1 Samuel 4:2

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּכּ֤וּ בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כְּאַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃

Transliteration

And wə ya'arkû pəlištîm to-liqra't yiśrā'ēl and wə tiṭṭōš the-milḥāmāh and wə yinnāgep yiśrā'ēl before pənê pəlištîm and wə yakkû in-the-ma'ărākāh in-the-śādeh about-four 'ălāpîm 'îš.

Grammar Details

• *ya'arkû*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural consecutive - they arranged, set in order, drew up
• *liqra't*: preposition + infinitive construct - to meet, against
• *tiṭṭōš*: qal imperfect 3rd feminine singular consecutive - spread out, extended, joined
• *milḥāmāh*: feminine singular noun - battle, war
• *yinnāgep*: niphal imperfect 3rd masculine singular consecutive - was defeated, smitten
• *pənê*: plural construct - face, presence of
• *yakkû*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural consecutive - they struck, killed
• *ma'ărākāh*: feminine singular noun - battle line, arrangement
• *śādeh*: masculine singular noun - field
• *'ălāpîm*: masculine plural noun - thousands
• *'îš*: masculine singular noun - man, men (collective)

Word Meanings

• *ya'arkû*: they arranged, set in order, positioned [themselves]
• *tiṭṭōš*: joined, spread out, was deployed, engaged
• *yinnāgep*: was smitten, was defeated, was struck down
• *yakkû*: they smote, struck down, killed
• *ma'ărākāh*: battle line, battle array, battlefield

Referenced Verses

• Josh 7:5-8 : 5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men; and they chased them [from] before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and dwelt beyond the Jordan! 8 Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies!
• Josh 7:12 : 12 Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed: I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the devoted thing from among you.
• 1 Sam 17:8 : 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
• 1 Sam 17:21 : 21 And Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army.
• Ps 44:9-9 : 9 But now thou hast cast [us] off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts. 10 Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves.
• Ps 79:7-8 : 7 For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation. 8 Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers: Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; For we are brought very low.
• Ps 106:40-41 : 40 Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance. 41 And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.
• Lam 3:40 : 40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.