יִזְרְעֶאל (Jezreel); indeclinable; the great northern valley and its environs — strategically vital but contested with the Philistines after Gilboa.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Εφραιμ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕφραιμEphraimaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable; fourth territory)→ participant identificationΕφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Ephraim); indeclinable; the dominant central tribe, the heartland of the northern kingdom that would later bear its name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Βενιαμιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable; fifth territory)→ participant identificationΒενιαμιν: transliteration of Hebrew בִּנְיָמִן (Benjamin); indeclinable; Saul's own tribe, the dynastic core of Iebosthe's support and the source of the combatants at Gibeon (v. 15).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (climactic summary)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (climactic summary).
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying Ισραηλ)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the climactic ἐπὶ πάντα Ισραήλ ('over all Israel') totalizes the preceding list — the maximal counter-claim against David's Judah, even if largely aspirational.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here the northern tribes collectively, the realm claimed for Iebosthe over against David's Judah.
10

τεσσαράκοντα ἐτῶν Ιεβοσθε υἱὸς Σαουλ ὅτε ἐβασίλευσεν ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ δύο ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν πλὴν τοῦ οἴκου Ιουδα οἳ ἦσαν ὀπίσω Δαυιδ

Iebosthe son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years, except for the house of Judah, who were after David.

Regnal formula for Iebostheτεσσαράκοντα ἐτῶν
A regnal-summary formula (age at accession + length of reign), the standard annalistic notice of Kings/Kingdoms. The exception clause πλὴν τοῦ οἴκου Ιουδα ('except the house of Judah') and the relative οἳ ἦσαν ὀπίσω Δαυιδ ('who were after David') explicitly carve Judah out of Iebosthe's claimed realm, formalizing the divided kingdom.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (predicate of age: 'forty years old')→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; indeclinable cardinal; with the genitive of measure ἐτῶν it states Iebosthe's age at accession ('forty years of [age]').
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (age: 'of years')→ relational specificationἔτος: 'year'; the genitive plural ἐτῶν with a numeral is the idiom of age ('forty years old'); renders בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה.
ΙεβοσθεIebosthesubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙεβοσθε: indeclinable; Ish-bosheth, here the subject of the regnal formula.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositional noun ('son of Saul')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic reasserts Iebosthe's Saulide legitimacy at the head of his regnal notice.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; Iebosthe's father and source of his royal claim.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction (introducing accession clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal clause fixing Iebosthe's age at the moment of accession.
ἐβασίλευσενhe became kingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωverb of temporal clause (ingressive: 'became king')→ ingressive aorist (entry into kingship)βασιλεύω (aor.): here intransitive and ingressive, 'became king / began to reign'; renders מָלַךְ; the accession-point of the regnal formula.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (domain of rule)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (domain of rule).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern realm over which Iebosthe nominally reigns.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δύοtwonumeral (modifying ἔτη: 'two years')→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; the regnal length; Iebosthe's two-year reign is markedly shorter than David's seven-and-a-half years in Hebron (v. 11), implying the synchronism is not exact.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (duration of reign)→ object specificationἔτος: 'year'; the accusative plural ἔτη marks duration ('for two years').
ἐβασίλευσενhe reignedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (length of reign)→ constative aorist (the reign as a whole)βασιλεύω (aor.): here summarizing the whole reign ('he reigned two years'); the constative aorist views the two-year span as a completed unit.
πλὴνexceptimproper preposition + genitive (exception)→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except / besides'; with the genitive it carves out the exception — Judah lay outside Iebosthe's realm; renders זוּלָתִי / לְבַד.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of πλήν (the excepted realm)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; ὁ οἶκος Ιουδα, the kingdom of Judah, is explicitly excluded from Iebosthe's rule — the formal acknowledgment of the divided monarchy.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; the house of Judah, David's domain.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν; constructio ad sensum, plural for collective οἶκος)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; the masculine plural οἵ agrees ad sensum with the collective οἶκος Ιουδα ('the house of Judah, who...'), referring to its people.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of relative clause (allegiance)→ imperfect (ongoing state of allegiance)εἰμί (impf.): 'be'; ἦσαν ὀπίσω Δαυιδ ('were after David') is a Hebraism (הָיָה אַחֲרֵי) for political allegiance — Judah followed/sided with David.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (allegiance: 'after David')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; with the genitive in the idiom 'be after [someone]' = follow / support politically (אַחֲרֵי); marks Judah's loyalty to David.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the leader Judah followed.
11

καὶ ἐγένοντο αἱ ἡμέραι ἃς Δαυιδ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Χεβρων ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ιουδα ἑπτὰ ἔτη καὶ ἓξ μῆνας

And the days that David reigned in Hebron over the house of Judah were seven years and six months.

Regnal summary for David in Hebron (close of section C)καὶ ἐγένοντο αἱ ἡμέραι
The counterpart regnal notice for David balances that of Iebosthe (v. 10): seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah (cf. 5:5). The placement of the two regnal formulas side by side frames the coming conflict (vv. 12–32) as a contest between two anointed kingships.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένοντοwereAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (copular: 'the days … were')→ constative aorist (totaling the reign)γίνομαι (aor.): here copular-summative, 'the days … came to / amounted to'; introduces the regnal total for David in Hebron.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with ἡμέραι)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativesubject of ἐγένοντο→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; αἱ ἡμέραι ('the days') in the sense of 'the time/period [of reign]', a Hebraism (הַיָּמִים) for a span of time.
ἃςthatAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative of duration within relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; ἃς ('which/that') accusative as the time-span David reigned.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of relative clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of relative clause (indeclinable).
ἐβασίλευσενreignedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the Hebron reign as a unit)βασιλεύω (aor.): 'reigned'; summarizes David's whole tenure at Hebron over Judah.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΧεβρωνHebrondative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧεβρων: indeclinable; David's royal seat for the seven-and-a-half-year Judahite reign.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (domain of rule)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (domain of rule).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the house of Judah, David's realm during the Hebron years.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (modifying ἔτη)→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable cardinal; the years of David's Hebron reign.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (predicate of duration)→ object specificationἔτος: 'year'; the accusative ἔτη with the numeral gives the reign-length total.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἓξsixnumeral (modifying μῆνας)→ clausal contributionἕξ: 'six'; indeclinable cardinal; the additional months of the Hebron reign.
μῆναςmonthsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time→ object specificationμήν: 'month'; the accusative μῆνας completes the precise total of David's Hebron reign — seven years and six months (cf. 5:5).
12

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Αβεννηρ υἱὸς Νηρ καὶ οἱ παῖδες Ιεβοσθε υἱοῦ Σαουλ ἐκ Μαναεμ εἰς Γαβαων

And Abner son of Ner and the servants of Iebosthe son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

Section D opening: the armies converge on Gibeonκαὶ ἐξῆλθεν
The aorist ἐξῆλθεν marks the military sortie that triggers the chapter's central conflict. Abner leads the forces of Iebosthe out of their Transjordanian base toward Gibeon, a strategic site on the Benjamin plateau near the Judah–Israel frontier — neutral ground where the two kingdoms' forces will meet.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (military sortie; singular agreeing with first subject)→ constative aorist (the campaign-opening move)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go/come out'; renders יָצָא; the singular verb with a compound subject (Abner + the servants) follows the common Hebrew/LXX pattern of agreement with the nearer/lead subject; the sortie opens hostilities.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; the commander leading Israel's forces.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositional noun ('son of Ner')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; patronymic of Abner.
Νηρof Nergenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝηρ: indeclinable; Abner's father.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativecoordinate subject ('the servants')→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / retainer / soldier'; renders עֶבֶד; οἱ παῖδες denotes the royal retinue/troops of Iebosthe — the military followers under Abner's command; the same term designates David's men (v. 13).
Ιεβοσθεof Iebosthegenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεβοσθε: indeclinable; whose servants these are.
υἱοῦsonGenitiveappositional genitive ('son of Saul')→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. υἱοῦ): in apposition to Ιεβοσθε, reaffirming his Saulide lineage.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΜαναεμMahanaimgenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜαναεμ: indeclinable; Iebosthe's Transjordanian capital, the muster-point of his forces.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΓαβαωνGibeonaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓαβαων: transliteration of Hebrew גִּבְעוֹן (Gibeon); indeclinable; a major town c. 10 km NW of Jerusalem on the Benjamin plateau, near the Judah–Israel border; its famous pool (v. 13; cf. Jer 41:12) becomes the battle-site.
13

καὶ Ιωαβ υἱὸς Σαρουιας καὶ οἱ παῖδες Δαυιδ ἐξήλθοσαν ἐκ Χεβρων καὶ συναντῶσιν αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τὴν κρήνην τὴν Γαβαων ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό καὶ ἐκάθισαν οὗτοι ἐπὶ τὴν κρήνην τὴν Γαβαων ἐντεῦθεν καὶ οὗτοι ἐπὶ τὴν κρήνην ἐντεῦθεν

And Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out from Hebron, and they meet them at the pool of Gibeon, at the same place; and these sat by the pool of Gibeon on this side, and those by the pool on that side.

