2 Chronicles 23:21 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כָל־ עַם־ הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהָעִ֣יר שָׁקָ֑טָה וְאֶת־ עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ הֵמִ֥יתוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃ ס
BSAand allkôl [the entire nation, every person] the peopleʻam of the landʼerets [the territory, the earth] rejoicedsâmach▸ [to be glad, celebrate with joy] And the cityʻîyr [a place with walls, a settlement] was quietshâqaṭ■ [at peace, still] because AthaliahʻĂthalyâh [afflicted of the Lord] had been put tomûwth■ the swordchereb [killed with a cutting instrument, slain]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ | and they rejoiced | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כָל־ | all | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| עַם־ | [the] people of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הָאָ֖רֶץ | the land | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְהָעִ֣יר | and the city | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| שָׁקָ֑טָה | it was at peace | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ | Athaliah | Noun proper feminine |
| הֵמִ֥יתוּ | they had put to death | Verb, Hiphil, perfect third person common plural |
| בֶחָֽרֶב׃ ס | with the sword | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword. |
| KJV | And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword. |
| ASV | So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athaliah they had slain with the sword. |
| YLT | And all the people of the land rejoice, and the city hath been quiet, and Athaliah they have put to death by the sword. |
| WEB | So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword. |
| BBE | So all the people of the land were glad and the town was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death with the sword. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of שָׂמַח — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the people's rejoicing, followed by a subordinate clause that describes the state of the city and another that provides the reason for this joy.
3 commentators on this verse
Trapp, AdamClarke, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂמַח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 23:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Restoration of Judahgenerated
2 Chronicles 23:21 describes a moment of celebration for the people of Judah after the downfall of Athaliah. This event marks a significant turning point, restoring peace to the city and the nation. The surrounding verses detail the actions taken by Jehoiada and the people to restore rightful leadership and worship in the temple, reflecting a collective return to faithfulness and order.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 11:20 | and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace. |
| 2 | Psalm 58:10–11 | The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. |
| 3 | Proverbs 11:10 | When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. |
| 4 | Revelation 18:20 | Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her. |
| 5 | Revelation 19:1–4 | After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׂמַח, vai.yis.me.Chugenerated
The verb שָׂמַח (samach) is a Qal form meaning 'to rejoice' or 'to be glad.' It conveys a sense of joy that can be both personal and communal, often in a religious context. The parsing indicates it is a sequential imperfect verb, suggesting ongoing or repeated action — in this case, the collective rejoicing of the people.
This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often associated with celebrations or significant religious events, such as the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:66. The joy expressed here is a response to a pivotal event, marking a new beginning for the nation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ (vai.yis.me.Chu, and they rejoiced) governs the sentence, with two clauses following: one describing the state of the city and the other detailing the action taken against Athaliah. The structure emphasizes the joy of the people as a direct response to the events unfolding.
The sentence flows from the collective action of the people to the resulting peace in the city, highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship between the removal of Athaliah and the rejoicing of the people.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb שָׂמַח is rendered as ηὐφράνθη (euphranthē), which conveys a similar sense of joy and celebration. This choice reflects a consistent interpretation of the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the communal aspect of their rejoicing.
The use of ηὐφράνθη suggests a focus on the emotional state of the people, aligning with the Hebrew context of rejoicing in victory and peace.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Chronicles 23:21 tells us that all the people of the land rejoiced because Athaliah had been put to death. This moment brought peace to the city, marking a time of celebration and relief for the people of Judah.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The people rejoiced because they were relieved and happy that Athaliah, a tyrant, was no longer in power, allowing for a return to peace and order.
The city was quiet because the threat posed by Athaliah was removed, leading to a time of peace and stability.
This event marks a turning point for Judah, restoring rightful leadership and worship, and signifies a return to faithfulness to God.
This verse highlights the restoration of order and worship in Judah, a central theme throughout 2 Chronicles, emphasizing the importance of righteous leadership.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond to moments of victory and joy in my life?
- What can I learn from the people's reaction to Athaliah's downfall?
- In what ways can I contribute to peace in my community?
