1 Tawarikh 14:1--21:30
Konteks14:1 King Hiram of Tyre 1 sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, 2 and carpenters to build a palace for him. 14:2 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated 3 his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
14:3 In Jerusalem 4 David married 5 more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 14:4 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, 6 and Eliphelet.
14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed 7 king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. 8 When David heard about it, he marched out against 9 them. 14:9 Now the Philistines had come and raided 10 the Valley of Rephaim. 14:10 David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!” 14:11 So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, 11 God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim. 12 14:12 The Philistines left 13 their idols 14 there, so David ordered that they be burned.
14:13 The Philistines again raided the valley. 14:14 So David again asked God what he should do. 15 This time 16 God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees. 17 14:15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. 18 For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army 19 of the Philistines.” 14:16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
14:17 So David became famous 20 in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him. 21
15:1 David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 15:2 Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually. 15:3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem 22 to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it. 15:4 David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
15:5 From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.
15:6 From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.
15:7 From the descendants of Gershom: 23 Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.
15:8 From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.
15:9 From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.
15:10 From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.
15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 15:12 He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. 15:13 The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.” 24 15:14 The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15:15 The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command.
15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. 25 15:17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, 26 Ethan son of Kushaiah; 15:18 along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, 27 Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 15:20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; 28 15:21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, 29 as led by 30 the director; 15:22 Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; 31 15:23 Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians 32 of the ark; 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians 33 of the ark.
15:25 So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. 15:26 When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 15:27 David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; 34 David also wore a linen ephod. 35 15:28 All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. 15:29 As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him. 36
16:1 They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings 37 before God. 16:2 When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord’s name. 16:3 He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 16:4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. 16:5 Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.
16:7 That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:
16:8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
16:9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
16:10 Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
16:11 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!
Seek his presence 38 continually!
16:12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, 39
16:13 O children 40 of Israel, God’s 41 servant,
you descendants of Jacob, God’s 42 chosen ones!
16:14 He is the Lord our God;
he carries out judgment throughout the earth. 43
16:15 Remember 44 continually his covenantal decree,
the promise he made 45 to a thousand generations –
16:16 the promise 46 he made to Abraham,
the promise he made by oath to Isaac! 47
16:17 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as a lasting promise, 48
16:18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”
16:19 When they were few in number,
just a very few, and foreign residents within it,
16:20 they wandered from nation to nation,
and from one kingdom to another. 49
16:21 He let no one oppress them,
he disciplined kings for their sake,
16:22 saying, 50 “Don’t touch my anointed ones!
Don’t harm my prophets!”
16:23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Announce every day 51 how he delivers!
16:24 Tell the nations about his splendor,
tell 52 all the nations about his miraculous deeds!
16:25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,
he is more awesome than 53 all gods.
16:26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, 54
but the Lord made the heavens. 55
16:27 Majestic splendor emanates from him, 56
he is the source of strength and joy. 57
16:28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!
16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! 58
Bring an offering and enter his presence!
Worship the Lord in holy attire! 59
16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is established, it cannot be moved.
16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy!
Let the nations say, 60 ‘The Lord reigns!’
16:32 Let the sea and everything in it shout!
Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!
16:33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth!
16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures. 61
16:35 Say this prayer: 62 “Deliver us, O God who delivers us!
Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!
Then we will give thanks 63 to your holy name,
and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.” 64
16:36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised,
in the future and forevermore. 65
Then all the people said, “We agree! 66 Praise the Lord!”
16:37 David 67 left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day’s requirements, 68 16:38 including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 16:39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served 69 before the Lord’s tabernacle at the worship center 70 in Gibeon, 16:40 regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. 71 16:41 Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) 72 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance. 73
16:43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family. 74
17:1 When David had settled into his palace, 75 he 76 said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace 77 made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.” 78 17:2 Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, 79 for God is with you.”
17:3 That night God told Nathan the prophet, 80 17:4 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live. 17:5 For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt 81 to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. 82 17:6 Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say 83 to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, 84 ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”’
17:7 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies 85 says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd 86 to make you a leader of my people Israel. 17:8 I was with you wherever you went and I defeated 87 all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 88 17:9 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle 89 them there; they will live there and not be disturbed 90 anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 91 17:10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.
“‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house 92 for you! 17:11 When the time comes for you to die, 93 I will raise up your descendant, 94 one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 17:12 He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 95 17:13 I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you. 96 17:14 I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”’” 97 17:15 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him. 98
17:16 David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, 99 that you should have brought me to this point? 17:17 And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. 100 You have revealed to me what men long to know, 101 O Lord God. 17:18 What more can David say 102 to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition. 103 17:19 O Lord, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, 104 you have done this great thing in order to reveal your greatness. 105 17:20 O Lord, there is none like you; there is no God besides you! What we heard is true! 106 17:21 And who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation 107 in the earth? Their God 108 went to claim 109 a nation for himself! You made a name for yourself by doing great and awesome deeds 110 when you drove out 111 nations before your people whom you had delivered from the Egyptian empire and its gods. 112 17:22 You made Israel your very own nation for all time. 113 You, O Lord, became their God. 17:23 So now, O Lord, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! 114 Do as you promised, 115 17:24 so 116 it may become a reality 117 and you may gain lasting fame, 118 as people say, 119 ‘The Lord who commands armies is the God of Israel.’ 120 David’s dynasty 121 will be established before you, 17:25 for you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty 122 for him. That is why your servant has had the courage to pray to you. 123 17:26 Now, O Lord, you are the true God; 124 you have made this good promise to your servant. 125 17:27 Now you are willing to bless your servant’s dynasty 126 so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Lord, have blessed it and it will be blessed from now on into the future.” 127
18:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns 128 away from the Philistines. 129
18:2 He defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 130
18:3 David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority 131 to the Euphrates River. 132 18:4 David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, 133 and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer’s 134 chariot horses. 135 18:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 18:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; 136 the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected 137 David wherever he campaigned. 138 18:7 David took the golden shields which Hadadezer’s servants had carried 139 and brought them to Jerusalem. 140 18:8 From Tibhath 141 and Kun, 142 Hadadezer’s cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” 143 the pillars, and other bronze items.
18:9 When King Tou 144 of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 18:10 he sent his son Hadoram 145 to King David to extend his best wishes 146 and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer. 147 He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze. 148 18:11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, 149 along with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, including 150 Edom, 151 Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
18:12 Abishai son of Zeruiah 152 killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 18:13 He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected 153 David wherever he campaigned. 154
18:14 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. 155 18:15 Joab son of Zeruiah was commanding general of 156 the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 18:16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha 157 was scribe; 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised 158 the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s leading officials. 159
19:1 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him. 19:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty 160 to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal 161 to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. 162 When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy, 163 19:3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? 164 No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!” 165 19:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off. 166 He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed 167 and then sent them away. 19:5 Messengers 168 came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho 169 until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”
19:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, 170 Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents 171 of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. 172 19:7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.
19:8 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 173 19:9 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. 19:10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 174 19:11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 19:12 Joab 175 said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, 176 you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, 177 I will come to your rescue. 19:13 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” 178 19:14 So Joab and his men 179 marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. 19:15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’s 180 brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem. 181
19:16 When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, 182 led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army. 183 19:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, 184 and marched against them. 185 David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him. 186 19:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 187 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach 188 the commanding general. 19:19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.
20:1 In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, 189 Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 20:2 David took the crown from the head of their king 190 and wore it 191 (its weight was a talent 192 of gold and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city. 20:3 He removed the city’s residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. 193 This was his policy 194 with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
20:4 Later there was a battle 195 with the Philistines in Gezer. 196 At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, 197 one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines 198 were subdued.
20:5 There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, 199 whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom. 200
20:6 In a battle in Gath 201 there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha. 20:7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, 202 David’s brother, killed him.
