Nahash of Ammon dies, and David sends comforters to Hanun his son — whose princes see spies in them. The envoys are shaved and their garments cut, and the king meets their shame with care: 'Tarry at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.' Ammon, seeing 'that they had made themselves odious to David,' hires chariots and horsemen out of Aram with a thousand talents of silver. Joab, caught between two fronts, divides the choice of Israel with Abishai his brother and speaks the soldier’s creed of the histories: 'Be of good courage, and let us prove strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Hashem do that which seems Him good.' The Arameans flee before him, Shophach their captain dies, and the kings who served Hadarezer make peace — 'neither would the Arameans help the children of Ammon any more.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 2440
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "Nahash" (נָחָ֖שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Ammon" (בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן, 7 letters). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·son" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·it·came·to·pass" (root היה, 104x in I Chronicles); "king·of" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sons·of·Ammon', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·came·to·pass] (31) + אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן [after·thus] (289) + וַיָּ֕מׇת [and·he·died] (456) + נָחָ֖שׁ [Nahash] (358) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king·of] (90) + בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן [sons·of·Ammon] (228) + וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + בְּנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 2440.
Malbim
'And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead' — this is copied from II Samuel chapter 10; see what I wrote in my commentary there.
And David said: ‘I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.’ So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
verse value 3715
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 104 letters. Notable word values: "servants·of" (עַבְדֵ֨י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "with·me" (עִמִּי֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "I·will·do·kindness" (אֶעֱשֶׂה־חֶ֣סֶד, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 134: to·comfort·him, to·comfort·him. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "I·will·do·kindness" (אֶעֱשֶׂה־חֶ֣סֶד), "with·Hanun" (עִם־חָנ֣וּן), "son·of·Nahash" (בֶּן־נָחָ֗שׁ). The root דוד appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Nahash" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "his·father" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root חנון ("with·Hanun") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'concerning·his·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 7 words.
Rashi
because his father showed me kindness when David took his father, his mother, his brothers, and his father’s household and settled them in the region of the king of Moab, as it is written (I Sam. 22: 3): “And David went from there to Mizpeh Moab, and he said to the king of Moab: Let my father and mother come out now, etc.” And the children of Moab came and slew them all except Elihu, David’s brother, who fled to the land of the children of Ammon. Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, accepted him, for they [David’s brothers] were no longer mentioned, except Elihu, as it is written in the grouping of the princes (below 27:18): “Of Judah: Elihu of the brothers of David.” That is the meaning of “for his father showed me kindness.” And it was on the basis of that hatred that David smote Moab and abused them more than his other enemies, as it is written (II Sam. 8:2): “And David smote Moab, etc.”
Metzudat David
'because...showed kindness,' etc. — Our Sages said that this kindness consisted of the fact that he [Nahash] spared the life of David's brother, who had fled to him after the king of Moab killed David's father and household — this after David had brought them to the king of Moab from the cave of Adullam, as related in I Samuel.
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun: ‘Do you think that David honors your father, that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?’
verse value 3964
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 93 letters. Notable word values: "is·not" (הֲלֹ֡א) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֖, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Ammon" (בְנֵי־עַמּ֜וֹן, 7 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "to·Hanun" (לְחָנ֗וּן), "is·he·honoring" (הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד), "your·father" (אֶת־אָבִ֙יךָ֙). 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "your·father" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles); "and·they·said" (root אמר, 73x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'comforters', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 9 words.
Rashi
Do you think that David honors your father Is it not written in their Torah (Deut. 23:7): “You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity?” Do you think that he is forsaking the commandment of his God and is coming to greet you, and that he sent comforters in honor of your father? Is it not in order to investigate, etc.?
Metzudat David
'Do you think that David honors your father' — Do you imagine that David truly honors your father in your eyes, just because he sent you comforters? 'Have not,' etc. — In truth, he sent them for no other reason than to spy out the land.
Metzudat Zion
'To search' — an expression of investigation and searching. 'And to overthrow' — Targum Yonatan renders it 'u-lemivdak' (to examine), for one who examines a thing turns it over from side to side. 'And to spy out' — this too is an expression of investigation and searching.
