- Oct 2, 2011
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David conquered Rabbah, the royal citadel of the Ammonites in (NIV) 2 Sam 12:
and put [them to work]
וַיָּ֣שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set
with saws,
בַּ֠מְּגֵרָה (bam·mə·ḡê·rāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4050: A saw
King James Bible translated this verse differently:
The original Hebrew could be translated either way. On Biblehub, 17 versions used "work"; 10 used "under".
David did not occupy the Ammonite cities. I think he executed the inhabitants and left.
Parallel account in (NIV) 1 Chronicles 20:
וַיָּ֨שַׂר (way·yā·śar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7787
with saws,
Strong's 4050: A saw
H7787 appeared only once, and its meaning was obscure. On Biblehub, 17 versions used "work", and 18 used "cut."
Both H7760 and H7787 were ambiguous, so translators had to interpret them. I think execution makes a bit more sense.
The Ammonites worked for David.
and put [them to work]
וַיָּ֣שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set
with saws,
בַּ֠מְּגֵרָה (bam·mə·ḡê·rāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4050: A saw
King James Bible translated this verse differently:
The Ammonites were executed.
The original Hebrew could be translated either way. On Biblehub, 17 versions used "work"; 10 used "under".
David did not occupy the Ammonite cities. I think he executed the inhabitants and left.
Parallel account in (NIV) 1 Chronicles 20:
King James Bible:
cut
וַיָּ֨שַׂר (way·yā·śar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7787
with saws,
Strong's 4050: A saw
H7787 appeared only once, and its meaning was obscure. On Biblehub, 17 versions used "work", and 18 used "cut."
Both H7760 and H7787 were ambiguous, so translators had to interpret them. I think execution makes a bit more sense.
