2 Samuel 12:31
WEB
He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work under saws, under iron picks, under axes of iron, and made them go to the brick kiln; and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
BSB
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
KJV
And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H853
prt — self, even, namely
Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].
mark of the accusative
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
H5971
n-m — people, tribe, troops, attendants, flock
Derivation: from 6004;
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
KJV: folk, men, nation, people.
n.[m.] — kinsman
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
n.m — people
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
1. a people, nation
2. = smaller units
3. = common people
4. people in gen., persons
5. phrases
H834
r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
part. of relation — who
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
adv — in which
בַאֲשֶׁר
a. in (that) which
b. adv. in (the place) where
c. conj. in that, inasmuch as
d. on account of whom?
conj — according as
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
1. according to that which, according as, as
2. with a causal force, in so far as, since
3. with a temporal force, when
adv — who
מֵאֲשֶׁר
a. from (or than) that which
b. adv. from (the place) where
c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H3318
v — go, bring, out
Derivation: a primitive root;
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
KJV: × after, appear, × assuredly, bear out, × begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, × scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, × still, × surely, take forth (out), at any time, × to (and fro), utter.
vb — go out
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
1. go or come out or forth
a. from (מִן) a place
b. go forth from (the presence of) a person
c. in technical senses
d. of flight, involving escape
e. depart
f. of inanimate things
g. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
h. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
2.
a. go forth to a place
b. go forward, proceed to or toward something
c. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
3. of combinations
Hiph.
1. cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
2. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
3. bring out animals
4. inanimate obj.
5. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
H7760
v — put
Derivation: or שִׂים; a primitive root;
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
KJV: × any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, name, × on, ordain, order, paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, stedfastly, take, × tell, tread down, (over-)turn, × wholly, work.
vb — put
שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set
Qal
1.
a. put, set, in a place
b. put something upon
c. put, lay, set
d. put, c. בֵּין
2. set, direct
3.
a. set, ordain, in a place
b. set, establish a law, statute
c. set, found a nation
d. set, appoint (as ruler, official)
e. set, constitute, make
f. set, determine, fix, bounds
4.
a. set, station, at a post
b. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
c. set up altars
d. = plant, wheat
e. set, fix (countenance)
5.
a. make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
b. make, constitute
c. work, bring to pass
d. appoint, give
e. set, fix (countenance)
Hiph. I will make him for a sign
Hoph. there was set before him
H4050
n-f — saw
Derivation: from 1641;
a saw
KJV: axe, saw.
n.f — saw
מְגֵרָה n.f. saw
H2757
n-m — incisure, incised, threshing-sledge, slice
Derivation: or חֲרִץ; from 2782; (compare 2742)
properly, incisure or (passively) incised; hence, a threshing-sledge (with sharp teeth); also a slice (as cut)
KJV: cheese, harrow.
n.m — a cut
[חָרִיץ] n.m. a cut, thing cut, sharp instrument
H1270
n-m — iron, iron implement
Derivation: perhaps from the root of 1269;
iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement
KJV: (ax) head, iron.
n.m — iron
בַּרְזֶל n.m. iron
1. iron, lit.
2. tool of iron
3. iron in fig. of unwatered earth
H4037
n-f — cutting implement, blade
Derivation: from 1504;
a cutting implement, i.e. a blade
KJV: axe.
n.f — cutting instrument
[מַגְזֵרָה] n.f. cutting instrument, axe 2 S 12:31 of David’s treatment of captives
H5674
v — cross, transition, cover
Derivation: a primitive root;
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
KJV: alienate, alter, × at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, shave, cause to (make) sound, × speedily, × sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
vb — pass over
עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on
Qal
1. pass over
2. Pass beyond
3. Pass through, traverse
4.
a. pass along by
b. pass by
c. sweep by, of scourge
d. be past, over, of time
e. pass along (from hand to hand)
5. Pass on, go on
6. Pass away
Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded
Pi.
1. his bull impregnateth
a. cause one to cross river
b. cause something to pass over
c. make over to
d. devote children to (לְ) heathen god
e. pass along (from hand to hand)
2.
a. cause to pass through
b. let pass through
3.
a. cause to pass by
b. let pass by
c. cause arrow to pass beyond
d. cause to pass under rod, for counting
4. cause to pass away, take away
Hiph.