Cross-references: Deuteronomy 23:7; II Samuel 10:3
So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their hips, and sent them away.
verse value 3066
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·took" (וַיִּקַּ֨ח, 4 letters) and the longest is "their·garments" (אֶת־מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "servants·of" (אֶת־עַבְדֵ֤י), "and·he·shaved·them" (וַֽיְגַלְּחֵ֔ם), "their·garments" (אֶת־מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "servants·of" (root עבד, 41x in I Chronicles); "and·he·sent·them·away" (root שלח, 20x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'unto·the·hips', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 1 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקַּ֨ח [and·he·took] (124) + חָנ֜וּן [Hanun] (114) + אֶת־עַבְדֵ֤י [servants·of] (487) + דָוִיד֙ [David] (24) + וַֽיְגַלְּחֵ֔ם [and·he·shaved·them] (97) + וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת [and·he·cut] (636) + אֶת־מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם [their·garments] (506) + בַּחֵ֖צִי [in·the·middle] (110) + עַד־הַמִּפְשָׂעָ֑ה [unto·the·hips] (574) + וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽם [and·he·sent·them·away] (394) = 3066.
Rashi
their garments - Heb. מַדְוֵיהֶם, like (Lev. 6:3): “The priest shall put on his linen garment (מִדּוֹ).” in half up to their groin - Heb. הַמִפְשָׂעָה, up to their private parts, both front and back, and in Samuel (II 10:4): “שְׁתוֹתֵיהֶם, their private parts,” like (Isa. 20:4): “... with their private parts (שֵׁת) bared, the shame of Egypt.”
Ralbag
Even to their hips — In the Book of Samuel (II, 10) it says "to their buttocks," but the meaning is the same; the intent of "hips" is the haunches, the joint where a person's motion occurs when walking and striding.
Metzudat David
'in the middle' — halfway up their length, reaching to the hips.
Metzudat Zion
'Their garments' — their clothing, as in 'and Saul clothed [David] ... with his garments' (madav), etc. (I Samuel 17). 'Even to their hips' — [the word] is like 'hamifsa'ah' with a samech, from the language of 'stepping' (pesi'ah), meaning the legs with which one strides; it is a euphemism for the buttocks, which are above the legs, and it is there that half the garment [was cut and] ended.
Malbim
'and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their hips' — [Hebrew: mifsa’ah] the place where the stride begins, between the thighs, as the word is used in Isaiah (27:4).
Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said: ‘Tarry at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.’
verse value 5062
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 91 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֛ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "concerning·the·men" (עַל־הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙, 8 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·told" (וַיַּגִּ֨ידוּ), "concerning·the·men" (עַל־הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙), "to·meet·them" (לִקְרָאתָ֔ם). The root איש appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "for·they·were" (root היה, 104x in I Chronicles); "the·king" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'greatly', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
'Then there went' — their messengers. 'how the men were served' — concerning what had happened to the men. 'And he sent to meet them' — to tell them to stay at Jericho, as stated at the end of the verse. The verse also gives the reason they did not come to the king directly: it says they were ashamed, and therefore he sent to meet them on the way. 'and then return' — to your homes.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Aram-naharaim, and out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah.
verse value 5282
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 94 letters. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "they·made·themselves·odious" (הִֽתְבָּאֲשׁ֖וּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 166: Ammon, Ammon. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "they·made·themselves·odious" (הִֽתְבָּאֲשׁ֖וּ), "to·hire" (לִשְׂכֹּ֣ר), "from·Aram-" (מִן־אֲרַ֨ם). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "with·David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "thousand" (root אלף, 77x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root שכר ("to·hire") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·David', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 15 words.
Rashi
from Aram Naharaim and from Aram-Maacah There were many Arameans, and that is the meaning of Aram-Maacah - the Arameans dwelling in Maacah. Some Arameans dwelt by the Euphrates River, and [likewise] Aram-Zobah; but Aram, without a surname, is the main part of the nation. Similarly, the Ammonites dwelling in Ammon are called Ammonites, but the main part of the nation was in other places, and so, the children of Esau in the land of Seir, but the main part [of the nation] dwelt in Edom.
Metzudat David
'that they had made themselves odious' — they made themselves repulsive in David's eyes, like something gone foul, and therefore they were afraid of war.