20:8 These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed 203 by the hand of David and his soldiers. 204
21:1 An adversary 205 opposed 206 Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had. 207 21:2 David told Joab and the leaders of the army, 208 “Go, count the number of warriors 209 from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.” 210 21:3 Joab replied, “May the Lord make his army 211 a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?” 212
21:4 But the king’s edict stood, despite Joab’s objections. 213 So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem. 214 21:5 Joab reported to David the number of warriors. 215 In all Israel there were 1,100,000 216 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers. 217 21:6 Now Joab 218 did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king’s edict disgusted him. 21:7 God was also offended by it, 219 so he attacked Israel.
21:8 David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 21:9 The Lord told Gad, David’s prophet, 220 21:10 “Go, tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.”’” 221 21:11 Gad went to David and told him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Pick one of these: 21:12 three 222 years of famine, or three months being chased by your enemies and struck down by their swords, 223 or three days being struck down by the Lord, during which a plague will invade the land and the Lord’s messenger will destroy throughout Israel’s territory.’ 224 Now, decide what I should tell the one who sent me.” 21:13 David said to Gad, “I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!” 225 21:14 So the Lord sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.
21:15 God sent an angel 226 to ravage 227 Jerusalem. As he was doing so, 228 the Lord watched 229 and relented from 230 his judgment. 231 He told the angel who was destroying, “That’s enough! 232 Stop now!” 233
Now the Lord’s angel was standing near the threshing floor of Ornan 234 the Jebusite. 21:16 David looked up and saw the Lord’s messenger standing between the earth and sky with his sword drawn and in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the leaders, covered with sackcloth, threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 235 21:17 David said to God, “Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! 236 As for these sheep – what have they done? O Lord my God, attack me and my family, 237 but remove the plague from your people!” 238
21:18 So the Lord’s messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build 239 an altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 21:19 So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of the Lord. 240 21:20 While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves. 21:21 When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he came out from the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face 241 to the ground. 21:22 David said to Ornan, “Sell me the threshing floor 242 so I can build 243 on it an altar for the Lord – I’ll pay top price 244 – so that the plague may be removed 245 from the people.” 21:23 Ornan told David, “You can have it! 246 My master, the king, may do what he wants. 247 Look, I am giving you the oxen for burnt sacrifices, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for an offering. I give it all to you.” 21:24 King David replied to Ornan, “No, I insist on buying it for top price. 248 I will not offer to the Lord what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice 249 that cost me nothing. 250 21:25 So David bought the place from Ornan for 600 pieces of gold. 251 21:26 David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. 252 He called out to the Lord, and the Lord 253 responded by sending fire from the sky and consuming the burnt sacrifice on the altar. 21:27 The Lord ordered the messenger 254 to put his sword back into its sheath.
21:28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord responded to him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 21:29 Now the Lord’s tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center 255 in Gibeon. 21:30 But David could not go before it to seek God’s will, for he was afraid of the sword of the Lord’s messenger.
[14:1] 1 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[14:1] 2 tn Heb “craftsman of a wall,” that is, masons skilled at building stone walls.
[14:2] 3 tn Heb “was lifted upwards.”
[14:3] 4 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[14:7] 6 tn In 1 Chr 3:8 and 2 Sam 5:16 this name appears as “Eliada.” The form here represents a variant spelling of the name.
[14:8] 7 tn Or “designated”; NCV “had been made king”; CEV “had become king.”
[14:8] 8 tn Heb “to seek David.”
[14:8] 9 tn Heb “went out before.”
[14:11] 11 tn Heb “by my hand.”
[14:11] 12 sn The name Baal Perazim means “Lord of outbursts” in Hebrew.
[14:12] 13 tn Heb “abandoned.”
[14:14] 15 tn Heb “and David again asked God.”
[14:14] 16 tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.
[14:14] 17 tn The Hebrew word translated “trees” is defined by HALOT 129 s.v. בָּכָא as “shrubs.” Some translate “balsam trees” (see BDB 113 s.v. בָּכָא), cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT.
[14:15] 18 tn Heb “go out in battle.”
[14:17] 20 tn Heb “the name of David went out.”