Parallel sortie: David's forces and the standoffκαὶ Ιωαβ
The parallel sortie introduces Joab, David's commander, and his men. The historic present συναντῶσιν ('they meet') brings the two armies face to face at the pool; the doubled ἐντεῦθεν … ἐντεῦθεν ('on this side … on that side') paints the symmetrical standoff across the water that frames the combat of v. 14–16.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאָב (Joab); indeclinable; David's nephew (son of his sister Zeruiah) and commander of his army, Abner's opposite number and eventual killer (3:27).
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositional noun ('son of Zeruiah')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the matronymic 'son of Zeruiah' (rather than a patronymic) is the customary designation of Joab and his brothers throughout 2 Kingdoms.
Σαρουιαςof ZeruiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (matronymic)→ relational specificationΣαρουια (gen. Σαρουιας): Greek-declined form of Hebrew צְרוּיָה (Zeruiah), David's sister (1 Chr 2:16) and mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; declines as a first-declension feminine.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativecoordinate subject ('the servants of David')→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / soldier'; οἱ παῖδες Δαυιδ, David's troops, parallel to οἱ παῖδες Ιεβοσθε (v. 12); the symmetrical phrasing underscores the matched contest of the two kingdoms.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; whose servants these are.
ἐξήλθοσανwent outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the parallel sortie)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; the form ἐξήλθοσαν shows the Hellenistic/Alexandrian aorist 3 pl. ending -οσαν (for classical -ον), common in the LXX historical books; David's forces march out from Hebron to meet Abner.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΧεβρωνHebrongenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧεβρων: indeclinable; David's capital, the muster-point of his army.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συναντῶσινthey meetPres Act Indic 3 Pl · συναντάωmain verb (historic present: the encounter)→ historic present (vivid confrontation)συναντάω: 'meet / encounter'; renders פָּגַשׁ / קָרָא; the historic present makes the fateful meeting of the two armies vivid; the dative αὐτοῖς is the regular complement ('meet with them').
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative complement of συναντῶσιν→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτοῖς ('them') is the standard object of συναντάω; refers to Abner's forces.
ἐπὶatpreposition + accusative (location of meeting)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location of meeting).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κρήνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρήνηνpoolAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the battle-site)→ object specificationκρήνη: 'spring / well / pool'; here the famous pool of Gibeon (Hebrew בְּרֵכַת גִּבְעוֹן), a large rock-cut water reservoir (cf. Jer 41:12); the meeting-point of the two armies.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with place-name Γαβαων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τὴν Γαβαων treats the indeclinable place-name attributively ('the [pool] of Gibeon').
Γαβαωνof Gibeongenitive of relationship (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΓαβαων: indeclinable; specifying the pool as that of Gibeon.
ἐπὶatpreposition + accusative (idiom: 'together / at the same place')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: in the phrase ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, an idiom for 'together / in the same place', here the two armies converging on a single spot.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτό)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόsame placeAccusativesubstantival (with ἐπί: 'the same place / together')→ participant referenceαὐτός: in ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('at the same [spot] / together'), a fixed adverbial idiom (cf. Ps 2:2); the two forces meet at one place.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισανsatAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίζωmain verb (taking position)→ ingressive aorist (took up position)καθίζω: 'sit / take position'; renders יָשַׁב; here the two parties take up their facing positions across the pool, a tense standoff before the combat.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative subject (one party)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; the first of the correlative pair οὗτοι … οὗτοι ('these … those'), distinguishing the two facing groups.
ἐπὶbypreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κρήνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρήνηνpoolAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationκρήνη: the pool of Gibeon, now the boundary line between the two camps.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive with Γαβαων)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Γαβαωνof Gibeongenitive of relationship (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΓαβαων: indeclinable.
ἐντεῦθενon this sideadverb of place (first of correlative pair)→ clausal contributionἐντεῦθεν: 'from here / on this side'; the doubled ἐντεῦθεν … ἐντεῦθεν ('on this side … on that side') renders the Hebrew מִזֶּה … מִזֶּה, depicting the two camps facing across the pool.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὗτοιthoseNominativedemonstrative subject (the other party)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: the second οὗτοι ('those'), the opposing group on the far side.
ἐπὶbypreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κρήνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρήνηνpoolAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationκρήνη: the pool, dividing the two forces.
ἐντεῦθενon that sideadverb of place (second of correlative pair)→ clausal contributionἐντεῦθεν: the second ἐντεῦθεν completes the 'on this side … on that side' antithesis of the standoff.
14

καὶ εἶπεν Αβεννερ πρὸς Ιωαβ ἀναστήτωσαν δὴ τὰ παιδάρια καὶ παιξάτωσαν ἐνώπιον ἡμῶν καὶ εἶπεν Ιωαβ ἀναστήτωσαν

And Abner said to Joab, 'Let the young men now arise and play before us.' And Joab said, 'Let them arise.'

Abner's challenge: the combat of champions proposedκαὶ εἶπεν Αβεννερ
Abner proposes a representative combat. The euphemism παιξάτωσαν ('let them play / sport') for mortal single-combat is grimly ironic; the imperative ἀναστήτωσαν δή (with the politeness/urgency particle δή) frames it as a formal challenge, which Joab accepts in a single echoing word (ἀναστήτωσαν).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 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 (introducing Abner's challenge)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Abner's proposal of representative combat.
ΑβεννερAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun; spelling variant -ερ)→ participant identificationΑβεννερ: indeclinable; here spelled with the ending -ερ (vs. Αβεννηρ elsewhere in the chapter), a transliteration variant preserved verbatim in the Rahlfs text.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΙωαβJoabaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; the addressee, David's commander.
ἀναστήτωσανlet them ariseAor Act Impv 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (third-person imperative: the challenge)→ ingressive aorist imperative (call to stand forth)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up / come forward'; the aorist imperative ἀναστήτωσαν summons the young men to step forth for combat; renders יָקוּמוּ נָא.
δὴnowhortatory particle (urgency/politeness with imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: enclitic particle of urgency or entreaty ('now, then, pray'); renders Hebrew נָא; lends the imperative a tone of formal challenge.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with παιδάρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριαyoung menNominativesubject of ἀναστήτωσαν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young man / lad / squire' (diminutive of παῖς); renders נַעַר; here the young warriors selected as champions; the diminutive does not imply childhood but youthful fighting men.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παιξάτωσανlet them playAor Act Impv 3 Pl · παίζωmain verb (third-person imperative: euphemism for combat)→ ingressive aorist imperativeπαίζω: 'play / sport / make sport'; renders שָׂחַק; a grim euphemism for the lethal single-combat to follow — the 'sport' will leave all twenty-four champions dead (v. 16); the same root underlies the contest's deadly irony.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the combat is staged as a spectacle 'before us', i.e. before the two armies.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'us'; the two commanders and their armies as spectators.
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 (Joab's acceptance)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joab's terse one-word acceptance of the challenge.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable.
ἀναστήτωσανlet them ariseAor Act Impv 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (Joab's echoing assent)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀνίστημι: Joab accepts with the single echoing word ἀναστήτωσαν ('let them arise'), tersely sealing the lethal agreement.
15

καὶ ἀνέστησαν καὶ παρῆλθον ἐν ἀριθμῷ τῶν παίδων Βενιαμιν δώδεκα τῶν Ιεβοσθε υἱοῦ Σαουλ καὶ δώδεκα ἐκ τῶν παίδων Δαυιδ

And they arose and passed over by number, twelve of the servants of Benjamin belonging to Iebosthe son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

The champions step forward (twelve against twelve)καὶ ἀνέστησαν
The challenge is enacted: equal numbers — twelve Benjaminites for Iebosthe, twelve for David — step forward 'by number' (ἐν ἀριθμῷ), the careful counting underscoring the formal, ritualized symmetry of the representative combat before it collapses into mutual slaughter (v. 16).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστησανthey aroseAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the champions rise to fight)→ ingressive aorist (rose up / stood forth)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the indicative ἀνέστησαν fulfils the imperative ἀναστήτωσαν of v. 14 — the champions step forth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρῆλθονpassed overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρέρχομαιmain verb (came forward to the combat ground)→ constative aoristπαρέρχομαι: 'pass by / come forward / cross over'; renders עָבַר; the champions cross over to the contested ground between the camps to engage.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (manner: 'by number')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental/modal, 'by'; ἐν ἀριθμῷ ('by number') stresses the counted, formal symmetry of the contest.
ἀριθμῷnumberDativedative of manner (with ἐν: 'by number')→ sphere or referenceἀριθμός: 'number / count'; ἐν ἀριθμῷ renders בְּמִסְפָּר ('in/by number'), emphasizing the precise equal tally of the two sides.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with παίδων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παίδωνservantsGenitivepartitive genitive ('of the servants')→ relational specificationπαῖς: 'servant / soldier'; the partitive genitive names the pool from which the twelve are drawn — the Benjaminite troops of Iebosthe.
Βενιαμινof Benjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'servants of Benjamin')→ participant identificationΒενιαμιν: indeclinable; the champions for Israel are drawn from Saul's own tribe of Benjamin.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral (count of the first group)→ clausal contributionδώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable cardinal; the number of champions on each side — possibly a token of the twelve tribes, lending the duel symbolic weight.
τῶνofGenitivearticle (possessive genitive: 'those of Iebosthe')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῶν Ιεβοσθε ('those of Iebosthe') marks possession — the twelve belong to Iebosthe's forces.
Ιεβοσθεof Iebosthegenitive of possession (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεβοσθε: indeclinable; whose champions these twelve are.
υἱοῦsonGenitiveappositional genitive ('son of Saul')→ relational specificationυἱός (gen.): in apposition to Ιεβοσθε.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral (count of the second group)→ clausal contributionδώδεκα: 'twelve'; the matching number from David's side, completing the symmetrical contest of twelve against twelve.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of'; partitive, marking the second twelve as drawn from David's servants.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with παίδων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παίδωνservantsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (partitive)→ relational specificationπαῖς: 'servant / soldier'; David's troops, the source of his twelve champions.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
16

καὶ ἐκράτησαν ἕκαστος τῇ χειρὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ μάχαιρα αὐτοῦ εἰς πλευρὰν τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ πίπτουσιν κατὰ τὸ αὐτό καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου μερὶς τῶν ἐπιβούλων ἥ ἐστιν ἐν Γαβαων

And each seized with his hand the head of his opponent, and his dagger into the side of his opponent, and they fall together; and the name of that place was called 'the Portion of the Plotters,' which is in Gibeon.

