2 Kings 3:4

Authorized King James Version

And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּמֵישַׁ֥ע
And Mesha
mesha, a moabite
#2
לְמֶֽלֶךְ
king
a king
#3
מוֹאָ֖ב
of Moab
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
#4
הָיָ֣ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#5
נֹקֵ֑ד
was a sheepmaster
a spotter (of sheep or cattle), i.e., the owner or tender (who thus marks them)
#6
וְהֵשִׁ֤יב
and rendered
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#7
לְמֶֽלֶךְ
king
a king
#8
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#9
וּמֵ֥אָה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#10
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#11
כָּרִ֔ים
lambs
a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a battering-ram (as butting)
#12
וּמֵ֥אָה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#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
אֵילִ֥ים
rams
properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically an oak or other strong tree
#15
צָֽמֶר׃
with the wool
wool

Analysis

Within the broader context of 2 Kings, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of 2 Kings.

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 2 Kings 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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