[14:17] 21 tn Heb “and the
[15:3] 22 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:7] 23 sn Gershom is a variant spelling of the name Gershon.
[15:13] 24 tn Heb “because for what was at first [i.e., formerly] you [were] not, the
[15:16] 25 tn Heb “causing to be heard to lift up with a voice of joy.”
[15:17] 26 tn The Hebrew text adds, “their brothers.”
[15:18] 27 tc The Hebrew text adds בֶּן (ben, “son”) here; the word is omitted in three Hebrew
[15:20] 28 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word עֲלָמוֹת (’alamot) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See HALOT 835-36 s.v. עַלְמָה.
[15:21] 29 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See HALOT 1562 s.v. שְׁמִינֹי.
[15:21] 30 tn Heb “for” or “according to.”
[15:22] 31 tn Heb “and Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, with lifting up, supervising with lifting up, for he was well-informed.” The precise nuance of מַשָּׂא (masa’, “lifting up”) is unclear. Some understand it as a reference to supervising the singing and music (e.g., NIV: “Kenaniah…was in charge of the singing”; NEB: “Kenaniah…was precentor in charge of the music”).
[15:23] 32 tn Heb “gatekeepers.”
[15:24] 33 tn Heb “gatekeepers.”
[15:27] 34 tn Heb “the leader, the lifting up, the musicians.” See also the note on the word “matter” in v. 22.
[15:27] 35 sn An ephod was a priestly garment worn over the robe.
[15:29] 36 tn The Hebrew text adds “in her heart.”
[16:1] 37 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV “fellowship offerings.”
[16:12] 39 tn Heb “and the judgments of his mouth.”
[16:13] 41 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:13] 42 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:14] 43 tn Heb “in all the earth [are] his judgments.”
[16:15] 44 tn The Hebrew text has a masculine plural imperative, addressed to the people. Some LXX
[16:15] 45 tn Heb “[the] word he commanded.” The text refers here to God’s unconditional covenantal promise to Abraham and the patriarchs, as vv. 16-18 make clear.
[16:16] 47 tn Heb “his oath to Isaac.”
[16:17] 48 tn Or “eternal covenant.”
[16:20] 49 tn Heb “and from a kingdom to another nation.”
[16:22] 50 tn The word “saying” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[16:23] 51 tn Heb “from day to day.”
[16:24] 52 tn The verb “tell” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
[16:25] 53 tn Or “feared above.”
[16:26] 54 tn The Hebrew word אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless”) sounds like אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “gods”). The sound play draws attention to the statement. Many modern English translations render this term as “idols” here.
[16:26] 55 tn Or “the sky” (also in v. 31). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
[16:27] 56 tn Heb “majesty and splendor [are] before him.”
[16:27] 57 tn Heb “strength and joy [are] in his place.”
[16:29] 58 tn Heb “the splendor of [i.e., due] his name.”
[16:29] 59 tn Or “in holy splendor.”
[16:31] 60 tn Heb “let them say among the nations.”
[16:34] 61 tn Or “is eternal.”
[16:35] 62 tn The words “this prayer” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[16:35] 63 tn Heb “to give thanks.” The infinitive construct indicates result after the imperative.
[16:35] 64 tn Heb “to boast in your praise.”
[16:36] 65 tn Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.”
[16:36] 66 tn This is the Hebrew term אָמֵן (’amen, “surely”), traditionally transliterated “amen.”
[16:37] 67 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:37] 68 tn Heb “according to the matter of the day in its day.”
[16:39] 69 tn The word “served” is supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[16:39] 70 tn Or “high place.”
[16:40] 71 tn Heb “which he commanded Israel.”
[16:41] 72 tn Perhaps this refers to the refrain of their songs of praise (see Ps 136). In this case one could translate, “to give thanks to the
[16:42] 73 tn Heb “and with them, Heman and Jeduthun, trumpets and cymbals for sounding, and the instrument of song of God, and the sons of Jeduthun [were] at the gate.”
