David's kindness to Hanun of Ammon is answered with shaved beards and cut garments; against Ammon and the hired Arameans, Joab and Abishai set the battle: 'Be of good courage... and Hashem do that which seems Him good.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 2196
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 41 letters. Verse gematria: 2196 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֖לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "after·that" (אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן, 6 letters). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "and·he·died" (root מות, 78x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root חנון ("Hanun") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ammon', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן [after·that] (289) + וַיָּ֕מׇת [and·he·died] (456) + מֶ֖לֶךְ [king] (90) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + עַמּ֑וֹן [Ammon] (166) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + חָנ֥וּן [Hanun] (114) + בְּנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 2196.
And David said: ‘I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.’ So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
verse value 3768
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 93 letters. Notable word values: "slave" (עַבְדֵ֣י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֜ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "by·hand·of·his·servants" (בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֖יו, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 14: David, David, David. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "with·Hanun" (עִם־חָנ֣וּן), "to·comfort·him" (לְנַחֲמ֛וֹ), "by·hand·of·his·servants" (בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֖יו). The root דוד appears 3 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "to·father of an individual" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root נחם ("to·comfort·him") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·father of an individual', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 6 words.
Rashi
As his father did kindness with me. And what is the kindness? When David was fleeing from Sha'ul, his father and mother and brothers came to him (I Samuel 22:4): 'and he led them before the king of Moav,' and said to him, 'Let my father and my mother dwell with you'; and he killed them, except for one of them who fled and escaped to the land of the Ammonites to Nachash (in the Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma, VaYera Elav).
Radak
"As his father did kindness to me." Our Sages said: When David was fleeing, his father, mother, and brothers came to him, and he brought them before the king of Moab [1 Samuel 22:4]. The king of Moab killed them after they had been with him, except for one of them who fled to the land of the children of Ammon, and Nahash, king of the children of Ammon, kept him alive. And in the Midrash, further: "You shall not seek their peace and their prosperity" [Deuteronomy 23:7] — you find that anyone who comes to them with the measure of mercy ultimately comes to disgrace. Who is this? It is as it is written, "I will do kindness with Hanun," etc.; ultimately he came to disgrace, and "Hanun took David's servants," etc., and we were forced to fight with four nations: the children of Ammon, Aram-Zobah, Ish-Tob, and the king of Maacah. What caused David all of this? That he sought to do good with those about whom the Holy One, Blessed be He, said, "You shall not seek their peace and their prosperity." The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to David: "You are transgressing My Torah. I wrote, 'You shall not seek their peace and their prosperity,' and you are doing kindness with them. Do not be overly righteous." From here we learn that a person should not waive the Torah.
"to his father." [Functions] like "about/concerning his father"; and so too, "he did not eat on the mountains" [Ezekiel 18:6].
Metzudat David
As David had done etc. Our Sages of blessed memory said (Numbers Rabbah 14:1): that the kindness was that he saved the life of his brother who fled to him from the king of Moab, when he killed his father and his household after he had led them to him from the cave of Adullam, as written in I Samuel (22:1):
Malbim
The questions: Why did he not send messengers to Nahash during his lifetime, and why did Hanun's servants assume that they had come to spy out [dig up] the land?
"I will show kindness"—Israel is warned not to inquire after the welfare of Ammon and Moab. However, it has already been written in the Hagahot Maimuniyyot (Chapter 6 of the Laws of Kings), in the name of the Re'em, that it is permitted to inquire after the welfare of a person who has done one good, in order to return the favor. David did not inquire after the welfare of Nahash during his lifetime, because in that case he would have been compelled to send his envoys there by way of making a covenant with the nation as a whole, and this is forbidden. Rather, now that Nahash had died, he found a way to send comforters; in this case, he was not making a covenant, but merely offering consolation, thereby honoring his deceased father. And he had permission for this on the grounds that it was a way of returning a good deed. Regarding this, he said, "I will show kindness," just as his father had shown kindness to me, and he sent, etc., to console him, etc., for his father, not for himself. Nevertheless, our Sages of blessed memory stated in Midrash Rabbah that David was punished for this. And one can explain that they derived this from the statement, "And the servants of David came to the land of the children of Ammon," because in any case, they appeared to be coming to the land as a whole to inquire after their welfare, and this is forbidden, even though the primary mission was to console Hanun. Therefore, in Chronicles it spells out [the verse] as, "And they came to Hanun to console him."