- How does understanding the historical context of this event enhance my appreciation of the text?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 23:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Chronicles 23:21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.Ver. 21. And all the people of the land rejoiced.] So, and much more shall the whole community of God’ s people do, when the whore of Rome is executed by Christ, the true Jehoiada, who shall throw her out of the temple, and burn her with fire, because she hath slain the seed royal, put down kings at her pleasure, usurped the government of the Church, set up altars and images to Baalim, called such traitors as seek to set the crown upon Christ’ s head, &c. But how impudent and ungrateful was Rhiston the Jesuit, who being condemned to die, and yet pardoned by…
Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 23 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. The city was quiet] There was no attempt at a counter-revolution. Concerning the coronation of Joash, there is a curious circumstance mentioned by the Targumist on 2 Chronicles 23:11, it is as follows: - "And they brought forth the son of the king, and put on him the royal crown which David took from the head of the king of the children of Ammon. In it was inserted the precious attracting stone, in which was engraven and expressed the great and honourable NAME [יהוה] which David had placed there by the Holy Spirit: and it was of the weight of a talent of gold; it was therefore a testimony to the house of David that no king who was not of the seed of David should be able to put it…
Read AdamClarke on 2 Chronicles 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21. after that they had slain] R.V. and they slew.
Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword.
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.
All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah.
Tyndale line
And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athaliah they had slain with the sword.
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword.
And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
Then all the people of the land reioyced, and the citie was quiet, after that they had slaine Athaliah with the sword.
Strictly literal
And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet; and they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
And all the people of the land rejoice, and the city hath been quiet, and Athaliah they have put to death by the sword.
And all the people of the land rejoice, and the city has been quiet, and they have put Athaliah to death by the sword.
And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet; but 'Athalyahu they had slain with the sword.
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. As for Athaliah, they had killed her with the sword.
From the Latin
And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: but Athalia was slain with the sword.
Simplified
All throughout the land people celebrated, and Jerusalem was at peace, because Athaliah had been killed by the sword.
So all the people of the land were glad and the town was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all ten words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the events described and the significance of the people's response.
וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כָל־ עַם־ הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהָעִ֣יר שָׁקָ֑טָה וְאֶת־ עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ הֵמִ֥יתוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃ ס
10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 23:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׂמַח (samach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad. It can express joy in everyday life, religious contexts, or even exultation. The verb has different forms: Qal (to rejoice), Piel (to cause to rejoice), and Hiphil (to make glad). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to joy and merriment.
שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ 154 vb. rejoice, be glad
Qal 126
in common life
rejoice religiously
subj. י׳
Pi. cause to rejoice, gladden
Hiph. = Pi.
base
H8055 שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ rejoice, be glad
8055 samach saw-makh'
a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e.
(figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or
gleesome:--cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful),
be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
שָׂמַח (sa.mach) — to rejoice.
1) to rejoice, be glad
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rejoice
1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at)
1a3) to rejoice (religiously)
1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
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)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. 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)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
((1) 'erets;
(2) 'adhamah;
(3) sadheh,
"a piece of land";
(4) ge, "earth";
(5) agros, "field";
(6) chora, "region";
(7) chorion, diminutive of chora;
(8) xeros, "dry land";
(9) 'ezrach, "native" the King James Version "born in the land," "born among you," the Revised Version (British and American) "home-born" (Le 19:34; 14:16; Nu 15:30); "like a green tree in its native soil" (Ps 37:35)):
→ Appeared on the third creative day Ge 1:9
→ Original title to, from God Ge 13:14-17; 15:7; Ex 23:31; Le 25:23
→ Bought and sold Ge 23:3-18; 33:19; Ac 4:34; 5:1-8
→ Sale and redemption of, laws concerning Le 25:15,16,23-33; 27:17-24; Nu 36:4; Jer 32:7-16,25,44; Eze 46:18
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
Conj | Art | N-fs — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Td/Ncfsa
sit'-i (`ir, qiryah; polis):
I. THE CANAANITE CITY
1. Origin
2. Extent
3. Villages
4. Sites
5. External Appearance
6. General
II. THE CITY OF THE JEWISH OCCUPATION
1. Tower or Stronghold
2. High Place
3. Broad Place
4. Streets
5. General Characteristics
III. STORE CITIES
IV. LEVITICAL CITIES
LITERATURE
I. The Canaanite City.
1. Origin:
The development of the Canaanite city has been traced by Macalister in his report on the excavation at Gezer (Palestine Exploration Fund Statement, 1904, 108 ff). It originated on the slopes of a bare rocky spur, in which the Neolithic Troglodytes quarried their habitations out of the solid rock, the stones therefrom being used to form a casing to the earthen ramparts, with which the site was afterwards surrounded and which served as a protection against the intrusion of enemies. Later Semitic intruders occupied the site, stone houses were built, and high stone defense…
City
The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities of the Canaanites, Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, etc. (10:12, 19; 11:3, 9; 36:31-39). The earliest description of a city is that of Sodom (19:1-22). Damascus is said to be the oldest existing city in the world. Before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt (Num. 13:22). The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of their own in Goshen (Gen.…
The towns and cities of Palestine were commonly built on heights, for better security against robbers or invaders. These heights, surrounded by walls, sometimes formed the entire city. In other cases, the citadel alone crowned the hill, around and at the base of which the town was built; and in time of danger the surrounding population all took refuge in the fortified place. Larger towns and cities were often not only defended by strong outer walls, with towers and gates, but by a citadel or castle within these limits-a last resort when the rest of the city was taken, Jud 9:46,51. The "fenced cities" of the Jews, De 3:5, were of various sizes and degrees of strength; some being surrounded by high and thick stone walls, and others by feebler ramparts, often of clay or sun-dried…
שָׁקַט (shaqat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be quiet or undisturbed. It encompasses a range of meanings including tranquility, inactivity, and rest, and can refer to both people and land. The Hiphil form indicates causing quietness or showing quietness. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁקַט vb. be quiet, undisturbed
Qal be quiet, undisturbed
of land, at peace
be quiet, inactive
Hiph.
shew quietness (inner causat.), of men
cause quietness
base
H8252 שָׁקַט be quiet, undisturbed .be quiet, undisturbed . of land, at peace
. be quiet, inactive
. . shew quietness (inner causat.), of men
. cause quietness
8252 shaqat shaw-kat'
a primitive root; to repose (usually figurative):--appease,
idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet(-ness), (be at, be
in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still.
שָׁקַט (sha.qat) — to quiet.
1) to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be quiet, be undisturbed
1a1a) to be at peace (of land)
1a2) to be quiet, be inactive
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to show quietness
1b1a) quietness, display of quietness (subst)
1b2) to quiet, be quiet
1b3) to cause quietness, pacify, allay
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
pes (shalom; eirene):
1. In the Old Testament:
Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. In Ps 122:7, we have "peace" and "prosperity," and in 35:27; 73:3, shalom is translated "prosperity." In 2Sa 11:7 the King James Version, David asked of Uriah "how Joab did" (margin "of the peace of Joab"), "and how the people did (the Revised Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"), and…
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
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):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
The Hebrew word עֲתַלְיָ֫ה (*'Athalyah*) refers to Athaliah, a significant figure in the Old Testament. She is described as the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the wife of King Jehoram of Judah, known for her ruthless actions against the royal family. The name means "afflicted of the Lord" and is associated with both a queen and a man from the tribe of Benjamin. The entries indicate her complex role in the history of Judah.
H6271 עֲתַלְיָ֫ה(וּ), עַתְלָ֑י
6271 `Athalyah ath-al-yaw'
or mAthalyahuw {ath-al-yaw'-hoo}; from the same as 6270 and
3050; Jah has constrained; Athaljah, the name of an
Israelitess and two Israelites:--Athaliah.
see HEBREW for 06270
see HEBREW for 03050
עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ (a.tal.yah) — Athaliah.
A queen living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.8.26;
daughter of: Ahab (H0256);
sister of: Joash (H3101H), Ahaziah (H0274) and Joram (H3141H); married to Jehoram (H3088);
mother of: Ahaziah (H0274H) and Jehosheba (H3089)
§ Athaliah = "afflicted of the Lord"
1) son of Jeroham of the tribe of Benjamin
2) father of Jeshaiah of the sons of Elam who was one of the heads of a family who returned with Ezra from exile
3) the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the wife of king Jehoram of Judah; killer of all the members of the royal family of Judah with the exception of one baby named Joash who was hidden by the high priest Jehoiada until 6 years had passed and Jehoiada led the revolution to put him on the throne, overthrowing Athaliah and putting her to death
עֲתַלְיָ֫הוּ (a.tal.yah) — Athaliah.