The mutual slaughter and the etiological place-nameκαὶ ἐκράτησαν
The combat ends in simultaneous mutual destruction: each champion grips his opponent's head and drives his dagger into his side, all falling together (πίπτουσιν κατὰ τὸ αὐτό). The verse closes with an etiology — the place is named μερὶς τῶν ἐπιβούλων ('the Portion of the Plotters/Treacherous'), the LXX's interpretive rendering of Hebrew חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκράτησανseizedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κρατέωmain verb (the grappling)→ constative aorist (the decisive grip)κρατέω: 'seize / grasp / take hold of'; renders חָזַק/אָחַז; each champion grips his opponent's head — the classic close-combat hold preceding the dagger-thrust.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject ('each one')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive, individualizing the simultaneous, mirror-image actions of the twenty-four combatants.
τῇtheDativearticle (with χειρὶ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativedative of instrument ('with the hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the instrumental dative τῇ χειρί ('with his hand'); the hand grips the head while the other drives the blade.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλὴν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ἐκράτησαν→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the object seized — gripping the opponent's head exposes him to the fatal side-thrust.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονopponentGenitivegenitive of possession (substantivized: 'his neighbor/opponent')→ relational specificationπλησίον: properly an adverb 'near', used substantivally 'neighbor / the one next to him'; renders רֵעַ; here 'his opposite number / opponent' in the combat.
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.
μάχαιραdaggerNominativesubject (verb 'plunged/went' implied: 'his dagger [thrust] into the side')→ participant prominenceμάχαιρα: 'short sword / dagger / knife'; renders חֶרֶב; the nominative with an implied verb of motion ('his dagger [drives] into the side') vividly depicts the simultaneous thrust.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of the thrust)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the thrust).
πλευρὰνsideAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (target of the dagger)→ object specificationπλευρά: 'side / rib'; renders צַד; the dagger driven into the opponent's exposed flank — a mortal blow.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονopponentGenitivegenitive of possession ('his opponent')→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'opponent'; the repeated phrase τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ underscores the perfect, suicidal symmetry of the combat — each kills and is killed.
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.
πίπτουσινthey fallPres Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb (historic present: simultaneous death)→ historic present (vivid simultaneity)πίπτω: 'fall (in death)'; renders נָפַל; the historic present πίπτουσιν dramatizes the simultaneous collapse of all the combatants; 'fall' is a standard battlefield euphemism for being slain.
κατὰtogetherpreposition + accusative (idiom: 'at the same place / together')→ spatial or relational framingκατά: in κατὰ τὸ αὐτό ('at the same [spot] / all together'), an idiom for simultaneity — they fall as one, none surviving.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτό)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόsameAccusativesubstantival (with κατά: 'the same place / together')→ participant referenceαὐτός: in κατὰ τὸ αὐτό, 'together / at once'; the mutual annihilation leaves the contest undecided, forcing the general battle of v. 17.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing etiology)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκλήθηwas calledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (etiological naming-formula)→ constative aorist passiveκαλέω (aor. pass.): 'be called / named'; the formula ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ('the name of the place was called') is the standard LXX etiological naming-formula (cf. Gen 11:9; 28:19).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of ἐκλήθη→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; subject of the naming-formula.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with τόπου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπουplaceGenitivegenitive of relationship ('name of the place')→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place / site'; renders מָקוֹם; the combat-ground that receives its grim memorial name.
ἐκείνουthatGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying τόπου)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; deictic, fixing the specific site of the slaughter.
μερὶςPortionNominativepredicate nominative (the name given)→ participant prominenceμερίς: 'portion / share / field-plot'; renders חֶלְקָה ('plot of ground'); the LXX construes the place-name חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים as μερὶς τῶν ἐπιβούλων, reading the second element not as 'flints/swords' (צֻרִים) but as 'plotters' — a interpretive rendering.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐπιβούλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιβούλωνplottersGenitivegenitive of relationship ('Portion of the Plotters')→ relational specificationἐπίβουλος: 'plotter / treacherous one / one who lies in wait'; the LXX's interpretive gloss on הַצֻּרִים, evoking the treachery and ambush-like mutual destruction of the combat; the name memorializes the deadly 'sport'.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun (fem. nom., agreeing with μερίς); introduces the locating clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locating the site)→ gnomic/locative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the present ἐστιν locates the place for the reader ('which is in Gibeon'), a narratorial aside fixing the site geographically.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΓαβαωνGibeondative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓαβαων: indeclinable; the named site lies at/by Gibeon, the battle-locale of the whole episode.
17

καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ πόλεμος σκληρὸς ὥστε λίαν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἔπταισεν Αβεννηρ καὶ ἄνδρες Ισραηλ ἐνώπιον παίδων Δαυιδ

And the battle was exceedingly fierce on that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before the servants of David.

Outcome: general battle and Israel's rout (close of section D)καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ πόλεμος
The undecided duel escalates into full battle (ὁ πόλεμος σκληρὸς … λίαν, 'an exceedingly fierce battle'). The verse states the decisive result: Abner and the men of Israel are routed (ἔπταισεν) before David's servants, setting up the pursuit and Asahel's death in vv. 18–23.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοwasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (copular: 'the battle became/was')→ ingressive aorist (the battle broke out)γίνομαι (aor.): here 'came to be / became'; introduces the general engagement that grows out of the failed duel.
theNominativearticle (with πόλεμος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμοςbattleNominativesubject of ἐγένετο→ participant prominenceπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the general engagement following the champions' mutual slaughter.
σκληρὸςfierceNominativepredicate adjective ('the battle was fierce')→ participant prominenceσκληρός: 'hard / harsh / severe'; renders קָשֶׁה; describes the ferocity of the fighting; intensified by the following ὥστε λίαν.
ὥστεexceedinglyintensifying particle (with λίαν: 'to an extreme degree')→ discourse linkage or contrastὥστε: ordinarily 'so that'; here with λίαν it forms an intensifying idiom ('exceedingly / to an extreme'), reflecting the Hebrew עַד מְאֹד; together σκληρὸς ὥστε λίαν = 'extremely fierce'.
λίανveryadverb of degree (intensifying σκληρός)→ clausal contributionλίαν: 'very / exceedingly'; with ὥστε it renders the Hebrew intensifier מְאֹד, marking the battle's extreme severity.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time ('on that day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') is a standard LXX temporal formula situating the battle.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; deictic, fixing the day of the battle.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπταισενwas defeatedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πταίωmain verb (the rout of Israel; singular with compound subject)→ constative aorist (decisive defeat)πταίω: 'stumble / be defeated / be routed'; renders נָגַף; intransitive 'suffer defeat'; the singular verb agrees with the nearer subject Abner, though the men of Israel are included; marks the decisive military outcome.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; the defeated commander.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativecoordinate subject ('the men of Israel')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; ἄνδρες Ισραηλ ('the men of Israel') = Iebosthe's forces, routed in the battle.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here the northern forces under Abner.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in the face of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; with a verb of defeat, 'routed before' = defeated by; renders לִפְנֵי, a Hebraism for being overcome in battle.
παίδωνservantsGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationπαῖς: 'servant / soldier'; David's troops, the victors of the day.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
18

καὶ ἐγένοντο ἐκεῖ τρεῖς υἱοὶ Σαρουιας Ιωαβ καὶ Αβεσσα καὶ Ασαηλ καὶ Ασαηλ κοῦφος τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ μία δορκὰς ἐν ἀγρῷ

And there were there three sons of Zeruiah: Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was swift of foot like a gazelle in the field.

Section E opening: introduction of Asahel the swiftκαὶ ἐγένοντο ἐκεῖ
The narrative zooms in on the three sons of Zeruiah, naming Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. The characterizing note κοῦφος … ὡσεὶ μία δορκὰς ἐν ἀγρῷ ('swift like a gazelle in the field') is a vivid simile that both praises Asahel and ominously foreshadows the doomed pursuit — his speed, his great asset, will be his undoing.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένοντοthere wereAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (existential: 'there were present')→ constative aorist (presence on the scene)γίνομαι (aor.): here existential, 'there were / were present'; introduces the three brothers as actors in the unfolding pursuit.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (on the battlefield)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there', i.e. on the field of Gibeon.
τρεῖςthreeNominativenumeral (modifying υἱοὶ)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; declinable cardinal (nom. τρεῖς); enumerates the sons of Zeruiah present at the battle.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('three sons of Zeruiah')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the three sons of Zeruiah are David's nephews and chief warriors.
Σαρουιαςof ZeruiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (matronymic)→ relational specificationΣαρουια (gen. Σαρουιας): Zeruiah, David's sister; declinable feminine; her three sons are named here.
ΙωαβJoabnominative in apposition to υἱοὶ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; the eldest, David's commander.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεσσαAbishainominative in apposition to υἱοὶ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσα: LXX transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִישַׁי (Abishai); indeclinable; the second son, a fierce warrior who joins Joab in the pursuit (v. 24).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑσαηλAsahelnominative in apposition to υἱοὶ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲשָׂהאֵל (Asahel, 'God has made'); indeclinable; the youngest brother, whose fatal pursuit of Abner is the focus of vv. 19–23.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the characterizing note)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑσαηλAsahelsubject of the nominal clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; resumed as subject of the simile that defines his character — and his fate.
κοῦφοςswiftNominativepredicate adjective (nominal clause: 'Asahel [was] swift')→ participant prominenceκοῦφος: 'light / nimble / swift'; renders קַל; in a verbless clause ('Asahel [was] light of foot'); his swiftness is the trait that drives the tragic pursuit.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ποσὶν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποσὶνfeetDativedative of respect ('swift with respect to his feet')→ sphere or referenceπούς (dat. pl. ποσίν): 'foot'; the dative of respect κοῦφος τοῖς ποσίν ('light/swift in his feet') renders קַל בְּרַגְלָיו; specifies the sphere of Asahel's swiftness.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὡσεὶlikecomparative particle (introducing simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡσεί: 'as / like / as if'; renders כְּ; introduces the gazelle-simile, a stock image of swiftness (cf. 1 Chr 12:8; Song 2:9).
μίαoneNominativenumeral/indefinite ('a [single] gazelle')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine μία functions here as an indefinite article ('a gazelle'), a Hebraizing use of אֶחָד / the numeral for indefiniteness.
δορκὰςgazelleNominativepredicate of the simile ('like a gazelle')→ participant prominenceδορκάς: 'gazelle / roe-deer'; renders צְבִי; the proverbial emblem of fleetness; the simile ennobles Asahel even as it foreshadows the futility of outrunning a seasoned warrior like Abner.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place ('in the field')→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field / open country'; renders שָׂדֶה; the gazelle's natural habitat — the open plain where its speed shows; completes the simile.
19

καὶ κατεδίωξεν Ασαηλ ὀπίσω Αβεννηρ καὶ οὐκ ἐξέκλινεν τοῦ πορεύεσθαι εἰς δεξιὰ οὐδὲ εἰς ἀριστερὰ κατόπισθεν Αβεννηρ

And Asahel pursued after Abner, and did not turn aside to go to the right or to the left from behind Abner.