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord: ‘Think you that David does honour your father, that he has sent comforters to you? has not David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?’
verse value 5185
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 108 letters. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֖, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Ammon" (בְנֵי־עַמּ֜וֹן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 14: David, David. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·Hanun" (אֶל־חָנ֣וּן), "their·lord" (אֲדֹנֵיהֶ֗ם), "is·he·honoring" (הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "his·servants" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שר ("princes·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'comforters', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 10 words.
Rashi
David honors your father in your eyes. Does it appear to you that David honors your father? They are commanded 'You shall not inquire after their peace,' and he will inquire after your peace.
Radak
"He who honors" – You might think that he sent them out of goodwill and to comfort you; [but] he sent them only to spy out the land.
And to turn it over. As the Targum [renders it]: “and to examine.” For one who examines the matter thoroughly turns the issue from one side to the other.
Metzudat David
"Is David honoring [your father], etc., in your eyes?" And do you really think that David honors your father in your eyes because he sent you comforters?
Is it not so? Behold, he sent them only to spy out the land.
Metzudat Zion
And to spy. From the word spy and search.
And to turn it inside out. Jonathan [the Targum] translated: and to examine it, for one who examines something, turns it from side to side.
Malbim
And the princes of the sons of Ammon said: “See, they did not come to make a covenant with the living king, as Hiram had sent to David and to Solomon, but only to comfort him concerning the deceased.” And on this basis they asked: “Does David honor your father in your eyes?”—meaning: If they did not honor him in his lifetime and there was no covenant made with him, how will they honor him in your eyes after his death? For they sent you comforters, not those who made a covenant. This is nothing other than to spy out the city and to scout it, to learn where it is easy to conquer it from there, in order to overthrow it afterwards.
Cross-references: Deuteronomy 1:22; Joshua 2:2; I Chronicles 19:3
So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
verse value 4383
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֣ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "their·garments" (אֶת־מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·he·shaved" (וַיְגַלַּח֙), "half" (אֶת־חֲצִ֣י), "their·beard" (זְקָנָ֔ם). The root חצי appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "servants·of" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel); "and·sent·them·away" (root שלח, 65x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root גלח ("and·he·shaved") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root חצי ("half") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'seat', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 1 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקַּ֨ח [and·took] (124) + חָנ֜וּן [Hanun] (114) + אֶת־עַבְדֵ֣י [servants·of] (487) + דָוִ֗ד [David] (14) + וַיְגַלַּח֙ [and·he·shaved] (57) + אֶת־חֲצִ֣י [half] (509) + זְקָנָ֔ם [their·beard] (197) + וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת [and·he·cut] (636) + אֶת־מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם [their·garments] (506) + בַּחֵ֖צִי [in·the·middle] (110) + עַ֣ד [until] (74) + שְׁתוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם [seat] (1161) + וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽם [and·sent·them·away] (394) = 4383.
Rashi
Their garments. Their robes.
Their buttocks. The buttocks.
Radak
"Their garments." As its Targum [renders it]: "their clothing," like "medo vad" (a linen garment) — even though they may not share the same root.
"Half." [I.e.,] half of their garments, for up to the buttocks is half of the garment.
"Until their buttocks." Their buttocks, as in "exposed buttocks." And Targum Yonatan translates: "until the place of their sitting," and it is one and the same, for it is the place of shame.
Ralbag
And they shaved off half of their beards. In order to humiliate them, and this is a sign that it was not their custom to shave their beards, for if they shaved their beards it would be possible for them to remove the shame from themselves by shaving what remained of their beards.
