1 Samuel 23:3

Authorized King James Version

And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
אַנְשֵׁ֤י
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)
#3
דָוִד֙
And David's
david, the youngest son of jesse
#4
אֵלָ֔יו
near, with or among; often in general, to
#5
הִנֵּ֨ה
lo!
#6
אֲנַ֥חְנוּ
we
#7
פֹ֛ה
this place (french ici), i.e., here or hence
#8
בִּֽיהוּדָ֖ה
here in Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#9
יְרֵאִ֑ים
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
#10
וְאַף֙
meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
#11
כִּֽי
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#12
נֵלֵ֣ךְ
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#13
קְעִלָ֔ה
to Keilah
keilah, a place in palestine
#14
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#15
מַֽעַרְכ֖וֹת
against the armies
an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array
#16
פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
of the Philistines
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

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 literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 1 Samuel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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