[16:43] 74 tn Heb “to bless his house.” Elsewhere when “house” is the object of “bless,” it refers to a household or family. See, for example, 1 Chr 13:14; 17:27. However, since בֵּית (bet, “house”) refers to a literal house or home earlier in the verse and to David’s palace in 17:1, one might translate here, “David went to pronounce a blessing on [i.e., dedicate] his house [i.e., palace].”
[17:1] 76 tn Heb “David.” The pronoun “he” has been used in the translation here to avoid redundancy in keeping with contemporary English style.
[17:1] 78 tn Heb “tent curtains.”
[17:2] 79 tn Heb “all which is in your heart.”
[17:3] 80 tn Heb “the word of God was [i.e., came] to Nathan the prophet.”
[17:5] 81 tn The words “from Egypt” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[17:5] 82 tc Heb “and I was from tent to tent and from tabernacle.” The words אֶל־מִשְּׁכָּן (’el-mishÿkan, “to tabernacle”) should probably be added at the end of the sentence to complete this prepositional phrase and produce symmetry with the preceding prepositional phrase. The words probably fell from the text by homoioteleuton.
[17:5] sn I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. The point here is that the Lord moved with the tabernacle as it moved from place to place; he did not confine himself to a particular location.
[17:6] 83 tn In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question (“Did I say?”) meaning “I did not say.”
[17:6] 84 tn Heb “to one of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people.”
[17:7] 85 tn Traditionally, “
[17:7] 86 tn Heb “and from after sheep.”
[17:8] 88 tn Heb “and I will make for you a name like the name of the great men who are in the earth.”
[17:9] 91 tn Heb “and sons of violence will no longer consume them as in the beginning.”
[17:10] 92 tn Here the word “house” is used in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. The
[17:11] 93 tn Heb “and it will be when your days are full to go with your ancestors.”
[17:11] 94 tn Heb “your seed.”
[17:12] 95 tn Heb “and I will establish his throne permanently.”
[17:13] 96 sn The one who ruled before you is a reference to Saul, from whom the kingdom was taken and given to David.
[17:14] 97 tn Heb “and his throne will be established permanently.”
[17:15] 98 tn Heb “according to all these words and according to all this revelation, so Nathan said to David.”
[17:17] 100 tn Heb “and this was small in your eyes, O God, so you spoke concerning the house of your servant for a distance.”
[17:17] 101 tn The translation “You have revealed to me what men long to know” is very tentative; the meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. The text appears to read literally, “and you see me like the searching of man, that which is upward,” which is nonsensical. The translation above assumes the following: (1) The Qal verb translated “you see me” is repointed as a Hiphil, “you showed me,” (2) תּוֹר (tor) is understood in the sense of “searching, exploring,” and (3) הַמַּעֲלָה (hamma’alah) is taken in a temporal sense of “that which lies beyond.” Thus one could translate, “you have shown me what men search for, what lies beyond.”
[17:18] 102 tn The word “say” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[17:18] 103 tn Heb “for honoring your servant, and you, your servant, know.”
[17:19] 105 tn Heb “to make known all the great deeds.”
[17:20] 106 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “in all which we heard with our ears,” but בְּכֹל (bÿkhol, “in all”) should probably be emended to כְּכֹל (kÿkhol, “according to all”).
[17:21] 107 tn Heb “a nation, one.”
[17:21] 108 tn Heb “whose God,” or “because God.” In the Hebrew text this clause is subordinated to what precedes. The clauses are separated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[17:21] 109 tn Heb “redeem” or “deliver.”
[17:21] 110 tn Heb “to make for yourself a name [with] great and awesome [deeds].”
[17:21] 111 tn Heb “to drive out.”
[17:21] 112 tn Heb “from Egypt, nations.” The parallel text in 2 Sam 7:23 reads “from Egypt, nations and its gods.”
[17:22] 113 tn Heb “and you made your people Israel your own for a people permanently.”
[17:23] 114 tn Heb “and now, O
[17:23] 115 tn Heb “as you have spoken.”
[17:24] 116 tn Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result: “so it might become a reality.”
[17:24] 117 tn Heb “so it might be established.”