And they cut their garments in half, to their buttocks. I think that he called their garments 'madveihem' -- the underwear with which they cover the buttocks, the nakedness, and its filth. And he called them 'madveihem' because of the filth in them from those places from which the natural residues are expelled. And from this matter the menstruating woman is called 'davah' (ailing), because of the residue that is expelled from her at that time. And the explanation of this statement is that he already cut the underwear in half until their buttocks were revealed, and thus he left them with their nakedness exposed and their buttocks bared. And this is a sign that he did not leave them garments with which to cover their nakedness, except that they escaped from this shame by wearing other garments to cover their nakedness. But from the matter of the shaving of their beards, they did not escape until their beards grew.
Metzudat David
By half. In half their length, which is until their buttocks:
Metzudat Zion
Their garments. Their clothing, as (I Samuel 17:38): and Saul dressed... his garments.
And their buttocks. They are the buttocks, which are at the middle of the garment, and its parallel is (Isaiah 20:4): 'with buttocks bared.'
Malbim
"And he shaved half their beards." Abarbanel explains that he did so because their coming was good in one respect, according to their words, in that they came to console him; and bad in another respect, according to their intent, in that they came to spy out the land. Therefore, he gave them half their punishment: he shaved half their beards and cut half of their garments, for the beard and the long garment were a mark of dignity and honor in those days.
Cross-references: Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 41:5; I Chronicles 19:4
When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said: ‘Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.’
verse value 3963
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "very" (מְאֹ֑ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·meet·them" (לִקְרָאתָ֔ם, 6 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·meet·them" (לִקְרָאתָ֔ם), "for·were" (כִּי־הָי֥וּ), "ashamed" (נִכְלָמִ֣ים). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "of·David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'very', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 7 words.
Radak
“Until your beard grows.” He did not say “to shave the other half,” because it was not their custom to shave the beard, even with scissors, but only the mustache, unless due to suffering or mourning, as it says, “those who shave their beards and tear their garments,” for shaving the beard is a disgrace. Rather, such a custom is practiced in these lands where we are.
"Yitzmach." An intransitive verb, from the [pattern formed with a] dagesh; and likewise "ve-sa'arekh tzimeach" — "and your hair had sprouted" [Ezekiel 16:7].
Metzudat David
"And he sent to meet them" – to say to them: "Dwell in Jericho," as stated at the end of the verse. He interrupted [the narrative] to state the reason why they did not come to the king, and he said that they were ashamed; therefore, he sent to meet them.
“And you shall return.” To your homes.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob, and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
verse value 7757
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 112 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Ammon" (בְנֵי־עַמּ֡וֹן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 311: man, man. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "became·odious" (נִבְאֲשׁ֖וּ), "and·they·hired" (וַיִּשְׂכְּרוּ֩), "Beth-rehob" (בֵּית־רְח֜וֹב). The root אלף appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root מעכה ("Maacah") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·David', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 19 words.
Radak
They became loathsome. They became detestable, as a person detests a loathsome thing.
Metzudat Zion
They stank. They became despised, like a foul-smelling thing [is despised].
And Ish-tob. [Meaning] the men of Ish-tob, and it [Tob] is the name of the lord of the land, and so (Judges 11:3): 'and he dwelt in the land of Tob.'
Malbim
And they hired the Arameans of Beth-Rehob; and in Chronicles they are called Aram Naharaim. Here it says twenty thousand foot soldiers and Ish-tob twelve thousand men. And in Chronicles it says that they hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah. One must say that the foot soldiers matched the number of chariots, and here the foot soldiers are mentioned, while there the chariots are mentioned.
Cross-references: Judges 11:3; I Samuel 13:4; I Chronicles 19:6
And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
verse value 2029
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֑ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "Joab" (אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב, 6 letters). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel); "and·he·sent" (root שלח, 65x in II Samuel). 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) + דָּוִ֑ד [David] (14) + וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ [and·he·sent] (354) + אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב [Joab] (420) + וְאֵ֥ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־הַצָּבָ֖א [all·the·host] (148) + הַגִּבֹּרִֽים [the·mighty·men] (260) = 2029.