Malbim
'Aram-naharaim' — this is [the same as] Aram-beth-rehob, mentioned there [in Samuel].
So they hired them thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people; who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
verse value 4497
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 90 letters. The shortest word is "for·them" (לָהֶ֡ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·hired" (וַיִּשְׂכְּר֣וּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 25: and·they·came, and·they·came. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·hired" (וַיִּשְׂכְּר֣וּ), "and·the·king·of" (וְאֶת־מֶ֤לֶךְ), "and·his·people" (וְאֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ). The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·the·king·of" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles); "thousand" (root אלף, 77x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Medeba', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Malbim
'thirty-two thousand chariots' — there [in the parallel account] the count given is thirty-two thousand footmen. It must be that they first hired footmen, and afterward sent the thousand talents of silver (which Samuel does not mention) and hired that same number of charioteers.
And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
verse value 2040
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֥ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·mighty·men" (הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "all·the·host·of" (כׇּל־צָבָ֖א). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "the·mighty·men" (root גבור, 31x in I Chronicles); "all·the·host·of" (root צבא, 26x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'David', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע [and·he·heard] (426) + דָּוִ֑יד [David] (24) + וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ [and·he·sent] (354) + אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב [Joab] (420) + וְאֵ֥ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־צָבָ֖א [all·the·host·of] (143) + הַגִּבּוֹרִֽים [the·mighty·men] (266) = 2040.
And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the gate of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
verse value 2597
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·kings" (וְהַמְּלָכִ֣ים, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·went·out" (וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙), "and·the·kings" (וְהַמְּלָכִ֣ים), "that·they·came" (אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔אוּ). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·the·kings" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles); "that·they·came" (root בוא, 62x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ [and·they·went·out] (113) + בְּנֵ֣י [sons·of] (62) + עַמּ֔וֹן [Ammon] (166) + וַיַּעַרְכ֥וּ [and·they·arranged] (312) + מִלְחָמָ֖ה [battle] (123) + פֶּ֣תַח [gate·of] (488) + הָעִ֑יר [the·city] (285) + וְהַמְּלָכִ֣ים [and·the·kings] (151) + אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔אוּ [that·they·came] (510) + לְבַדָּ֖ם [by·themselves] (76) + בַּשָּׂדֶֽה [in·the·field] (311) = 2597.
Rashi
were by themselves in the field They divided their armies into two battle arrays: the children of Ammon were in one array at the entrance of the city against all Israel, and the kings who were with them in the second array were by themselves in the field behind Israel.
Ralbag
And the kings who had come were by themselves in the field — It has already been explained in the Book of Samuel that these kings were [the kings of] Ish-tob and Maacah; they did this as a stratagem, so that Israel would have to fight on both front and rear.
Metzudat David
'at the gate of the city' — opposite the entrance of their city gate.
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Arameans.
verse value 3755
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָֽם, 3 letters) and the longest is "face·of·the·battle" (פְנֵֽי־הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 306: from·all·youth, and·he·arrayed. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "that·was" (כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֧ה), "face·of·the·battle" (פְנֵֽי־הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה), "face" (פָּנִ֣ים). The root פנים appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·was" (root היה, 104x in I Chronicles); "in·Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "face·of·the·battle" (root פנים, 63x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·back', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֣רְא [and·he·saw] (217) + יוֹאָ֗ב [Joab] (19) + כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֧ה [that·was] (450) + פְנֵֽי־הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה [face·of·the·battle] (268) + אֵלָ֖יו [to·him] (47) + פָּנִ֣ים [face] (180) + וְאָח֑וֹר [and·back] (221) + וַיִּבְחַ֗ר [and·he·chose] (226) + מִכׇּל־בָּחוּר֙ [from·all·youth] (306) + בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [in·Israel] (543) + וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ [and·he·arrayed] (306) + לִקְרַ֥את [against] (731) + אֲרָֽם [Aram] (241) = 3755.
Metzudat David
'before and behind' — meaning, the front line of the fighting men.
Malbim
'Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind' — I explained all this there, in Samuel.