[17:24] 118 tn Heb “and your name might be great permanently.” Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result (parallel to the previous purpose/result clause): “[so]…you might gain lasting fame.”
[17:24] 119 tn Heb “saying.” The words “as people” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[17:24] 120 tc Heb “the
[17:24] 121 tn Heb “the house of David.”
[17:25] 123 tn Heb “That is why your servant found to pray before you.” Perhaps the phrase אֶת לִבּוֹ (’et libbo, “his heart”) should be supplied as the object of the verb “found.”
[17:26] 124 tn Heb “the God.” The article indicates uniqueness here.
[17:26] 125 tn Heb “and you have spoken to your servant this good thing.”
[17:27] 127 tn Heb “for you, O
[18:1] 128 tn 2 Sam 8:1 identifies this region as “Metheg Ammah.”
[18:1] 129 tn Heb “from the hand of the Philistines.” Here “hand” is figurative language for “control.”
[18:2] 130 tn Heb “and the Moabites were servants of David, carriers of tribute.”
[18:3] 132 tn Heb “when he went to set up his hand at the Euphrates River.” The Hebrew word יָד (yad, “hand”) is usually understood to mean “control” or “dominion” here. However, since יָד does occasionally refer to a monument, perhaps one could translate, “to set up his monument at the Euphrates River” (i.e., as a visible marker of the limits of his dominion). For another example of the Hiphil of נָצַב (natsav) used with יָד (“monument”), see 1 Sam 15:12.
[18:4] 134 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Hadadezer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:4] 135 tn Heb “and David cut the hamstrings of all the chariot horses, and he left from them one hundred chariot horses.”
[18:6] 136 tc Heb “and David placed in Aram of Damascus.” The object נְצִיבִים (nÿtsivim, “garrisons”) appears to have been accidentally omitted from the text. See v. 13, as well as the parallel passage in 2 Sam 8:6, which includes it.
[18:6] 138 tn Or “wherever he went.”
[18:7] 139 tn Heb “which were upon the servants of Hadadezer.”
[18:7] 140 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[18:8] 141 tn The MT reads “Tibhath” here, a variant name for Tebah (cf. 2 Sam 8:8). Some English translations substitute the other version of the name here (e.g., NIV, NLT), while others follow the reading of the Hebrew text at this point (e.g., NAB, NASB, NRSV).
[18:8] 142 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:8 has the variant name “Berothai.”
[18:8] 143 tn Heb “the sea of bronze,” or “[the] sea, the bronze one.” See the note at 1 Kgs 7:23.
[18:9] 144 tn The name is spelled “Toi” in the parallel text in 2 Sam 8:9.
[18:10] 145 tn The name is spelled “Joram” in the parallel text in 2 Sam 8:10.
[18:10] 146 tn Heb “to ask concerning him for peace.”
[18:10] 147 tn Heb “and to bless him because he fought with Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer was a man of battles with Tou.”
[18:10] 148 tn Heb “[along with] all items of gold and silver and bronze.”
[18:11] 149 tn Heb “also them King David made holy to the
[18:11] 151 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:12 of the MT reads “Aram.” However, a few Hebrew
[18:12] 152 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:13 attributes this victory to David.
[18:13] 153 tn Or “delivered.”
[18:13] 154 tn Or “wherever he went.”
[18:14] 155 tn Heb “and he was doing what is just and fair for all his people.”
[18:16] 157 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:17 has the variant spelling “Seraiah.”
[18:17] 158 tn Heb “[was] over.”
[18:17] 159 tn Heb “and the sons of David [were] the heads at the hand of David.” The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:18 identifies them as “priests” (see sn there on the word “priests”).
[19:2] 160 tn Heb “do loyalty.”
[19:2] 161 tn Heb “did loyalty.”
[19:2] 162 tn Heb “to console him concerning his father.”
[19:2] 163 tn Heb “and the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.”
[19:3] 164 tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”
[19:3] 165 tc Heb “Is it not to explore and to overturn and to spy out the land (that) his servants have come to you?” The Hebrew term לַהֲפֹךְ (lahafakh, “to overturn”) seems misplaced in the sequence. Some emend the form to לַחְפֹּר (lakhpor, “to spy out”). The sequence of three infinitives may be a conflation of alternative readings.
