### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chômesh**, represented by `{{H2570}}`, refers to the **abdomen** or **fifth rib**. According to its base definition, it comes from an unused root word likely meaning to be stout. It is a rare term, appearing only **4 times** in **4 unique verses**, exclusively within narratives of lethal violence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2570}}` consistently designates the target area for a fatal blow. All occurrences are found in the book of 2 Samuel, marking moments of betrayal, revenge, and political assassination. Abner strikes Asahel under the **fifth** rib, killing him [[2 Samuel 2:23]]. In an act of revenge, Joab strikes Abner in the very same spot [[2 Samuel 3:27]]. Later, Rechab and Baanah assassinate Ish-bosheth by striking him under the **fifth** rib [[2 Samuel 4:6]]. Finally, Joab deceptively kills Amasa with a sword to the **fifth** rib, causing his bowels to spill out [[2 Samuel 20:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the context of these violent acts:
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike): This primitive root means to strike, kill, or smite. It is the verb used in all four instances to describe the action taken against the **fifth** rib `{{H2570}}`, signifying a deliberate and deadly attack [[2 Samuel 3:27]].
* `{{H4191}}` **mûwth** (to die): This word means to die or be put to death. It is the immediate and inevitable consequence of being smitten in the **fifth** rib in the provided accounts, as seen when Abner smote Asahel and he died `{{H4191}}` in that place [[2 Samuel 2:23]].
* `{{H4578}}` **mêʻeh** (bowels): Defined as the intestines or abdomen, this word is anatomically linked to `{{H2570}}`. The strike to the **fifth** rib is shown to be a disemboweling wound when Joab smote Amasa and "shed out his **bowels** to the ground" [[2 Samuel 20:10]].
* `{{H1818}}` **dâm** (blood): This word for blood is often connected to bloodshed and guilt. The killing of Abner was motivated by revenge "for the **blood** of Asahel his brother" [[2 Samuel 3:27]], linking the physical act to the concept of bloodguilt.
### Theological Significance
The theological and narrative weight of `{{H2570}}` is tied to its role in depicting the finality of human violence and betrayal.
* **A Symbol of Lethal Vulnerability:** A strike to the **fifth** rib is portrayed as unequivocally fatal. It is a place of vulnerability where a single blow results in certain death `{{H4191}}`, highlighting the brutal efficiency of the violence described [[2 Samuel 20:10]].
* **The Nexus of Betrayal:** The attacks targeting this area are often marked by deception. Joab lures Abner aside "to speak with him quietly" before striking him [[2 Samuel 3:27]], making the **fifth** rib the focal point of a treacherous act.
* **The Cycle of Retribution:** The use of `{{H2570}}` is directly tied to the theme of retribution. Joab’s attack on Abner under the **fifth** rib mirrors Abner’s earlier killing of Asahel, and is explicitly done "for the blood `{{H1818}}` of Asahel" [[2 Samuel 3:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2570}}` is more than a simple anatomical reference. While it literally means **fifth rib** or **abdomen**, its four appearances in Scripture embed it within a specific and severe context. It functions as a narrative marker for a fatal wound, consistently associated with betrayal, assassination, and the brutal consequences of cycles of revenge. The word powerfully illustrates how violence targets the vulnerable core of a person, leading to an immediate and irreversible end.
TRV