And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
verse value 3257
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·arrayed" (וַיַּ֣עַרְכ֔וּ, 6 letters). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "his·brother" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "the·people" (root עם, 63x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·brother', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְאֵת֙ [and] (407) + יֶ֣תֶר [remainder] (610) + הָעָ֔ם [the·people] (115) + נָתַ֕ן [he·gave] (500) + בְּיַ֖ד [in·hand·of] (16) + אַבְשַׁ֣י [Abishai] (313) + אָחִ֑יו [his·brother] (25) + וַיַּ֣עַרְכ֔וּ [and·they·arrayed] (312) + לִקְרַ֖את [against] (731) + בְּנֵ֥י [sons·of] (62) + עַמּֽוֹן [Ammon] (166) = 3257.
Rashi
into the hands of Abshai To Abishai, who is called Abshai throughout the entire Book of Chronicles, both in the written text and in the reading, except for these two cases, which are exceptions to the rule according to the Masorah. The reason that he is called Abshai in this entire Book is because it was written in David’s honor, and it is not honor to call his nephew Abishai, meaning: “I, too, am as esteemed as David because my [grand]father was Jesse [Yishai]” Therefore, in this entire Book, he is called Abshai, and in the entire Book of Samuel he is called Abishai, except once, where he is called Abshai: (II Sam. 10:10): “And the rest of the people he gave over to Abshai his brother.” This is according to the Masorah, because Jesse was the father of his mother, Zeruiah, who was his mother.
And he said: ‘If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
verse value 3799
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִּ֖י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·I·will·help·you" (וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּֽיךָ, 8 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "if·is·strong" (אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֤ק), "from·me" (מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙), "and·you·will·be" (וְהָיִ֥יתָ). The root חזק appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·if·the·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "and·you·will·be" (root היה, 104x in I Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 73x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·help', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֤ק [if·is·strong] (556) + מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ [from·me] (140) + אֲרָ֔ם [Aram] (241) + וְהָיִ֥יתָ [and·you·will·be] (431) + לִּ֖י [to·me] (40) + לִתְשׁוּעָ֑ה [for·help] (811) + וְאִם־בְּנֵ֥י [and·if·the·sons·of] (109) + עַמּ֛וֹן [Ammon] (166) + יֶחֶזְק֥וּ [are·strong] (131) + מִמְּךָ֖ [from·you] (100) + וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּֽיךָ [and·I·will·help·you] (817) = 3799.
Be of good courage, and let us prove strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Hashem do that which seems Him good.’
verse value 1984
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "be·strong" (חֲזַ֤ק, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·let·us·be·strong" (וְנִֽתְחַזְּקָה֙, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·let·us·be·strong" (וְנִֽתְחַזְּקָה֙), "for·our·people" (בְּעַד־עַמֵּ֔נוּ), "and·for" (וּבְעַ֖ד). The root חזק appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·Hashem" (root יהוה, 175x in I Chronicles); "our·God" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "cities·of" (root עיר, 39x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'our·God', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: חֲזַ֤ק [be·strong] (115) + וְנִֽתְחַזְּקָה֙ [and·let·us·be·strong] (576) + בְּעַד־עַמֵּ֔נוּ [for·our·people] (242) + וּבְעַ֖ד [and·for] (82) + עָרֵ֣י [cities·of] (280) + אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ [our·God] (102) + וַֽיהֹוָ֔ה [and·Hashem] (32) + הַטּ֥וֹב [the·good] (22) + בְּעֵינָ֖יו [in·his·eyes] (148) + יַעֲשֶֽׂה [will·do] (385) = 1984.
Metzudat David
'Be of good courage, and let us prove strong' — be strong, you and the people with you, and we too will strengthen ourselves. 'for our people' — so that they not be taken captive. 'and for the cities of our God' — so that the enemy not conquer them. 'and Hashem do that which seems Him good,' etc. — meaning, if despite all our efforts to be strong we do not succeed, let Hashem do what is good in His eyes, and we will accept it with love.