[19:4] 166 tn Heb “shaved them.” See v. 5.
[19:4] 167 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto the buttocks.”
[19:5] 168 tn Heb “they.” The logical referent, though not specified in the Hebrew text, has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[19:5] 169 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[19:6] 170 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
[19:6] 171 tn The Hebrew word כִּכַּר (kikar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or, by extension, to a standard unit of weight. According to the older (Babylonian) standard the “talent” weighed 130 lbs. (58.9 kg), but later this was lowered to 108.3 lbs. (49.1 kg). More recent research suggests the “light” standard talent was 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg). Using this as the standard for calculation, the Ammonites hired chariots and charioteers for about 33.7 tons (30,600 kg) of silver.
[19:6] 172 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:6 has “Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah.”
[19:8] 173 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
[19:10] 174 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:10 has “the Ammonites” in place of “the Arameans” here.
[19:10] tn Heb “and Joab saw that the face of the battle was to him before and behind and he chose from all the best in Israel and arranged to meet Aram.”
[19:12] 175 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:12] 176 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
[19:12] 177 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
[19:13] 178 tn Heb “and the
[19:14] 179 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
[19:15] 180 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:15] 181 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[19:16] 182 tn Heb “the River,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:16] 183 tn Heb “and Aram saw that they were struck down before Israel and they sent messengers and brought out Aram which is beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [was] before them.”
[19:17] 184 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[19:17] 185 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:17 “he came to Helam.”
[19:17] tn Heb “and he came to them and was deployed against them.”
[19:17] 186 tn Heb “and David was deployed to meet Aram [for] battle and they fought with him.”
[19:18] 187 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has “seven hundred.”
[19:18] 188 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has the variant spelling “Shobach.”
[20:1] 189 tn Heb “and it was at the time of the turning of the year, at the time of the going out of kings.”
[20:2] 190 tc The translation follows the MT, which reads “of their king”; the LXX and Vulgate read “of Milcom” (cf. 1 Kgs 11:5). Milcom, also known as Molech, was the god of the Ammonites.
[20:2] 191 tn Heb “and it was on the head of David.”
[20:2] 192 sn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6.
[20:3] 193 tc The Hebrew text reads “saws,” but since saws were just mentioned, it is preferable to emend מְגֵרוֹת (mÿgerot, “saws”) to מַגְזְרוֹת (magzÿrot, “axes”).
[20:3] 194 tn Heb “and so he would do.”
[20:4] 195 tn Heb “battle stood.”
[20:4] 196 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:18 identifies this site as “Gob.”
[20:4] 197 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:18 has the variant spelling “Saph.”
[20:4] 198 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:5] 199 tc The Hebrew text reads, “Elchanan son of Jair killed Lachmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite.” But it is likely that the accusative marker in front of לַחְמִי (lakhmiy, “Lachmi”) is a corruption of בֵּית (bet), and that אֶת־לַחְמִי (’et-lakhmiy) should be emended to בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי (bet hallakhmiy, “the Bethlehemite”). See 2 Sam 21:19.
[20:5] 200 tc See tc note on the parallel passage in 2 Sam 21:19.
[20:6] 201 tn Heb “and there was another battle, in Gath.”
[20:7] 202 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:21 has the variant spelling “Shimeah.”
[20:8] 203 tn Heb “they fell.”
[20:8] 204 tn Heb “his servants.”
[21:1] 205 tn Or “Satan.” The Hebrew word שָׂטָן (satan) can refer to an adversary in general or Satan in particular. There is no article accompanying the term here, which suggests it should be understood generally (cf. NAB “a satan”).
[21:1] 206 tn Heb “stood against.”
[21:1] 207 tn Heb “and incited David to count Israel.” As v. 5 indicates, David was not interested in a general census, but in determining how much military strength he had.
[21:1] sn The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:1 says, “The
[21:2] 209 tn Heb “Go, count Israel.” See the note on “had” in v. 1.