N-proper — Noun proper feminineHNpf
ath-a-li'-a (`athalyah; meaning uncertain, perhaps, "whom Yahweh has afflicted"; 2Ki 8:26; 11; 2Ch 22, 23):
1. Relationship:
(1) Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, grand-daughter of Omri, 6th king of Israel. In her childhood the political relations of the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel had, after many years of strife, become friendly, and she was married to Jehoram, eldest son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (2Ki 8:18). The marriage was one of political expediency, and is a blot on the memory of Jehoshaphat.
2. Athaliah as Queen:
When Jehoram was 32 years of age, he succeeded to the throne, and Athaliah became queen of Judah. She inherited her mother's strength of will, and like her developed a fanatical devotion to the cult of the Zidonian Baal. Elijah's blow at the worship of Baal in…
Athaliah
Whom God afflicts. (1.) The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and the wife of Jehoram, king of Judah (2 Kings 8:18), who “walked in the ways of the house of Ahab” (2 Chr. 21:6), called “daughter” of Omri (2 Kings 8:26). On the death of her husband and of her son Ahaziah, she resolved to seat herself on the vacant throne. She slew all Ahaziah’s children except Joash, the youngest (2 Kings 11:1,2). After a reign of six years she was put to death in an insurrection (2 Kings 11:20; 2 Chr. 21:6; 22:10-12; 23:15), stirred up among the people in connection with Josiah’s…
(afflicted of the Lord) daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, married Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah and introduced into that kingdom the worship of Baal. (B.C. 891.) After the great revolution by which Jehu seated himself on the throne of Samaria she killed all the members of the royal family of Judah who had escaped his sword. (2 Kings 11:1) From the slaughter one infant, named Joash, the youngest son of Ahaziah, was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba wife of Jehoiada, (2 Chronicles 23:11) the high priest. (2 Chronicles 24:6) The child was brought up under Jehoiada’s care, and concealed in the temple for six years, during which period Athaliah reigned over Judah. At length Jehoiada thought it time to produce the lawful king…
A granddaughter of Omri, 2Ch 22:2, and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, 2Ki 11:1. Strangely enough, she was chosen as the wife of Jehoram, son of the pious Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Her pernicious influence drew into idolatry and crime both her husband and her son Ahaziah, 2Ch 21:6 22:3. After their premature death, she usurped the throne, and sought to secure herself in it by the murder of all the seed royal. Only Joash her grandson, then an infant, was saved by his aunt Jehosheba. Six years afterwards he was brought from his place of refuge, and crowned by the bold and faithful high priest Jehoiada, who at the same time caused the blood-stained Athaliah to be put to death, 2Ki…
מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.
מוּת vb. die
Qal
die, of natural or other causes
die as a penalty = be put to death
Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
Hiph.
abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
subj. God, by inflicting penalty
of animals killing men
bring to a premature death
Hoph. be killed, put to death
base
H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes
. die as a penalty = be put to death
. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
. subj. God, by inflicting penalty
. of animals killing men
. bring to a premature death
. be killed, put to death
4191 muwth mooth
a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);
causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,
man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,
be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,
slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
מוּת (mut) — to die.
1) to die, kill, have one executed
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to die
1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)
1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch
1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be killed, be put to death
1d1a) to die prematurely
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common pluralHVhp3cp
(maweth; thanatos):
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW
The word "Death" is used in the sense of
(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);
(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);
(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);
(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;
Death
May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).
(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).
(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).
(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).
(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;
Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.
חֶ֫רֶב (chereb) means 'sword' and can also refer to other cutting instruments like knives and tools. It is derived from a root meaning 'drought,' highlighting its destructive nature. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote weapons.
חֶ֫רֶב 411 n.f. sword (as weapon)
base
H2719 חֶ֫רֶב sword (as weapon)
2719 chereb kheh'-reb
from 2717; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its
destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp
implement:--axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
see HEBREW for 02717
חֶ֫רֶב (che.rev) — sword.
1) sword, knife
1a) sword
1b) knife
1c) tools for cutting stone
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
sord.
See ARMOR, III, 5.
Sword
Of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex. 32:27; 1 Sam. 31:4; 1 Chr. 21:27; Ps. 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40; 21:3-5).
It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Ps. 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Ps. 57:4; 64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a…
[ARMS, ARMOR]