1. cause to pass over, bring over
2. he made to pass across with chains of gold
vb. denom — be arrogant
[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself
H4404
n-m — a brickkiln
Derivation: from 3835 (denominative);
a brickkiln
KJV: brickkiln.
n.[m.] — brick-mould
מַלְבֵּן n.[m.] 1. brick-mould; 2. quadrangle
H3651
adv — set upright, just, rightly, so
Derivation: from 3559;
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)
KJV: after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, (for-) asmuch as yet, be (for which) cause, following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), × the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, × you.
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
adj — right
כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest
1. right
2. veritable, true
3. pl. concr. honest (men)
adv — so
כֵּן adv. so
H6213
v — do, make
Derivation: a primitive root;
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, × certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, feast, (fight-) ing man, finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, hinder, hold (a feast), × indeed, be industrious, journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, × sacrifice, serve, set, shew, × sin, spend, × surely, take, × thoroughly, trim, × very, vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
vb — do
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
I.
1. do (1560 t.)
2. deal with
3. oft. in phr. do kindness with
4. abs. act, act with effect
II.
1. make (670 t.)
2. produce, yield
3. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
4. make offering
5. attend to, put in order
6. observe, celebrate, religious festival
7. acquire property of various kinds
8. appoint priests
9. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
10. use
11. spend, pass, days of life
Niph. 97
1. be done
2.
a. be made, of concr. things
b. be produced from vine
c. be prepared, of food
d. be offered
e. be observed, passover
f. be used
Pu. I was made
vb — press
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
H3605
n-m — whole, all, any, every
Derivation: or (Jeremiah 33:8) כּוֹל; from 3634;
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).
n.m — the whole
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
1. with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
2. Absolutely:
a. without the art., all things, all
b. with the art. הַכֹּל
(a). where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
(b). in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
H5892
n-m — city, waking, encampment, post
Derivation: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from 5782
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
n.f — city
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
1. city, town, abode of men
2. of fortress in a city
3. appar. fortified place, of any size
n.[m.] — excitement
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
H1121
n-m — son
Derivation: from 1129;
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
KJV: afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ( ) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, (young) bullock, (young) calf, × came up in, child, colt, × common, × corn, daughter, × of first, firstborn, foal, very fruitful, postage, × in, kid, lamb, ( ) man, meet, mighty, nephew, old, ( ) people, rebel, robber, × servant born, × soldier, son, spark, steward, stranger, × surely, them of, tumultuous one, valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
n.m — son
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
1. son, male child, born of a woman
2. children (male and female)
3. youth, young men
4. the young of animals
5. of plant shoots
6. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
7.
a. member of a guild, order or class
b. of animals son of (the) herd
8. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
9. n. relat. of age
n.pr.m — his son
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
H5983
n-pr-m — Ammon
Derivation: from 5971; tribal, i.e. inbred;
Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country
KJV: Ammon, Ammonites.
n.pr.gent — Ammon
עַמּוֹן 106 n.pr.gent. Ammon
H7725
v — turn, return, retreat, again
Derivation: a primitive root;
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) × again, (cause to) answer ( again), × in any case (wise), × at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, × certainly, come again (back), × consider, continually, convert, deliver (again), deny, draw back, fetch home again, × fro, get (oneself) (back) again, × give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, × needs, be past, × pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, × surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
vb — turn back
שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return
Qal 683;—turn back, return:
1. turn back
2. return, come or go back
3. esp. return unto
4.
a. of dying
b. of revival from death
5. fig. of human relations:
a. return to leader, king
b. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
c. turn, i.e. resort to
d. return to a physical condition
e. abs. = change course of action
6. fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
a. turn back from God = apostatize
b. of י׳, turn away
c. turn back to God (= seek penitently)
d. abs. repent
e. turn back from evil
f. of י׳
g. of י׳, return (to shew favour)
7. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
8. denoting repetition, etc.
9. trans.
Pō‛l.