The relentless pursuitκαὶ κατεδίωξεν
The single-minded chase is depicted with the negated turning-formula οὐκ ἐξέκλινεν … εἰς δεξιὰ οὐδὲ εἰς ἀριστερά ('did not turn aside to right or left'), an idiom for unswerving fixity of purpose. Asahel's tunnel-vision pursuit of the commander himself — not lesser spoil — drives the tragedy.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεδίωξενpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταδιώκωmain verb (the pursuit)→ constative/intensive aorist (relentless chase)καταδιώκω: 'pursue hard / chase down'; the compound κατα- intensifies διώκω; renders רָדַף; Asahel's hot pursuit specifically targets Abner the commander.
ΑσαηλAsahelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; the pursuer.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after Abner')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; with the genitive, marking the object of pursuit; renders אַחֲרֵי.
ΑβεννηρAbnergenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; the pursued.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐξέκλινεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negative; negates the turning, expressing Asahel's unwavering fixity.
ἐξέκλινενturned asideAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (negated: 'did not deviate')→ constative aorist (no deviation)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / deviate / swerve'; renders נָטָה / סוּר; the negated οὐκ ἐξέκλινεν depicts a perfectly straight, undeviating pursuit — the same root recurs in Abner's plea ἔκκλινον (v. 21).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορεύεσθαιto goPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive (epexegetic/result: 'so as to go')→ epexegetic present infinitiveπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the τοῦ-infinitive after ἐκκλίνω is epexegetic, specifying the manner of swerving ('turn aside to go to the right or left'); a common LXX complementary construction.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
δεξιὰthe rightAccusativesubstantival adjective (neut. pl.: 'to the right')→ object specificationδεξιός: 'right (hand/side)'; the neuter plural δεξιά ('the right [parts]') in the idiom 'turn neither right nor left' (renders יָמִין), a stock expression for unwavering directness (cf. Deut 5:32; Josh 1:7).
οὐδὲnornegative coordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; joins the second member of the 'neither right nor left' pair.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ἀριστερὰthe leftAccusativesubstantival adjective (neut. pl.: 'to the left')→ object specificationἀριστερός: 'left (hand/side)'; the neuter plural ἀριστερά; renders שְׂמֹאל; completes the merism 'neither right nor left' = perfectly straight ahead.
κατόπισθενfrom behindimproper preposition + genitive ('behind Abner')→ spatial or relational framingκατόπισθεν: 'behind / at the rear of'; an intensive of ὄπισθεν; with the genitive marks Asahel's fixed position on Abner's tail; renders מֵאַחֲרֵי.
ΑβεννηρAbnergenitive object of κατόπισθεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; Asahel stays directly behind him, refusing all easier targets.
20

καὶ ἐπέβλεψεν Αβεννηρ εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν εἰ σὺ εἶ αὐτὸς Ασαηλ καὶ εἶπεν ἐγώ εἰμι

And Abner looked behind him and said, 'Is it you yourself, Asahel?' And he said, 'It is I.'

Abner recognizes his pursuerκαὶ ἐπέβλεψεν Αβεννηρ
Abner glances back and identifies his relentless pursuer. The terse exchange — 'Is it you yourself, Asahel?' / 'It is I' (ἐγώ εἰμι) — heightens the personal, almost intimate quality of the confrontation between two men who know each other, and sets up Abner's reluctant warnings in vv. 21–22.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέβλεψενlookedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβλέπωmain verb (Abner glances back)→ constative aorist (single glance)ἐπιβλέπω: 'look (upon) / glance'; the compound ἐπι- directs the gaze; renders פָּנָה / נָבַט; Abner turns to see who is overtaking him.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction of gaze)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of gaze).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ὀπίσω: 'the things behind')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τὰ ὀπίσω ('the parts behind / the rear') substantivizes the adverb into an object of εἰς; renders אַחֲרָיו.
ὀπίσωbehindadverb (substantivized with τὰ: 'behind him')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind'; here the adverb in εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ('to the area behind him'), i.e. Abner looks back.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind him').
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 (Abner's question)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Abner's identifying question.
εἰis itinterrogative particle (direct question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: here introducing a direct question ('is it...?'), a Hebraism rendering the interrogative ה; equivalent to a question mark.
σὺyouNominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; with αὐτός intensifies ('you yourself'), expressing Abner's surprise/recognition.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate identification)→ present (identity statement)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the identifying question 'are you [yourself] Asahel?'
αὐτὸςyourselfNominativeintensive pronoun (with σύ: 'you yourself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'self'; σὺ … αὐτὸς Ασαηλ ('you yourself, Asahel') marks Abner's recognition of his specific, personally-known pursuer.
ΑσαηλAsahelpredicate/vocative (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; the named pursuer Abner identifies.
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 (Asahel's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Asahel's terse affirmation.
ἐγώINominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; the reply ἐγώ εἰμι ('it is I') confirms his identity, sealing the personal nature of the duel to come.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (self-identification)→ present (identity affirmation)εἰμί: 'be'; ἐγώ εἰμι ('I am [he]') is the standard self-identification formula; here Asahel confirms he is the pursuer.
21

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Αβεννηρ ἔκκλινον σὺ εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ ἢ εἰς τὰ ἀριστερὰ καὶ κάτασχε σαυτῷ ἓν τῶν παιδαρίων καὶ λαβὲ σεαυτῷ τὴν πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν Ασαηλ ἐκκλῖναι ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ

And Abner said to him, 'Turn aside, you, to the right or to the left, and seize for yourself one of the young men, and take for yourself his armor.' But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

Abner's first warning to break off the chaseκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Αβεννηρ
Abner urges Asahel to take an easier, lower-ranked target and his spoil (πανοπλίαν) rather than press the chase. The imperative ἔκκλινον ('turn aside') directly answers the οὐκ ἐξέκλινεν of v. 19 — Abner begs for the swerve Asahel refuses to make. The closing οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ('he would not') marks the fatal obstinacy.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 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 (Abner's warning)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Abner's first attempt to dissuade Asahel.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (Asahel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (Asahel).
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable.
ἔκκλινονturn asideAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (Abner's plea)→ ingressive aorist imperative (urgent entreaty)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / swerve'; the imperative ἔκκλινον deliberately echoes the negated οὐκ ἐξέκλινεν of v. 19 — Abner pleads for the very deviation Asahel refuses.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with imperative)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; lends the command personal urgency ('you, turn aside!').
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δεξιὰ)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεξιὰrightAccusativesubstantival adjective (neut. pl.: 'the right')→ object specificationδεξιός: 'right side'; τὰ δεξιά ('the right [parts]'); Abner offers Asahel any lateral target away from himself.
ordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; offers the alternative direction.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἀριστερὰ)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀριστερὰleftAccusativesubstantival adjective (neut. pl.: 'the left')→ object specificationἀριστερός: 'left side'; τὰ ἀριστερά; completes the 'right or left' offer — anywhere but Abner himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κάτασχεseizeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · κατέχωmain verb (Abner's alternative command)→ ingressive aorist imperativeκατέχω: 'hold fast / seize / lay hold of'; the compound κατα- intensifies; Abner urges Asahel to overpower a lesser opponent instead — easy glory and spoil without facing the seasoned commander.
σαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun (contracted σαυτῷ); the dative of advantage ('for yourself') stresses the personal gain Abner dangles before Asahel.
ἓνoneAccusativenumeral/substantival (object of κάτασχε: 'one [of the young men]')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the neuter ἕν (agreeing with παιδάριον) — 'seize one of the young men'.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίωνyoung menGenitivepartitive genitive ('one of the young men')→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'young man / squire'; the lesser combatants Abner suggests as easier prey than himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (take the spoil)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; here 'take as spoil'; Abner offers the captured warrior's armor as Asahel's reward for breaking off the chase.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourself'; again the dative of advantage ('for yourself'), underscoring the personal spoil offered.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πανοπλίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πανοπλίανarmorAccusativedirect object of λαβὲ (the spoil)→ object specificationπανοπλία: 'full armor / panoply / equipment'; the complete weaponry of a slain warrior, a prized battle-trophy; Abner offers it to satisfy Asahel's hunger for glory.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the young man's armor)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the young man's armor).
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adversative in force ('but'), marking Asahel's refusal against Abner's plea.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἠθέλησεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negative; negates Asahel's willingness.
ἠθέλησενwas willingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θέλωmain verb (Asahel's refusal)→ constative aorist (settled refusal)θέλω / ἐθέλω: 'will / want / be willing'; the negated οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ('he would not / refused') marks the fatal obstinacy that seals Asahel's death.
ΑσαηλAsahelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable.
ἐκκλῖναιto turn asideAor Act Inf · ἐκκλίνωcomplementary infinitive (with ἠθέλησεν)→ telic aorist infinitive (the perverse goal of joining the crowd)ἐκκλίνω (aor. inf.): 'turn aside'; the third occurrence of the root (after οὐκ ἐξέκλινεν, v. 19; ἔκκλινον, v. 21a) — Asahel will not do the one thing that could save him.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing ὄπισθεν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῶν ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ ('from behind him') substantivizes the adverb; renders מֵאַחֲרָיו.
ὄπισθενbehindadverb (substantivized: 'from following him')→ clausal contributionὄπισθεν: 'behind / at the back'; ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ = 'from [following] behind him'; Asahel will not leave Abner's tail.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive (with ὄπισθεν: 'behind him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ὄπισθεν: 'behind him').
22

καὶ προσέθετο ἔτι Αβεννηρ λέγων τῷ Ασαηλ ἀπόστηθι ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἵνα μὴ πατάξω σε εἰς τὴν γῆν καὶ πῶς ἀρῶ τὸ πρόσωπόν μου πρὸς Ιωαβ καὶ ποῦ ἐστιν ταῦτα ἐπίστρεφε πρὸς Ιωαβ τὸν ἀδελφόν σου

And Abner once again said to Asahel, 'Turn away from me, lest I strike you to the ground; and how then shall I lift up my face to Joab? And where are these things? Turn back to Joab your brother.'