Radak
"And all the mighty army." Like "the people of war," or alternatively, the army and the mighty men.
And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate; and the Arameans of Zobah, and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
verse value 3269
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "son" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·men·of·Tob" (וְאִֽישׁ־ט֣וֹב, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·Aram" (וַאֲרַ֨ם), "and·Rehob" (וּרְחוֹב֙), "and·men·of·Tob" (וְאִֽישׁ־ט֣וֹב). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·men·of·Tob" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "son" (root בן, 76x in II Samuel); "and·went·out" (root יצא, 44x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root ערך ("and·they·arrayed") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root פתח ("opening") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'gate', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ [and·went·out] (113) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + עַמּ֔וֹן [Ammon] (166) + וַיַּעַרְכ֥וּ [and·they·arrayed] (312) + מִלְחָמָ֖ה [battle] (123) + פֶּ֣תַח [opening] (488) + הַשָּׁ֑עַר [gate] (575) + וַאֲרַ֨ם [and·Aram] (247) + צוֹבָ֤א [Zoba] (99) + וּרְחוֹב֙ [and·Rehob] (222) + וְאִֽישׁ־ט֣וֹב [and·men·of·Tob] (334) + וּמַעֲכָ֔ה [and·Maachah] (141) + לְבַדָּ֖ם [to·their·alone] (76) + בַּשָּׂדֶֽה [in·the·field] (311) = 3269.
Radak
And "Rechov." Its meaning is: Aram-Rechov and Aram-Zobah, which are mentioned; the singular term stands in place of two.
And Maacah. Aram-Maacah or the king of Maacah:
"Levadam" (by themselves): To teach that the king of the children of Ammon and all of them were inside [the city], and they came out to array for battle; and these [were] the Arameans who were hired and mentioned, who were in the field to array for battle against Israel as well. And when Joab and the army came to the gate, and the children of Ammon came out, the children of Ammon were before him [in front], and the Arameans who were in the field were behind him.
Metzudat David
The entrance of the gate. Opposite the entrance of the gate of their city:
Malbim
And the Ammonites came out, as is explained in Chronicles: "the kings encamped before Medeba," which is on the border of Moab. And the Ammonites gathered from their cities before the royal city of Rabbah and arrayed for battle at the entrance of the gate, for out of weakness they did not want to array in the open field, but only to take refuge in the fortress. If so, the camp of the kings was far from the camp of the Ammonites, and this is what is written: "and Aram Zobah, etc., by themselves in the field"—meaning, separate from the Ammonites. And this is what is written:
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 4386
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 75 letters. Verse gematria: 4386 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "face" (פְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·was" (כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 226: and·chose, youth. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "that·was" (כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה), "from·face" (מִפָּנִ֖ים), "and·from·backward" (וּמֵאָח֑וֹר). The root פנים appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel); "from·all" (root כל, 95x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root בחר ("and·chose") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·from·backward', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Radak
"For the battle line was against him." It says "hayetah" (fem.) in reference to the battle, even though it mentions "panim" (face); and similarly: "the bow of the mighty is broken," "the voice of the commanders is hushed." And the meaning of "the face of the mighty" is that they are the face of the battle, who go in front. And so Targum Yonatan renders: "ari teqifu alohi avdei qerava" — "for the men of war prevailed against him."
"Bachurei." With a shva under the bet, and it belongs to the "light" [pattern]; and "bachurei Yisrael" confirms this. And likewise "bachurim," which has a patach under the bet, belongs to the "dagesh" [heavy] pattern.
