2 Samuel 21:9

Authorized King James Version

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֞ם
And he delivered
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#2
בְּיַ֣ד
them into the hands
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#3
הַגִּבְעֹנִ֗ים
of the Gibeonites
a gibonite, or inhabitant of gibon
#4
וַיֹּֽקִיעֻ֤ם
and they hanged
properly, to sever oneself, i.e., (by implication) to be dislocated; figuratively, to abandon; causatively, to impale (and thus allow to drop to piece
#5
בָּהָר֙
them in the hill
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#6
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#7
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#8
וַיִּפְּל֥וּ
and they fell
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#9
שְׁבַעְתָּ֖ים
all seven
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
#10
יָ֑חַד
together
properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly
#11
וְהֵ֨םָּ
they (only used when emphatic)
#12
הֻֽמְת֜וּ
and were put to death
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#13
בִּימֵ֤י
in the days
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#14
קְצִ֥יר
harvest
severed, a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage)
#15
בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים
in the first
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
#16
תְחִלַּ֖ת
days in the beginning
a commencement; relatively original (adverb, -ly)
#17
קְצִ֥יר
harvest
severed, a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage)
#18
שְׂעֹרִֽים׃
of barley
barley (as villose)

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 sovereignty 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 2 Samuel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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