1. bring back
2.
a. fig. restore, refresh
b. restore, repair
3. lead away (enticingly)
4. shew turning = apostatize
Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back
1.
a. bring back into bondage
b. put back
c. = draw back
d. = give back, restore
e. = relinguish
f. = give in payment, requital
g. bring one back (from dead)
2.
a. bring back heart
b. = refresh
3. bring back words of people
4.
a. bring back (in retribution) upon
b. pay as recompense
5. turn back, backward = repel, defeat
6.
a. turn away face
b. late, turn toward, acc. face
7. turn against
8. bring back to mind, take into consideration
9.
10. = shew a turning away from your idols (i.e. turn away)
11. reverse, revoke = repel, defeat
Hoph. my money has been returned
H1732
n-pr-m — David
Derivation: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as 1730; loving;
David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV: David.
n.pr.m — David
דָּוִד, דָּוִיד 1066 n.pr.m. David
H3389
n-pr-loc — Jerushalaim, Jerushalem
Derivation: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of 3390)); probably from (the passive participle of) 3384 and 7999; founded peaceful;
Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
KJV: Jerusalem.
n.pr.loc — Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫͏ם, יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם 644 n.pr.loc. Jerusalem
Bible49 app
Get translation compare, commentary, and interlinear study — offline, on iPhone and Mac.
See Bible49
Verses 26–31
2 Samuel 12:26–31
We have here an account of the conquest of Rabbah, and other cities of the Ammonites. Though this comes in here after the birth of David's child, yet it is most probable that it was effected a good while before, and soon after the death of Uriah, perhaps during the days of Bath-sheba's mourning for him. Observe, 1. That God was very gracious in giving David this great success against his enemies, notwithstanding the sin he had been guilty of just at that time when he was engaged in this war, and the wicked use he had made of the sword of the children of Ammon in the murder of Uriah. Justly might he have made that sword, thenceforward, a plague to David and his kingdom; yet he breaks it, and makes David's sword victorious, even before he repents, that this goodness of God might lead him to repentance. Good reason had David to own that God dealt not with him according to his sins, Psa 103:10. 2. That Joab acted very honestly and honourably; for when he had taken the city of waters, the royal city, where the palace was, and from which the rest of the city was supplied with water (and therefore, upon the cutting off of that, would be obliged speedily to surrender), he sent to David to come in person to complete this great action, that he might have the praise of it, Sa2 12:26-28. Herein he showed himself a faithful servant, that sought his master's honour, and his own only in subordination to his, and left an example to the servants of the Lord Jesus, in every thing they do, to consult his honour. Not unto us, but to thy name, give glory. 3. That David was both too haughty and too severe upon this occasion, and neither so humble nor so tender as he should have been. (1.) He seems to have been too fond of the crown of the king of Ammon, Sa2 12:30. Because it was of extraordinary value, by reason of the precious stones with which it was set, David would have it set upon his head, though it would have been better to have cast it at God's feet, and at this time to have put his own mouth in the dust, under guilt. The heart that is truly humbled for sin is dead to worldly glory and looks upon it with a holy contempt. (2.) He seems to have been too harsh with his prisoners of war, Sa2 12:31. Taking the city by storm, after it had obstinately held out against a long and expensive siege, if he had put all whom he found in arms to the sword in the heat of battle, it would have been severe enough; but to kill them afterwards in cold blood, and by cruel tortures, with saws and harrows, tearing them to pieces, did not become him who, when he entered upon the government, promised to sing of mercy as well as judgment, Psa 101:1. Had he made examples of those only who had abused his ambassadors, or advised or assisted in it, that being a violation of the law of nations, it might have been looked upon as a piece of necessary justice for terror to other nations; but to be thus severe with all the cities of the children of Ammon (that is, the garrisons or soldiers of the cities) was extremely rigorous, and a sign that David's heart was not yet made soft by repentance, else the bowels of his compassion would not have been thus shut up - a sign that he had not yet found mercy, else he would have been more ready to show mercy.
Cross-references: Ps 103:10 · 2Sam 12:26 · 2Sam 12:30 · 2Sam 12:31 · Ps 101:1