Abner's second, more urgent warningκαὶ προσέθετο ἔτι
The Hebraism προσέθετο … λέγων ('he added, saying' = he spoke again) marks Abner's renewed, more anxious appeal. He warns of the consequence (ἵνα μὴ πατάξω σε, 'lest I strike you') and reveals his real fear — the blood-feud with Joab: 'how shall I lift my face to Joab?' His plea to turn back to 'Joab your brother' is a last attempt to avert the killing.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσέθετοonce againAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (Hebraistic auxiliary: 'he did again')→ constative aorist (renewed action)προστίθημι (mid.): 'add / proceed to do again'; the idiom προσέθετο … λέγων ('he added, saying') renders the Hebrew יָסַף + infinitive ('he again [did]'), an auxiliary expressing repetition — 'Abner spoke once more'.
ἔτιagainadverb (reinforcing the repetition)→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / again'; reinforces προσέθετο, stressing this is Abner's second warning.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (completing προσέθετο; introduces speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptc.): λέγων completes the Hebraistic προσέθετο … λέγων ('he spoke again') and introduces the direct address.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ασαηλ, dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑσαηλAsaheldative indirect object (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; the article τῷ marks the dative ('to Asahel').
ἀπόστηθιturn awayAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀφίστημιmain verb (Abner's command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (urgent)ἀφίστημι: 'stand off / withdraw / depart'; the imperative ἀπόστηθι ('get away [from me]') is more forceful than ἔκκλινον (v. 21), reflecting Abner's mounting alarm.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation; elided)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation; elided).
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (separation)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me'; the point of separation Abner urges.
ἵναso thatpurpose/result conjunction (negative: 'lest')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: with μή = 'lest / so that ... not'; introduces the dreaded consequence Abner hopes to avoid.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negative with the subjunctive in the ἵνα-clause ('lest').
πατάξωI strikeAor Act Subj 1 Sg · πατάσσωverb of negative purpose clause→ aorist subjunctive (feared outcome)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite (fatally)'; renders נָכָה; the subjunctive in 'lest I strike you to the ground' names the deadly blow Abner is reluctant to deal — and will deal in v. 23.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of πατάξω→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of πατάξω.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (result/direction: 'to the ground')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (result/direction: 'to the ground').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνgroundAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('to the ground')→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground'; πατάξω … εἰς τὴν γῆν ('strike you to the ground') = strike you down dead; renders אַכֶּכָּה אָרְצָה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (rhetorical question)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how?'; introduces Abner's rhetorical question revealing his real fear — the blood-feud with Joab.
ἀρῶshall I liftFut Act Indic 1 Sg · αἴρωmain verb of rhetorical question (deliberative future)→ deliberative future (anxious self-questioning)αἴρω: 'lift / raise / take up'; αἴρω τὸ πρόσωπον ('lift up the face') is a Hebraism (נָשָׂא פָנִים) for facing someone with dignity/boldness; Abner asks how he could face Joab after killing his brother.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρόσωπόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπόνfaceAccusativedirect object of ἀρῶ (idiom: 'lift up the face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / countenance'; in the idiom αἴρω πρόσωπον ('lift the face'), 'how shall I look Joab in the eye?'; the killing would make Abner the target of Joab's vengeance (fulfilled 3:27).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (toward Joab)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (toward Joab).
ΙωαβJoabaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; Asahel's brother, whose vengeance Abner dreads.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (rhetorical)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; the elliptical question ποῦ ἐστιν ταῦτα ('where are these things?') is obscure — perhaps 'where will this end?' or 'what good are these [pursuits]?', conveying the futility of Asahel's chase.
ἐστινarePres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with ταῦτα; singular verb, neuter plural subject)→ presentεἰμί: 'be'; the singular ἐστιν with neuter plural subject ταῦτα follows the regular Greek rule (neuter plurals take a singular verb).
ταῦταthese thingsNominativesubject of ἐστιν (neuter plural)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these things'; the vague ταῦτα adds to the urgency and exasperation of Abner's appeal.
ἐπίστρεφεturn backPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (final plea)→ durative present imperative (keep turning back / go on back)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the present imperative ἐπίστρεφε ('go back!') is Abner's last appeal — return to Joab and abandon the chase.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΙωαβJoabaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀδελφόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφόνbrotherAccusativeappositional noun ('Joab your brother')→ object specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; naming Joab as 'your brother' both points Asahel to safety and reminds the reader of the fraternal bond that will fuel Joab's revenge.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
23

καὶ οὐκ ἐβούλετο τοῦ ἀποστῆναι καὶ τύπτει αὐτὸν Αβεννηρ ἐν τῷ ὀπίσω τοῦ δόρατος ἐπὶ τὴν ψόαν καὶ διεξῆλθεν τὸ δόρυ ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ πίπτει ἐκεῖ καὶ ἀποθνῄσκει ὑποκάτω αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶς ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἕως τοῦ τόπου οὗ ἔπεσεν ἐκεῖ Ασαηλ καὶ ἀπέθανεν καὶ ὑφίστατο

And he would not turn away; and Abner strikes him with the butt of the spear in the belly, and the spear came out behind him, and he falls there and dies on the spot; and it came to pass that everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stood still.

Climax of section E: the death of Asahelκαὶ οὐκ ἐβούλετο
Asahel's final refusal (οὐκ ἐβούλετο) brings the catastrophe. The historic presents τύπτει … πίπτει … ἀποθνῄσκει ('strikes … falls … dies') render the death in vivid, almost cinematic immediacy. The grim detail ἐν τῷ ὀπίσω τοῦ δόρατος ('with the butt of the spear') shows Abner killing in self-defense, reluctantly. The closing tableau — all who pass stand still at the spot — memorializes the death and slows the narrative to a hush.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐβούλετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negative.
ἐβούλετοwouldImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb (Asahel's persistent refusal)→ imperfect (sustained/repeated unwillingness)βούλομαι: 'will / wish / be willing'; the imperfect οὐκ ἐβούλετο ('he kept refusing / would not') intensifies the obstinacy of οὐκ ἠθέλησεν (v. 21) — Asahel's repeated refusal is now fatal.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποστῆναιto turn awayAor Act Inf · ἀφίστημιcomplementary articular infinitive (with ἐβούλετο)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (purpose)ἀφίστημι (aor. inf.): 'withdraw / desist'; the τοῦ-infinitive complements ἐβούλετο, echoing Abner's command ἀπόστηθι (v. 22); Asahel will not do it.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τύπτειstrikesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · τύπτωmain verb (historic present: the death-blow)→ historic present (vivid immediacy)τύπτω: 'strike / smite / hit'; renders נָכָה; the historic present τύπτει dramatizes the fatal blow; Abner's use of the spear's butt (not the point) suggests a defensive, even reluctant, strike rather than a frontal attack.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Asahel)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Asahel).
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental ('with'), a Hebraism (בְּ) for the means of striking.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing ὀπίσω)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῷ ὀπίσω τοῦ δόρατος ('the rear/butt of the spear') substantivizes the adverb into a noun phrase.
ὀπίσωbuttadverb (substantivized: 'the hinder part / butt')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind / hinder part'; τὸ ὀπίσω τοῦ δόρατος = the butt-end of the spear (Hebrew אַחֲרֵי הַחֲנִית); the blunt, often metal-shod heel of the shaft, used here to fend off rather than impale — yet it kills.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with δόρατος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόρατοςspearGenitivegenitive of relationship ('the butt of the spear')→ relational specificationδόρυ (gen. δόρατος): 'spear / lance'; renders חֲנִית; Abner's weapon; the butt-end strike paradoxically proves lethal.
ἐπὶinpreposition + accusative (location of the blow)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location of the blow).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψόαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψόανbellyAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the point struck)→ object specificationψόα: 'loin / groin / belly (soft of the abdomen)'; renders חֹמֶשׁ ('belly, fifth rib'); the soft, unarmored abdomen — a mortal target; the spear-butt drove clean through.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεξῆλθενcame out throughAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διεξέρχομαιmain verb (the spear passes through)→ constative aoristδιεξέρχομαι: 'pass out through / go right through'; the double compound δι-εξ- stresses the spear's exit from the far side — the wound was utterly fatal, the shaft transfixing him.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with δόρυ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόρυspearNominativesubject of διεξῆλθεν→ participant prominenceδόρυ: 'spear'; the weapon that passed clean through Asahel's body.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (exit point)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (exit point).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing ὀπίσω)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ('from behind him') substantivizes the adverb — the spear exited at his back.
ὀπίσωbehindadverb (substantivized: 'the back / rear')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind'; ἐκ τῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ = 'out behind him' — graphic detail of the spear emerging from his back.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind him').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πίπτειfallsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (historic present: Asahel collapses)→ historic present (vivid)πίπτω: 'fall'; the historic present πίπτει continues the vivid sequence; 'fall' = die in battle.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (on the spot)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there', i.e. on the very spot — emphasizing the immediacy of the death.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθνῄσκειdiesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (historic present: the death)→ historic present (vivid)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the historic present ἀποθνῄσκει completes the τύπτει–πίπτει–ἀποθνῄσκει chain with stark finality.
ὑποκάτωbeneathimproper preposition + genitive ('under/where he was')→ spatial or relational framingὑποκάτω: 'underneath / on the spot'; with αὐτοῦ ('beneath/under him'), an idiom for dying right where one stands, without moving from the place; renders תַּחְתָּיו.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive (with ὑποκάτω)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ὑποκάτω).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the tableau)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (formulaic, introducing the closing scene)→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor.): the καὶ ἐγένετο formula here introduces the memorializing tableau of all who pass by the place of Asahel's death.
πᾶςeveryoneNominativesubject (with the participle ὁ ἐρχόμενος)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / every one'; with the substantival participle, 'everyone who came'.
theNominativearticle (substantivizing ἐρχόμενος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρχόμενοςcomingPres Mid Part Nom Sg Masc · ἔρχομαιsubstantival participle ('the one coming' = everyone who came)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (pres. ptc.): πᾶς ὁ ἐρχόμενος ('everyone who came') — the soldiers passing the death-site, who halt in awe/grief.
ἕωςtoimproper preposition + genitive (extent: 'as far as')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; with the genitive marks arrival at the place of death.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with τόπου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπουplaceGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (the death-site)→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place'; the spot where Asahel fell, now a place of solemn pause.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place ('where')→ participant referenceοὗ: relative adverb 'where' (genitive of ὅς used adverbially); introduces the locating clause.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristπίπτω (aor.): 'fell'; recalls the moment of Asahel's collapse, now fixed as the memorial spot.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, Hebraizing)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive ἐκεῖ after the relative οὗ is a Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … שָׁם, 'where … there').
ΑσαηλAsahelsubject of ἔπεσεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; the fallen warrior.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of relative clause (coordinate with ἔπεσεν)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω (aor.): 'died'; reiterates the death, fixing the place doubly as where Asahel 'fell and died'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑφίστατοstood stillImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ὑφίστημιmain verb (the halting of the passers-by)→ imperfect (repeated/customary halting)ὑφίστημι (mid.): 'stand still / halt / stop'; the imperfect ὑφίστατο (singular agreeing with πᾶς ὁ ἐρχόμενος) depicts each passer-by in turn pausing at the death-site — a hushed, repeated tableau of grief and awe that closes the scene of Asahel's death.
24

καὶ κατεδίωξεν Ιωαβ καὶ Αβεσσα ὀπίσω Αβεννηρ καὶ ὁ ἥλιος ἔδυνεν καὶ αὐτοὶ εἰσῆλθον ἕως τοῦ βουνοῦ Αμμαν ὅ ἐστιν ἐπὶ προσώπου γαι ὁδὸν ἔρημον Γαβαων

And Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner, and the sun was setting; and they came as far as the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah, on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

Section F opening: the brothers continue the pursuit at duskκαὶ κατεδίωξεν
Joab and Abishai take up the pursuit Asahel began (the verb κατεδίωξεν echoes v. 19). The detail ὁ ἥλιος ἔδυνεν ('the sun was setting') sets the temporal clock toward the truce; the topographical notes (the hill of Ammah opposite Giah, on the road to the Gibeon wilderness) ground the chase in concrete terrain as the day wanes.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεδίωξενpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταδιώκωmain verb (singular with compound subject)→ constative aoristκαταδιώκω: 'pursue hard'; the same verb as Asahel's pursuit (v. 19); now the surviving brothers, Joab and Abishai, take up the chase — vengeance is already implicit.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεσσαAbishaicoordinate subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεσσα: indeclinable; Asahel's surviving brother, joining Joab in the pursuit of Abner.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after Abner')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after'; with the genitive marks the object of pursuit.
ΑβεννηρAbnergenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; the pursued.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the time-note)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with ἥλιος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of ἔδυνεν→ participant prominenceἥλιος: 'sun'; renders שֶׁמֶשׁ; the setting sun marks the approaching end of the day's fighting and prepares for the truce.
ἔδυνενwas settingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · δύνωmain verb (durative background)→ imperfect (ongoing background action)δύνω / δύω: 'set / sink (of the sun)'; the imperfect ἔδυνεν ('was setting') gives the temporal backdrop — the chase runs into the gathering dusk that will frame the cease-fire.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject pronoun (Joab and Abishai)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'they'; the pursuing brothers.
εἰσῆλθονcameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (arrival at the hill)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go/come in / arrive'; renders בּוֹא; the brothers reach the hill of Ammah by dusk.
ἕωςas far asimproper preposition + genitive (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'as far as / up to'; marks the limit of the pursuit.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with βουνοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουνοῦhillGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationβουνός: 'hill / mound'; renders גִּבְעָה; the hill of Ammah, the point the pursuers reach at sunset.
Αμμανof Ammahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑμμαν: LXX transliteration of Hebrew אַמָּה (Ammah); indeclinable; an otherwise unknown hill near Gibeon, identified only by the topographical markers that follow.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun (neut., loosely agreeing with the locale); introduces the locating clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locating the hill)→ locative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the present ἐστιν in the narratorial locating clause ('which is opposite Giah').
ἐπὶoppositepreposition + genitive (in the idiom 'in front of')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: in ἐπὶ προσώπου ('in front of / opposite'), a Hebraism (עַל־פְּנֵי, 'on the face of').
προσώπουfaceGenitivegenitive (in idiom ἐπὶ προσώπου: 'opposite')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἐπὶ προσώπου γαι ('facing / opposite Giah') renders עַל־פְּנֵי גִיחַ, a topographic Hebraism.
γαιGiahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ clausal contributionγαι: LXX transliteration of Hebrew גִּיחַ (Giah); indeclinable; an unidentified site near Gibeon used to fix the location of the hill of Ammah.
ὁδὸνwayAccusativeaccusative of place/direction ('on the road to')→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road'; the accusative ὁδὸν ('by the way of / on the road toward') is an adverbial accusative of route; renders דֶּרֶךְ.
ἔρημονwildernessAccusativeattributive/appositional (the wilderness road of Gibeon)→ object specificationἔρημος: 'desert / wilderness'; here adjectivally/substantivally with ὁδόν — 'the wilderness road' leading toward the open country of Gibeon; renders מִדְבַּר גִּבְעוֹן.
Γαβαωνof Gibeongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαβαων: indeclinable; the wilderness/road of Gibeon, fixing the chase's terrain.
25

καὶ συναθροίζονται υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν οἱ ὀπίσω Αβεννηρ καὶ ἐγενήθησαν εἰς συνάντησιν μίαν καὶ ἔστησαν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν βουνοῦ ἑνός

And the sons of Benjamin, those behind Abner, gather together and became one band, and they stood on the top of a single hill.

Benjamin rallies to Abnerκαὶ συναθροίζονται
The historic present συναθροίζονται ('they gather') dramatizes the regrouping of the Benjaminites around their fleeing commander. Forming a single rallying-band (εἰς συνάντησιν μίαν) on a hilltop, they regain a defensive footing — the tactical turn that emboldens Abner to call for a parley in v. 26.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συναθροίζονταιgather togetherPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · συναθροίζωmain verb (historic present: the rally)→ historic present (vivid regrouping)συναθροίζω: 'gather together / assemble'; the compound συν- stresses convergence; renders קָבַץ / אָסַף; the Benjaminites rally around Abner, recovering cohesion after the rout.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Benjamin')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν ('sons of Benjamin') = the Benjaminites, Saul's tribesmen forming Abner's core support.
Βενιαμινof Benjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΒενιαμιν: indeclinable; Saul's tribe, loyal to the house of Saul.
οἱthoseNominativeattributive article (with ὀπίσω: 'those behind Abner')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article οἱ ὀπίσω Αβεννηρ ('those [who follow] behind Abner') functions relatively, identifying the Benjaminites as Abner's followers.
ὀπίσωbehindimproper preposition + genitive (allegiance: 'behind Abner')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; οἱ ὀπίσω Αβεννηρ marks political/military allegiance — those who follow Abner.
ΑβεννηρAbnergenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθησανbecameAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (formation into a band)→ constative aorist (resultant formation)γίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'became / were formed'; ἐγενήθησαν εἰς συνάντησιν μίαν ('became one assembled band'); the passive form is common in the LXX for the simple 'become'.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (predicate result: 'into one band')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: predicate-result εἰς ('into / so as to be'), Hebraism for לְ; with γίνομαι, 'became one [body]'.
συνάντησινbandAccusativeaccusative complement (with εἰς: 'one assembled body')→ object specificationσυνάντησις: 'meeting / assembling'; here concretely 'a single gathered band / company'; the Benjaminites coalesce into one cohesive force on the hilltop.
μίανoneAccusativenumeral/attributive (modifying συνάντησιν)→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; stresses the unity of the regrouped band — a single, consolidated company.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστησανstoodAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (taking defensive position)→ ingressive aorist (took their stand)ἵστημι (aor.): 'stand / take a stand'; the intransitive aorist ἔστησαν ('they took their stand'); the Benjaminites occupy the high ground, recovering a defensible position.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
κεφαλὴνtopAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('on the head/top')→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν βουνοῦ ('on the top of a hill') uses 'head' for 'summit', a Hebraism (רֹאשׁ הַגִּבְעָה); the elevated, defensible position.
βουνοῦhillGenitivegenitive of relationship ('top of a hill')→ relational specificationβουνός: 'hill'; the defensive height the Benjaminites occupy.
ἑνόςoneGenitivenumeral/attributive (modifying βουνοῦ: 'a single hill')→ relational specificationεἷς (gen. ἑνός): 'one / a single'; βουνοῦ ἑνός ('one hill') — they consolidate on a single height, a unified defensive stand.
26

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αβεννηρ Ιωαβ καὶ εἶπεν μὴ εἰς νῖκος καταφάγεται ἡ ῥομφαία ἦ οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι πικρὰ ἔσται εἰς τὰ ἔσχατα καὶ ἕως πότε οὐ μὴ εἴπῃς τῷ λαῷ ἀναστρέφειν ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν

And Abner called to Joab and said, 'Shall the sword devour unto victory? Or do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? And how long will you not tell the people to turn back from following our brothers?'

Abner's plea for a cease-fireκαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αβεννηρ
From the hilltop Abner calls a parley. His three rhetorical questions — Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know it will end in bitterness? How long before you call off the people? — press the futility and tragedy of fratricidal war (τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν, 'our brothers'). The appeal to shared kinship across the civil-war divide moves Joab to halt the slaughter (vv. 27–28).
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (Abner hails Joab)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon / hail'; renders קָרָא; Abner calls across to Joab to open negotiations for a cease-fire.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable.
ΙωαβJoabdirect object of ἐκάλεσεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; the one Abner addresses.
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 (introducing Abner's appeal)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Abner's three-fold rhetorical plea.
μὴshall notinterrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: introducing a question that expects the answer 'no' ('surely the sword shall not devour forever?'); a rhetorical appeal for restraint.
εἰςuntopreposition + accusative (extent/goal: 'to the uttermost')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'to / unto'; εἰς νῖκος ('unto victory / to the end / forever') is a Hebraism (לָנֶצַח, 'forever / utterly'); the sword devouring 'unto victory' = endless, total slaughter.
νῖκοςvictoryAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'to the end / forever')→ object specificationνῖκος: 'victory'; in εἰς νῖκος the LXX renders Hebrew נֶצַח, which means both 'victory' and 'perpetuity/forever'; here the sense is 'forever / to the bitter end' — will the killing never stop?
καταφάγεταιdevourFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · κατεσθίωmain verb of rhetorical question→ predictive future (in a question)κατεσθίω / κατέσθω: 'eat up / devour / consume'; the future middle καταφάγεται; the sword 'devouring' the slain is a stock OT metaphor (cf. Deut 32:42; 2 Kgdms 11:25; 18:8); Abner pictures war as an insatiable consumer of life.
theNominativearticle (with ῥομφαία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥομφαίαswordNominativesubject of καταφάγεται→ participant prominenceῥομφαία: 'sword / large broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; personified as the devouring agent of war; Abner's image of the all-consuming blade frames his plea for its sheathing.
orinterrogative particle (introducing second question)→ discourse linkage or contrastἦ: interrogative particle ('or? / surely?'); introduces the second rhetorical question, pressing Joab to acknowledge the bitter outcome.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with οἶδας)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negative; ἦ οὐκ οἶδας ('do you not know?') expects the answer 'yes, I do'.
οἶδαςyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · οἶδαmain verb of rhetorical question→ perfect with present sense ('you know')οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); Abner appeals to Joab's own understanding that endless war ends in bitterness.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of οἶδας)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the object clause of οἶδας.
πικρὰbitterNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'it will be bitter')→ participant prominenceπικρός: 'bitter / grievous'; renders מַר / מָרָה; the neuter plural πικρά ('bitter things') as predicate — the war's aftermath will be grief and lasting enmity.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (future: 'it will be')→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; the outcome of unchecked fighting — bitterness at the end.
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'in the end')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'unto / in'; εἰς τὰ ἔσχατα ('in the end / at the last') points to the eventual, lasting consequences.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔσχατα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔσχαταendAccusativesubstantival adjective (with εἰς: 'the end / the last things')→ object specificationἔσχατος: 'last / final'; τὰ ἔσχατα ('the last things / the end / the aftermath'); renders אַחֲרִית; the bitter long-term result of fratricidal war.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςuntiltemporal particle (with πότε: 'how long?')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: in ἕως πότε ('until when? / how long?'), a Hebraism rendering עַד־מָתַי; introduces the urgent third question.
πότεwheninterrogative adverb (with ἕως: 'how long')→ clausal contributionπότε: 'when?'; ἕως πότε = 'how long?', expressing impatience for the killing to stop.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή + subjunctive: emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic negation οὐ μή; here in a 'how long until you do not...' construction, urging Joab to command the halt.
μὴnotnegative particle (with οὐ: emphatic negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ in οὐ μή, the strong negation with the aorist subjunctive; 'how long before you tell...'
εἴπῃςyou will sayAor Act Subj 2 Sg · λέγωverb of the οὐ μή construction (in the temporal question)→ aorist subjunctive (emphatic with οὐ μή)λέγω (aor. subj.): 'say / command'; εἴπῃς … ἀναστρέφειν ('command [the people] to turn back'); Abner urges Joab to give the order to break off pursuit.
τῷtheDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative indirect object (the army)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; here the army/troops (a military sense common in Kingdoms); the men whom Joab must order to stand down.
ἀναστρέφεινto turn backPres Act Inf · ἀναστρέφωcomplementary infinitive (content of the command)→ durative present infinitiveἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the content of the order Abner urges — call the troops back from pursuing their kinsmen.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
ὄπισθενfollowingadverb (with ἀπό + gen.: 'from behind / from pursuing')→ clausal contributionὄπισθεν: 'behind'; ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν τῶν ἀδελφῶν ('from following behind our brothers') = cease pursuing them; renders מֵאַחֲרֵי.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive (with ὄπισθεν: 'behind our brothers')→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother / kinsman'; the poignant τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν ('our brothers') frames the conflict as fratricidal — Israelite against Israelite — the heart of Abner's appeal.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the inclusive 'our brothers' appeals to the kinship binding the two warring sides.
27

