1 Chronicles 18:5

Authorized King James Version

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיָּבֹא֙
came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
בַּֽאֲרָ֔ם
And when the Syrians
aram or syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of shem, a grandson of nahor, and of an israelite
#3
דַּרְמֶ֔שֶׂק
of Damascus
damascus, a city of syria
#4
לַעְז֕וֹר
to help
to surround, i.e., protect or aid
#5
לַֽהֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר
Hadarezer
hadarezer, a syrian king, possibly a royal title
#6
מֶ֣לֶךְ
king
a king
#7
צוֹבָ֑ה
of Zobah
zoba or zobah, a region of syria
#8
וַיַּ֤ךְ
slew
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
#9
דָּוִיד֙
David
david, the youngest son of jesse
#10
בַּֽאֲרָ֔ם
And when the Syrians
aram or syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of shem, a grandson of nahor, and of an israelite
#11
עֶשְׂרִֽים
and twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#12
וּשְׁנַ֥יִם
two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#13
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#14
אִֽישׁ׃
men
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection