1 Samuel 27:8

Authorized King James Version

And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיַּ֤עַל
went up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#2
דָּוִד֙
And David
david, the youngest son of jesse
#3
וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו
and his men
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
#4
וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֛וּ
and invaded
to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)
#5
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#6
הַגְּשׁוּרִ֥י
the Geshurites
a geshurite (also collectively) or inhabitants of geshur
#7
וְהַגִּרְזִ֖י
and the Gezrites
a grizite (collectively) or member of a native tribe in palestine
#8
וְהָעֲמָֽלֵקִ֑י
and the Amalekites
an amalekite (or collectively the amalekites) or descendants of amalek
#9
כִּ֣י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#10
הֵ֜נָּה
for those
themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
#11
יֹֽשְׁב֤וֹת
the inhabitants
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#12
אֶ֥רֶץ
even unto the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#13
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#14
מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם
nations were of old
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
#15
בּֽוֹאֲךָ֥
as thou goest
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#16
שׁ֖וּרָה
to Shur
shur, a region of the desert
#17
וְעַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#18
אֶ֥רֶץ
even unto the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#19
מִצְרָֽיִם׃
of Egypt
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

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 covenant community 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 covenant community in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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