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωαβ ζῇ κύριος ὅτι εἰ μὴ ἐλάλησας διότι τότε ἐκ πρωίθεν ἀνέβη ὁ λαὸς ἕκαστος κατόπισθεν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ

And Joab said, 'As the LORD lives, if you had not spoken, then from the morning the people would have gone up, each from following his brother.'

Joab's oath-bound replyκαὶ εἶπεν Ιωαβ
Joab answers with the oath-formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives'). His somewhat elliptical reply concedes Abner's point: only because Abner spoke (asked for the truce) would the army have continued; had he not, the people would have pursued until morning. The reply both accepts the cease-fire and lays responsibility for the day's continuation at Abner's door.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Joab's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joab's oath-bound answer to Abner's plea.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb (oath-formula: 'as [the LORD] lives')→ gnomic present (the standing reality of YHWH's life)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; the oath-formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') renders חַי יהוה, the most solemn Israelite oath, invoking the living God as guarantor of one's word.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ζῇ (the one sworn by)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the living YHWH invoked as witness and guarantor of Joab's oath.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the oath's content)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the substance of the oath, here recitative/asseverative.
εἰifconditional particle (contrary-to-fact protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; with μή introduces a contrary-to-fact condition ('if you had not spoken...'); part of the oath-construction.
μὴnotnegative particle (with εἰ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negates the protasis; εἰ μή = 'unless / if not'.
ἐλάλησαςyou had spokenAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωverb of the conditional protasis→ aorist (contrary-to-fact past condition)λαλέω: 'speak'; the aorist ἐλάλησας in the protasis ('if you had not spoken [up / asked]'); Joab credits Abner's appeal as the reason the army will now halt.
διότιthenconjunction (introducing apodosis; here asseverative/Hebraistic)→ discourse linkage or contrastδιότι: ordinarily 'because'; in this oath-construction it functions to introduce the consequence ('then surely...'), reflecting the awkward Greek of a literally-rendered Hebrew oath-formula (כִּי).
τότεthentemporal adverb (apodosis: 'then / in that case')→ adverbial qualificationτότε: 'then / at that time'; marks the hypothetical result — what would have happened absent Abner's plea.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (temporal: 'from [the] morning')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from'; with the temporal adverb πρωίθεν, 'from morning' = since daybreak.
πρωίθενmorningtemporal adverb (with ἐκ: 'from the morning')→ clausal contributionπρωίθεν: 'from early / from morning'; ἐκ πρωίθεν renders מֵהַבֹּקֶר; the sense is that the pursuit would have continued from (this) morning onward — i.e. only Abner's word stopped what would otherwise have run on.
ἀνέβηwould have gone upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of apodosis (singular with collective λαός)→ aorist (contrary-to-fact consequence)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / withdraw'; here 'the people would have gone up [from following]' = would have broken off only [much later]; the contrary-to-fact apodosis — without Abner's plea the pursuit would have gone on much longer.
theNominativearticle (with λαὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of ἀνέβη (the army)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people / army'; the troops who would have continued the pursuit.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive apposition to λαὸς→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; distributive, individualizing the soldiers' withdrawal from pursuit of their kinsmen.
κατόπισθενfrom followingimproper preposition + genitive ('from behind his brother')→ spatial or relational framingκατόπισθεν: 'behind / after'; with the genitive, 'from following behind'; the pursuit of 'his brother' again frames the war as fratricidal.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοῦbrotherGenitivegenitive (with κατόπισθεν: 'behind his brother')→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother / kinsman'; echoes Abner's τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν (v. 26) — Joab too acknowledges the combatants as brothers.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
28

καὶ ἐσάλπισεν Ιωαβ τῇ σάλπιγγι καὶ ἀπέστησαν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς καὶ οὐ κατεδίωξαν ὀπίσω τοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ οὐ προσέθεντο ἔτι τοῦ πολεμεῖν

And Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no further, and they did not continue to fight any more.

The trumpet of recall ends the battleκαὶ ἐσάλπισεν Ιωαβ
Joab acts on his words: the trumpet-blast (ἐσάλπισεν τῇ σάλπιγγι) is the formal signal of recall (cf. 18:16; 20:22). The threefold result — all halt, none pursue Israel further, none continue fighting — definitively closes the day's combat. The Hebraism οὐ προσέθεντο … τοῦ πολεμεῖν ('they did not add to fight') stresses the cessation.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσάλπισενblew the trumpetAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σαλπίζωmain verb (the signal of recall)→ constative aorist (the decisive signal)σαλπίζω: 'sound the trumpet'; renders תָּקַע (בַּשּׁוֹפָר); the trumpet-blast is the standard battlefield signal to halt/recall the troops (cf. 18:16; 20:22).
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; the commander who orders the halt.
τῇtheDativearticle (with σάλπιγγι)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σάλπιγγιtrumpetDativedative of instrument (cognate with ἐσάλπισεν)→ sphere or referenceσάλπιγξ: 'trumpet / horn'; renders שׁוֹפָר; the cognate dative ἐσάλπισεν τῇ σάλπιγγι ('trumpeted with the trumpet') is a Hebraizing figura etymologica reinforcing the signal.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστησανstood stillAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀφίστημιmain verb (the army halts; plural ad sensum with πᾶς ὁ λαὸς)→ ingressive aorist (came to a stop)ἀφίστημι: 'stand off / desist / halt'; the intransitive aorist ἀπέστησαν ('they stood off / stopped'); the plural agrees ad sensum with the collective πᾶς ὁ λαός; the troops cease the pursuit at the trumpet.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ὁ λαὸς)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; πᾶς ὁ λαός ('all the people/army') — the entire force obeys the recall.
theNominativearticle (with λαὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (collective: the army)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people / army'; the troops who halt at Joab's signal.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατεδίωξαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negative; negates the further pursuit.
κατεδίωξανpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταδιώκωmain verb (negated: 'no longer pursued')→ constative aoristκαταδιώκω: 'pursue'; the negated οὐ κατεδίωξαν ('they pursued no further') marks the end of the chase that ran through the whole episode.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after Israel')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after'; with the genitive, the object of the (now-ceased) pursuit.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern forces under Abner, no longer pursued.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσέθεντο)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negative; negates any further fighting.
προσέθεντοcontinuedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (Hebraistic auxiliary: 'did not do again')→ constative aoristπροστίθημι (mid.): the idiom οὐ προσέθεντο … τοῦ πολεμεῖν ('they did not add to fight / fought no more') renders the Hebrew לֹא יָסְפוּ + infinitive — an auxiliary of repetition negated to mean 'no longer'.
ἔτιany longeradverb (reinforcing the cessation)→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / any longer'; with the negated προσέθεντο underscores that the fighting fully stopped.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολεμεῖνto fightPres Act Inf · πολεμέωarticular infinitive (complement of προσέθεντο)→ durative present infinitiveπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight'; renders לָחַם; the τοῦ-infinitive completes the 'no longer' idiom — the day's battle is over.
29

καὶ Αβεννηρ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθον εἰς δυσμὰς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἐκείνην καὶ διέβαιναν τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὅλην τὴν παρατείνουσαν καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν

And Abner and his men went away to the west all that night, and crossed the Jordan, and went all the stretch of country, and they come to the camp.