Metzudat David
Facing the battle. Facing the men of battle:
Malbim
The questions: Why did he take hold of the other side, and "I will go":
And Joab saw that the battle-line was against him from the front and from the rear; this means that he was afraid to advance to Rabbah and fight the Ammonites at the entrance of the gate, for then the kings would come upon him from behind, and he would be caught between two strong camps, for the kings were strong in their own right, and the Ammonites were strong because they were near the fortress. Therefore, it was his wisdom to fight the kings first at Medeba, so that the Ammonites would not go out to assist them. He divided his camp and placed the weaker part of the people in the hand of Abishai, so that if the Ammonites came out into the field, they would be sufficient to defeat them. Nevertheless, they stood only as a guard and did not separate from the camp, and they were also prepared against Aram, for it was reasonable to assume that the Ammonites would remain in their place. Regarding this, he said, "If Aram proves too strong for me, you shall be my salvation," meaning that since you are here, you will save me. And he said that afterward, when Abishai goes against the Ammonites, if he sees that they are strong, he will go with him to save him. Regarding this, he said, "and I will go."
and the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother, and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.
verse value 3251
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·arrayed" (וַיַּעֲרֹ֕ךְ, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "remainder" (יֶ֣תֶר), "Abishai" (אַבְשַׁ֣י). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·people" (root עם, 90x in II Samuel); "son" (root בן, 76x in II Samuel); "in·hand·of" (root יד, 47x in II Samuel). 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 [gave] (500) + בְּיַ֖ד [in·hand·of] (16) + אַבְשַׁ֣י [Abishai] (313) + אָחִ֑יו [his·brother] (25) + וַיַּעֲרֹ֕ךְ [and·he·arrayed] (306) + לִקְרַ֖את [to·meet] (731) + בְּנֵ֥י [son] (62) + עַמּֽוֹן [Ammon] (166) = 3251.
Radak
"By the hand of Abishai." The bet has a shva. And in the Masorah, [in this book] there is no other [instance] like it; and all [occurrences] in Chronicles are like it.
And he said: ‘If the Arameans be too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
verse value 3529
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִּ֖י, 2 letters) and the longest is "if·is·strong" (אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֤ק, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 421: for·salvation, to·save. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "if·is·strong" (אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֤ק), "and·it·will·be" (וְהָיִ֥תָה), "for·salvation" (לִישׁוּעָ֑ה). The root חזק appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "and·it·will·be" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "and·I·will·walk" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אם ("and·if·sons·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·salvation', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֤ק [if·is·strong] (556) + אֲרָם֙ [Aram] (241) + מִמֶּ֔נִּי [from·me] (140) + וְהָיִ֥תָה [and·it·will·be] (426) + לִּ֖י [to·me] (40) + לִישׁוּעָ֑ה [for·salvation] (421) + וְאִם־בְּנֵ֤י [and·if·sons·of] (109) + עַמּוֹן֙ [Ammon] (166) + יֶחֶזְק֣וּ [they·may·be·strong] (131) + מִמְּךָ֔ [from·you] (100) + וְהָלַכְתִּ֖י [and·I·will·walk] (471) + לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַֽ [to·save] (421) + לָֽךְ [to·you] (50) = 3529.
Radak
"And it shall be to Me for salvation." With a deficient yod, which is in the place of the lamed of the verb from the writing:
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 1979
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "be·strong" (חֲזַ֤ק, 3 letters) and the longest is "behind·with" (בְּעַד־עַמֵּ֔נוּ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "be·strong" (חֲזַ֤ק), "and·let·us·strengthen·ourselves" (וְנִתְחַזַּק֙), "behind·with" (בְּעַד־עַמֵּ֔נוּ). The root חזק appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·Hashem" (root יהוה, 151x in II Samuel); "will·do" (root עשה, 79x in II Samuel); "our·God" (root אלהים, 51x in II Samuel). 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) + וְנִתְחַזַּק֙ [and·let·us·strengthen·ourselves] (571) + בְּעַד־עַמֵּ֔נוּ [behind·with] (242) + וּבְעַ֖ד [and·for] (82) + עָרֵ֣י [cities·of] (280) + אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ [our·God] (102) + וַֽיהֹוָ֔ה [and·Hashem] (32) + יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה [will·do] (385) + הַטּ֖וֹב [the·good] (22) + בְּעֵינָֽיו [in·his·eyes] (148) = 1979.
