1 Chronicles 19:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

Complete Jewish Bible:

So Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, cut off their clothes halfway up, at their hips, and then sent them away.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

American Standard Version:

So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Wherefore Hanun^{H2586} took^{H3947} David's^{H1732} servants^{H5650}, and shaved^{H1548} them, and cut off^{H3772} their garments^{H4063} in the midst^{H2677} hard by their buttocks^{H4667}, and sent them away^{H7971}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for 1 Chronicles 19:4

1 Chronicles 19:4 recounts an incident involving the Ammonites and King David of Israel. The verse is part of a larger narrative concerning the relations between these two nations following the death of Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, who had been an ally of David. Nahash's son, Hanun, succeeded him and, influenced by his advisors, decided to show hostility towards David by humiliating his messengers.

In the verse, Hanun orders his servants to shave off half the beards of David's servants and cut their garments in a way that exposed their buttocks. This act was not only a grave insult in the ancient Near Eastern context, where beards were a symbol of honor and cutting them was a sign of disgrace, but it also emasculated and shamed the men by exposing a private part of their bodies. The humiliation of David's men was a deliberate act of provocation, signaling a break in the previously amicable relations between Ammon and Israel.

The historical context of this event is set during the period of David's reign over a united Israel, when he was consolidating his power and expanding his kingdom's influence. The incident led to a military conflict between Israel and Ammon, as David responded to the affront by sending his commander, Joab, to lay siege to the Ammonite capital, Rabbah. This conflict is an example of the complex diplomatic and military maneuvers that characterized the period, as well as the cultural norms and sensitivities regarding honor and shame that played a significant role in the political dynamics of the time.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2586
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָנוּן
   Transliteration: Chânûwn
   Pronunciation: khaw-noon'
   Description: from חָנַן; favored; Chanun, the name of an Ammonite and of two Israelites; Hanun.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5650
   There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶבֶד
   Transliteration: ʻebed
   Pronunciation: eh'-bed
   Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1548
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּלַח
   Transliteration: gâlach
   Pronunciation: gaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be bald, i.e. (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste; poll, shave (off).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3772
   There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּרַת
   Transliteration: kârath
   Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
   Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4063
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶדֶו
   Transliteration: medev
   Pronunciation: meh'-dev
   Description: from an unused root meaning to stretch; properly, extent, i.e. measure; by implication, a dress (as measured); garment.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2677
   There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֵצִי
   Transliteration: chêtsîy
   Pronunciation: khay-tsee'
   Description: from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; the half or middle; half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4667
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִפְשָׂעָה
   Transliteration: miphsâʻâh
   Pronunciation: mif-saw-aw'
   Description: from פָּשַׂע; a stride, i.e. (by euphemism) the crotch; buttocks.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7971
    There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁלַח
    Transliteration: shâlach
    Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).