Abner's night march back to Mahanaimκαὶ Αβεννηρ
Abner's forces make a grueling all-night retreat: westward through the night, across the Jordan, traversing the whole stretch of country back to their base camp (παρεμβολήν, i.e. Mahanaim). The historic present ἔρχονται ('they come') closes the journey vividly. The forced march underscores the completeness of the rout despite the truce.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; leading the retreat.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativecoordinate subject ('his men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ('his men') = Abner's surviving troops.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀπῆλθονwent awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (the retreat)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; Abner's forces withdraw under cover of night.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
δυσμὰςwestAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (direction of march)→ object specificationδυσμή (pl. δυσμάς): 'setting (of the sun) / west'; renders the Hebrew הָעֲרָבָה (the Arabah) here taken as 'the west/plain'; marks the direction of the night retreat toward and across the Jordan.
ὅληνallAccusativeattributive adjective (with νύκτα: 'all that night')→ object specificationὅλος: 'whole / all'; ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ('all night long') stresses the exhausting duration of the forced march.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('all that night')→ object specificationνύξ: 'night'; the accusative of duration; the whole night spent in retreat.
ἐκείνηνthatAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying νύκτα)→ object specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; deictic, the night following the battle.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέβαινανcrossedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the river crossing)→ imperfect (the process of crossing)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the imperfect διέβαιναν depicts the crossing of the Jordan as an extended process — the whole force fording the river by night.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διέβαιναν→ object specificationἸορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): the Jordan river; declinable Greek masculine; the boundary back into Transjordan toward Mahanaim.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανwentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (continued march)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / travel / march'; renders הָלַךְ; the deponent aorist passive ἐπορεύθησαν continues the account of the long march.
ὅληνallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τὴν παρατείνουσαν)→ object specificationὅλος: 'whole'; ὅλην τὴν παρατείνουσαν ('the whole stretch') stresses the full extent of the country traversed.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατείνουσανstretch of countryPres Act Part Acc Sg Fem · παρατείνωsubstantival participle (object: 'the stretching [region]')→ verbal action or stateπαρατείνω: 'stretch alongside / extend'; the substantival participle ἡ παρατείνουσα ('the stretch / the extending [region]') denotes the long tract of land — perhaps a literal rendering of a Hebrew geographical term (the Bithron, 2 Sam 2:29); the whole expanse they marched across.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔρχονταιthey comePres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (historic present: arrival)→ historic present (vivid arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come / arrive'; the historic present ἔρχονται vividly closes the night march as Abner's force reaches its base.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the base camp at Mahanaim (cf. v. 8), Abner's destination after the all-night retreat.
30

καὶ Ιωαβ ἀνέστρεψεν ὄπισθεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Αβεννηρ καὶ συνήθροισεν πάντα τὸν λαόν καὶ ἐπεσκέπησαν τῶν παίδων Δαυιδ ἐννεακαίδεκα ἄνδρες καὶ Ασαηλ

And Joab returned from following Abner, and gathered together all the people; and of David's servants there were missing nineteen men, and Asahel.

Joab musters his men: the casualty count for David's sideκαὶ Ιωαβ ἀνέστρεψεν
Joab breaks off pursuit and musters the army (συνήθροισεν). The casualty roll for David's side is strikingly light — nineteen men, plus Asahel named separately for his special significance. The disparity with Israel's losses (v. 31) underscores the decisiveness of David's victory.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable.
ἀνέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (Joab breaks off pursuit)→ constative aoristἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; Joab abandons the chase of Abner and returns to gather his forces.
ὄπισθενbackadverb (with the verb: 'turned back')→ clausal contributionὄπισθεν: 'behind / back'; reinforces the sense of turning around from the pursuit.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from [pursuing] Abner')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; ἀπὸ τοῦ Αβεννηρ ('from [following] Abner') marks the object of the abandoned pursuit.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Αβεννηρ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑβεννηρAbnergenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; the article τοῦ marks the genitive.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνήθροισενgathered togetherAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συναθροίζωmain verb (mustering the army)→ constative aoristσυναθροίζω: 'gather together / assemble'; the same verb used of Benjamin's rally (v. 25); Joab now musters his own troops to take the casualty count.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τὸν λαόν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάντα τὸν λαόν ('all the people/army') — Joab assembles the entire force.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativedirect object of συνήθροισεν (the army)→ object specificationλαός: 'people / army'; David's assembled troops.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the muster-result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπεσκέπησανwere missingAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (the muster reveals losses)→ constative aorist passiveἐπισκέπτομαι: 'visit / muster / number'; renders פָּקַד; the passive ἐπεσκέπησαν here means 'were mustered [and found lacking] / were counted [as missing]' — the muster tallies David's casualties.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with παίδων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παίδωνservantsGenitivepartitive genitive ('of David's servants')→ relational specificationπαῖς: 'servant / soldier'; David's troops, from among whom the missing are counted.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ἐννεακαίδεκαnineteennumeral (count of the missing)→ clausal contributionἐννεακαίδεκα: 'nineteen'; indeclinable cardinal; David's losses — strikingly few compared to Israel's 360 (v. 31), marking a decisive victory.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of ἐπεσκέπησαν (the missing men)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the nineteen fallen of David's side.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding Asahel separately)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑσαηλAsahelsubject (named separately; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; named apart from the nineteen — the most grievous loss, Joab's own brother, whose death the chapter has dwelt on and whose burial follows (v. 32).
31

καὶ οἱ παῖδες Δαυιδ ἐπάταξαν τῶν υἱῶν Βενιαμιν τῶν ἀνδρῶν Αβεννηρ τριακοσίους ἑξήκοντα ἄνδρας παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And the servants of David had struck down, of the sons of Benjamin, of Abner's men, three hundred and sixty men by his side.

The casualty count for Abner's sideκαὶ οἱ παῖδες Δαυιδ
The counterpart casualty notice tallies Israel's losses: 360 Benjaminites of Abner's men, against David's 19. The overwhelming disparity (roughly 19:1) confirms the rout reported in v. 17 and the ascendancy of David's cause that drives the larger narrative of the house of David's rise over the house of Saul (cf. 3:1).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject ('the servants of David')→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / soldier'; David's troops, the victors who inflicted the heavy losses.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ἐπάταξανstruck downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πατάσσωmain verb (the kill-count)→ constative aorist (summary of the slain)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite (fatally)'; renders נָכָה; the same verb used of Abner's blow to Asahel (v. 22), now summarizing the whole battle's toll inflicted by David's men.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivepartitive genitive ('of the sons of Benjamin')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Βενιαμιν ('the sons of Benjamin') = the Benjaminites who formed Abner's force.
Βενιαμινof Benjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΒενιαμιν: indeclinable; Saul's tribe, the bulk of the casualties.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (appositional genitive with ἀνδρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitiveappositional partitive genitive ('of Abner's men')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; τῶν ἀνδρῶν Αβεννηρ ('the men of Abner'), in apposition to 'the sons of Benjamin', specifying the slain as Abner's troops.
Αβεννηρof Abnergenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: indeclinable; whose men were slain.
τριακοσίουςthree hundredAccusativenumeral (with ἑξήκοντα: the count of the slain)→ object specificationτριακόσιοι: 'three hundred'; declinable cardinal (acc. τριακοσίους); part of the total of Israelite dead.
ἑξήκονταsixtynumeral (with τριακοσίους: 'three hundred and sixty')→ measure or countἑξήκοντα: 'sixty'; indeclinable cardinal; with τριακοσίους gives the total of 360 Israelite casualties — nearly twenty times David's losses.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξαν (the slain)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the 360 men of Abner struck down by David's servants.
παρ᾿bypreposition + genitive (idiom: 'of his / on his side'; elided)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from / on the side of'; παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('of his [men] / from his side') marks the 360 as belonging to Abner's force; a Hebraism for 'of his own'.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of παρά (Abner)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'him'; refers to Abner — the dead were from among his own troops.
32

καὶ αἴρουσιν τὸν Ασαηλ καὶ θάπτουσιν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν Βαιθλεεμ καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ιωαβ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα καὶ διέφαυσεν αὐτοῖς ἐν Χεβρων

And they take up Asahel and bury him in the tomb of his father in Bethlehem; and Joab and the men with him went all night, and day broke for them at Hebron.

Closure: Asahel's burial and Joab's night march homeκαὶ αἴρουσιν τὸν Ασαηλ
The chapter closes with two acts of return. Asahel is borne home and buried in his father's tomb at Bethlehem — a dignified end answering the burial-motif that runs from v. 4 (Saul) to here. Then Joab marches all night, and daybreak (διέφαυσεν) finds his force back at Hebron, David's capital — the narrative returning full circle to where it began (vv. 1–4).
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἴρουσινthey take upPres Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (historic present: bearing the body)→ historic present (vivid)αἴρω: 'lift / take up / carry'; renders נָשָׂא; the historic present αἴρουσιν depicts the recovery of Asahel's body for honorable burial.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ασαηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑσαηλAsaheldirect object of αἴρουσιν (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΑσαηλ: indeclinable; the slain brother, now borne home.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θάπτουσινthey buryPres Act Indic 3 Pl · θάπτωmain verb (historic present: the burial)→ historic present (vivid)θάπτω: 'bury'; the burial-keyword of the chapter (cf. ἔθαψαν v. 4; ἐθάψατε v. 5); Asahel's honorable interment in the family tomb closes the inclusio of burial that frames the chapter.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Asahel)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Asahel).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with τάφῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάφῳtombDativedative of place ('in the tomb')→ sphere or referenceτάφος: 'tomb / grave'; renders קֶבֶר; the family sepulchre, an honorable resting-place befitting a fallen warrior of David's house.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πατρὸς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession ('his father's tomb')→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the tomb of Asahel's father — burial in the ancestral grave (cf. 'gathered to his fathers') was the honorable Israelite norm.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΒαιθλεεμBethlehemdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒαιθλεεμ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם (Bethlehem, 'house of bread'); indeclinable; David's own home town (1 Kgdms 16) and the family seat of the sons of Zeruiah; Asahel's burial place.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (Joab's night march; singular with compound subject)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / travel / march'; the deponent aorist ἐπορεύθη; Joab and his men march through the night back toward Hebron.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativecoordinate subject ('the men with him')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; Joab's troops accompanying him on the night march.
οἱthe (who)Nominativeattributive article ('those with him')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('the ones with him') functions relatively, an articular-prepositional Hebraism (cf. v. 3).
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
ὅληνallAccusativeattributive adjective (with νύκτα: 'all night')→ object specificationὅλος: 'whole / all'; ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ('all night long'); the exhausting night march mirrors Abner's own (v. 29), both forces marching through the same night.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('all night')→ object specificationνύξ: 'night'; the accusative of duration; the whole night spent marching back to Hebron.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέφαυσενday brokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαφαύσκωmain verb (impersonal: 'dawn came')→ ingressive aorist (onset of daybreak)διαφαύσκω: 'shine through / dawn / grow light'; impersonal 'day broke'; the construction διέφαυσεν αὐτοῖς ('it dawned for them / day broke upon them') marks the arrival of morning at journey's end, closing the night-long march.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage/reference (with impersonal διέφαυσεν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτοῖς ('for/upon them') with the impersonal verb — daybreak overtook Joab's men as they reached Hebron.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΧεβρωνHebrondative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧεβρων: indeclinable; David's capital — the chapter ends where it began (vv. 1–4), Joab's force reaching Hebron at dawn, closing the narrative circle of David's first kingdom.