Radak
“On behalf of our people.” That they should not be subject to the sword or to captivity.
"And concerning the cities of our God": This means that our enemies should not conquer them and dwell in them. If they were to gain strength over us and defeat us, and if they were to do so, then they would no longer be the cities of our God, but rather the cities of other gods.
"And the Lord will do what is good in His eyes." We shall strengthen ourselves with all our strength for the battle, and the Lord will do what is good in His eyes, for the salvation belongs to the Lord.
Ralbag
Strengthen yourselves and be valiant for our people. We learn from this that it is not fitting to rely on a miracle, but rather a person should make an effort in his salvation as far as is possible, and then God will help, for God does not renew miracles except in necessary places, as we have mentioned many times.
Metzudat David
"Be strong and let us be strengthened." You be strong, and the people who are with you; and we too shall be strengthened.
“Concerning our people.” That they not go into captivity.
“And concerning the cities, etc.” – So that the enemy will not conquer them.
"And the Lord will do that which is good in His eyes..." This means: If despite all our efforts we do not succeed, the Lord will do that which is good in His eyes, and we will accept it with love.
Malbim
"Be strong" – he commanded him to strengthen himself: A. for the sake of the people of God; B. for the sake of the cities of our God, for if the enemy strengthens himself, he will go to destroy the cities of the Land of Israel. And by this he made known that God's salvation requires two preparations: A. the natural preparation, and our Sages of blessed memory said that of the four things that require strengthening is derekh eretz (proper conduct), as it is stated, "Be strong and let us strengthen ourselves"; B. the intellectual preparation, for the sake of God's Name, and regarding this he said, "for the sake of our God." And then God, if it is good in His eyes, will act to help according to the fitting preparation.
So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh to the battle against the Arameans; and they fled before him.
verse value 1790
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·battle" (לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·approached" (וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ), "from·his·face" (מִפָּנָֽיו). The root עם appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel); "and·the·people" (root עם, 90x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Aram', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ [and·approached] (319) + יוֹאָ֗ב [Joab] (19) + וְהָעָם֙ [and·the·people] (121) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + עִמּ֔וֹ [with] (116) + לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה [to·the·battle] (153) + בַּאֲרָ֑ם [in·Aram] (243) + וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ [and·they·fled] (132) + מִפָּנָֽיו [from·his·face] (186) = 1790.
Malbim
And Joab approached. And indeed, it was so that Joab advanced first to engage the kings in battle in the field, and through this, the sons of Ammon also fled.
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Arameans were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
verse value 3077
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "saw" (רָאוּ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "Jerusalem" (יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 166: Ammon, Ammon. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "for·fled" (כִּֽי־נָ֣ס). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·came" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "from·upon" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
And when the Arameans saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
verse value 1517
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·were·gathered" (וַיֵּאָסְפ֖וּ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "was·struck" (נִגַּ֖ף). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel); "Israel" (root ישראל, 77x in II Samuel); "to·face·of" (root פנים, 68x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֣רְא [and·saw] (217) + אֲרָ֔ם [Aram] (241) + כִּ֥י [for] (30) + נִגַּ֖ף [was·struck] (133) + לִפְנֵ֣י [to·face·of] (170) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַיֵּאָסְפ֖וּ [and·they·were·gathered] (163) + יָֽחַד [together] (22) = 1517.