[21:2] 210 tn Heb “their number.”
[21:3] 212 tn Heb “Why should it become guilt for Israel?” David’s decision betrays an underlying trust in his own strength rather than in divine provision. See also 1 Chr 27:23-24.
[21:4] 213 tn Heb “and the word of the king was stronger than Joab.”
[21:4] 214 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[21:5] 215 tn Heb “and Joab gave to David the number of the numbering of the army [or “people”].”
[21:5] 216 tn Heb “a thousand thousands and one hundred thousand.”
[21:5] 217 tc The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:9 has variant figures: “In Israel there were eight hundred thousand sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were five hundred thousands soldiers.”
[21:6] 218 tn Heb “he”; the proper name (“Joab”) has been substituted for the pronoun here for stylistic reasons; the proper name occurs at the end of the verse in the Hebrew text, where it has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation.
[21:7] 219 tn Heb “There was displeasure in the eyes of God concerning this thing.”
[21:10] 221 tn Heb “Three I am extending to you; choose for yourself one of them and I will do it to you.”
[21:12] 222 tc The parallel text in the MT of 2 Sam 24:13 has “seven,” but LXX has “three” there.
[21:12] 223 tc Heb “or three months being swept away from before your enemies and the sword of your enemies overtaking.” The Hebrew term נִסְפֶּה (nisppeh, Niphal participle from סָפָה, safah) should probably be emended to נֻסְכָה (nusÿkhah, Qal infinitive from נוּס [nus] with second masculine singular suffix). See 2 Sam 24:13.
[21:12] 224 tn Heb “or three days of the sword of the
[21:13] 225 tn Heb “There is great distress to me; let me fall into the hand of the
[21:15] 226 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 24:15 reports that God sent a plague, while 24:16-17 attributes this to the instrumentality of an angel.
[21:15] 228 tn Heb “while he was destroying.”
[21:15] 230 tn Or “was grieved because of.”
[21:15] 231 tn Heb “concerning the calamity.”
[21:15] 232 tn For this nuance of the Hebrew word רַב (rav), see BDB 913 s.v. 1.f.
[21:15] 233 tn Heb “Now, drop your hand.”
[21:15] 234 tn In the parallel text in 2 Sam 24:16 this individual is called אֲרַוְנָא (’aravna’, “Aravna”), traditionally “Araunah.” The form of the name found here also occurs in vv. 18-28.
[21:16] 235 tn Heb “and David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces.”
[21:17] 236 tn “and doing evil I did evil.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite form of the verb for emphasis.
[21:17] 237 tn Heb “let your hand be on me and on the house of my father.”
[21:17] 238 tn Heb “but on your people not for a plague.”
[21:18] 239 tn Heb “that he should go up to raise up.”
[21:19] 240 tn Heb “and David went up by the word of Gad which he spoke in the name of the
[21:21] 241 tn Heb “nostrils.”
[21:22] 242 tn Heb “the place of the threshing floor.”
[21:22] 243 tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive here indicates the immediate purpose/result: “so I can build.”
[21:22] 244 tn Heb “For full silver sell to me.”
[21:22] 245 tn Following the imperative and first person prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive, this third person prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive introduces the ultimate purpose/result: “so the plague may be removed.” Another option is subordinate this form to the preceding imperative, but the latter may be taken as a parenthetical expansion of the initial request.
[21:23] 246 tn Heb “take for yourself.”
[21:23] 247 tn Heb “what is good in his eyes.”
[21:24] 248 tn Heb “No, for buying I will buy for full silver.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
[21:24] 249 tc The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:24 has the plural “burnt sacrifices.”
[21:24] 250 tn Or “without [paying] compensation.”
[21:25] 251 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 24:24 says David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for “fifty pieces of silver.” This would have been about 20 ounces (568 grams) of silver by weight.
[21:25] tn Heb “six hundred shekels of gold.” This would have been about 15 lbs. (6.8 kg) of gold by weight.
[21:26] 252 tn Or “tokens of peace.”
[21:26] 253 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