So Joab and the people who were with him drew nigh to the battle to meet the Arameans; and they fled before him.
verse value 1964
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָ֖ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·with·him" (אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֛וֹ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·drew·near" (וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ), "that·with·him" (אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֛וֹ), "before·him" (מִפָּנָֽיו). The root פנים appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·with·him" (root אשר, 77x in I Chronicles); "and·the·people" (root עם, 63x in I Chronicles); "before" (root פנים, 63x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·battle', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ [and·he·drew·near] (319) + יוֹאָ֜ב [Joab] (19) + וְהָעָ֧ם [and·the·people] (121) + אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֛וֹ [that·with·him] (617) + לִפְנֵ֥י [before] (170) + אֲרָ֖ם [Aram] (241) + לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה [to·the·battle] (153) + וַיָּנ֖וּסוּ [and·they·fled] (138) + מִפָּנָֽיו [before·him] (186) = 1964.
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
verse value 2505
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 64 letters. The shortest word is "saw" (רָאוּ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·fled" (וַיָּנ֣וּסוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 25: his·brother, and·they·came. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "saw" (רָאוּ֙), "that·fled" (כִּֽי־נָ֣ס), "the·city" (הָעִ֑ירָה). The root נוס appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "his·brother" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "from·face" (root פנים, 63x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 3 words.
And when the Arameans saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.
verse value 5193
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·brought·out" (וַיּוֹצִ֣יאוּ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·brought·out" (וַיּוֹצִ֣יאוּ), "Aram" (אֶת־אֲרָ֔ם), "and·Shophach" (וְשׁוֹפַ֛ךְ). The root ארם appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 77x in I Chronicles); "that" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·river', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 4 words.
Rashi
and Shophach the general And in Samuel (ad loc.) it is written: “and Shobach the general.” Our Rabbis explained in Sotah (42b): “Shobach, because he was as tall as a dovecote (שׁוֹבָךְ). Shophach, because he would shed (שׁוֹפֵךְ) blood like water.”
Ralbag
With Shophach — In the Book of Samuel he is called Shobach; he had two names.
And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him.
verse value 3901
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 81 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·Israel" (אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 306: and·he·arrayed, and·he·arrayed. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·it·was·told" (וַיֻּגַּ֣ד), "and·he·passed·over" (וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר), "and·they·fought" (וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "all·Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "with·him" (root עם, 63x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
'and set the battle in array against them' — he prepared himself to array battle against them.
And the Arameans fled before Israel; and David slew of the Arameans the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
verse value 5662
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 76 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָם֮, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·forty" (וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·slew" (וַיַּהֲרֹ֨ג), "from·Aram" (מֵאֲרָ֗ם), "and·forty" (וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים). The root ארם appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "thousand" (root אלף, 77x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'on·foot', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 4 words.
Ralbag
The men of seven thousand chariots — In the Book of Samuel it is written "seven hundred chariots," and there it also says "forty thousand horsemen," whereas here it says "forty thousand footmen." It is possible to resolve this difficulty by saying that when Scripture states that he killed "seven thousand chariots," it means that he killed the horsemen attached to those seven thousand chariots, and it appears that these numbered forty thousand, while of the chariots themselves he killed only seven hundred. Here it further records that he killed forty thousand footmen, a detail that the Book of Samuel omits.
Metzudat David
'seven thousand' — In II Samuel only the notable ones among them are counted; moreover, footmen are not mentioned there at all, only horsemen — and horsemen are not mentioned here. What one verse leaves unclear, the other clarifies; there are many such cases in Scripture.
Malbim
'the men of seven thousand chariots' — whereas in Samuel (10:18) [the number given] is seven hundred. Ezra clarifies that each chariot consisted of a team of ten horses, so that in total there were seven thousand. 'and forty thousand footmen' — whereas there it says forty thousand horsemen. Ezra explains that the term ‘horseman’ is used there in the sense of a man of valor trained to ride horses, even though at that time they were [in fact fighting] on foot.
And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him; neither would the Arameans help the children of Ammon any more.
verse value 3534
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 77 letters. Notable word values: "servants·of" (עַבְדֵ֣י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Ammon" (אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·made·peace" (וַיַּשְׁלִ֥ימוּ), "and·they·served·him" (וַיַּעַבְדֻ֑הוּ), "to·help" (לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ). The root עבד appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with·David" (root דוד, 182x in I Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "that" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·served·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
'they made peace' — they made peace. 'neither would...help,' etc. — he no longer wished to help, etc.
Malbim