Metzudat David
And they were gathered together. Thinking that with a large multitude they would be victorious:
And Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Arameans that were beyond the River; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadadezer at their head.
verse value 4011
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁר֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "Hadarezer" (הֲדַדְעֶ֗זֶר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 290: Hadarezer, Hadarezer. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "from·beyond·of" (מֵעֵ֣בֶר), "stream" (הַנָּהָ֔ר), "Helam" (חֵילָ֑ם). The root הדדעזר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "before·them" (root פנים, 68x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Helam', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח [and·he·sent] (354) + הֲדַדְעֶ֗זֶר [Hadarezer] (290) + וַיֹּצֵ֤א [and·he·went·out] (107) + אֶת־אֲרָם֙ [Aram] (642) + אֲשֶׁר֙ [that] (501) + מֵעֵ֣בֶר [from·beyond·of] (312) + הַנָּהָ֔ר [stream] (260) + וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ [and·they·came] (25) + חֵילָ֑ם [Helam] (88) + וְשׁוֹבַ֛ךְ [and·Shobach] (334) + שַׂר־צְבָ֥א [captain·of·host·of] (593) + הֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר [Hadarezer] (290) + לִפְנֵיהֶֽם [before·them] (215) = 4011.
Rashi
Shobach, commander of the army of Hadadezer. Because of the fact that he was very mighty and cruel, he mentioned him by his name.
Radak
"Shobach." And in Chronicles it is written "Shophach." The letter bet and the letter pe are close in point of articulation, and they come from the same place of articulation. So too with [the words] "bazar" and "pazar."
And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
verse value 3791
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרָם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·Israel" (אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 9 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Helam" (חֵלָ֑אמָה). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·came" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "with" (root עם, 90x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Helam', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיֻּגַּ֣ד [and·it·was·told] (23) + לְדָוִ֗ד [of·David] (44) + וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף [and·he·gathered] (157) + אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [all·Israel] (992) + וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר [and·passed·over] (288) + אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן [Jordan] (670) + וַיָּבֹ֖א [and·came] (19) + חֵלָ֑אמָה [Helam] (84) + וַיַּעַרְכ֤וּ [and·they·arrayed] (312) + אֲרָם֙ [Aram] (241) + לִקְרַ֣את [to·meet] (731) + דָּוִ֔ד [David] (14) + וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ [and·they·fought] (100) + עִמּֽוֹ [with] (116) = 3791.
Radak
"Chelamah." It is Chelam, mentioned [above], and the heh is like the heh of Mitzraymah, and the aleph is added for the sake of prolongation.
And the Arameans fled before Israel; and David slew of the Arameans seven hundred drivers of chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there.
verse value 5878
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 75 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָֽׁם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·forty" (וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·fled" (וַיָּ֣נׇס), "and·he·slew" (וַיַּהֲרֹ֨ג), "and·forty" (וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים). The root ארם appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·he·died" (root מות, 78x in II Samuel); "Israel" (root ישראל, 77x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'horsemen', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Radak
Seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen. And in Chronicles it says: seven thousand chariots and forty thousand footmen. What is meant by what is stated in this book, “seven hundred chariots,” is that it refers to elite chariots, and it did not count the other chariots. In Chronicles, however, it counted all the chariots, which were seven thousand. In this book, it counted the horsemen but did not count the footmen, whereas there it counted the footmen but did not count the horsemen.
"Commander of his host." The commander of the host of Hadadezer, mentioned above.
Malbim
"Seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen," whereas in Chronicles it says "seven thousand chariots and forty thousand footmen." Now, what is stated here, "seven hundred chariots," is explained by what was stated above (8:4), and what is written, "forty thousand horsemen," is explained by what was stated above (verse 6).
And when all the kings that were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
verse value 4740
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 84 letters. Notable word values: "slave" (עַבְדֵ֣י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·kings" (כׇֽל־הַמְּלָכִ֜ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 223: and·they·saw, and·they·saw. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "all·the·kings" (כׇֽל־הַמְּלָכִ֜ים), "they·were·struck" (נִגְּפוּ֙), "and·made·peace" (וַיַּשְׁלִ֥מוּ). The root עבד appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·the·kings" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel); "slave" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·served·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
The servants of Hadadezer. Meaning: those subject to his command:
Ralbag