2 Samuel 3

In Numbers 31 from yesterday, we had a perfection of counting, righteousness in following the law, and an attribution of gratuitous vengeance to Yahweh carried out by Moses. We also had the cultural phenomenon of virginal women being the only souls left standing after this depiction of tribal vengeance. This is not prescriptive for our behaviour. But what is it?

Today in contrast, we have real individual vengeance by brothers whom David could not control. We see the depth of disagreement between the north and the south long before the rupture after the reign of Solomon. There is no perfection in the romantic view of a united monarchic period. There are few heroes and they are flawed. Their actions seem much more realistic than the perfectly round numbers of the prior chapter.

It would seem that the rough-edged stories in Samuel are less polished than the smooth Torah. There must be then some rationale in the original redaction process that will account for the perfectly round numbers and the perfectly followed legal processes. In real life, the answers just don't work this way. My suspicion is that Torah is a literary and poetic construct. It is deliberately not a record of history. That makes it a serious exploration of an early historical look at the relationship of a people to their God. A look at their consciousness of their own identity and integrity. This instruction is the נפשׁ of Israel. The former prophets then become the reality behind the scenes. The latter prophets, the consequences of the reality but also the hope for the life of that same soul. The poetry books comment on every aspect of both Torah and the reality behind it. The scrolls are splashes of paint on the canvas. They also are not history and should not be read that way. Not that they are unimportant in the least. The final section Daniel through Chronicles is a wrap - as far as that is possible.

We still have some way to go.

The he of verse 7 is not Saul of course but the antecedent follows in the next verse. Read slowly.

2 Samuel 3		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַתְּהִ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ אֲרֻכָּ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְדָוִד֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ וְחָזֵ֔ק וּבֵ֥ית שָׁא֖וּל הֹלְכִ֥ים וְדַלִּֽים	1		And there was prolonged war between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David went on and was encouraged, but the house of Saul went on and was weakened.	3e	4C	18 17
וַיִּוָּלְד֧וּ לְדָוִ֛ד בָּנִ֖ים בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיְהִ֤י בְכוֹרוֹ֙ אַמְנ֔וֹן לַאֲחִינֹ֖עַם הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽת	2		And there were born to David sons in Hebron, and his firstborn was Amnon, of Axinoam the Jezreelite.	3c	4C	12 17
וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב לַאֲ‍ֽבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֣ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת־תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ גְּשֽׁוּר	3		And his second, Kiliab, of Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third, Absalom, child of Makah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.	3e	4B	18 18
וְהָרְבִיעִ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּ֣ה בֶן־חַגִּ֑ית וְהַחֲמִישִׁ֖י שְׁפַטְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲבִיטָֽל	4		And the fourth, Adonijah, child of Haggit, and the fifth, Shepatyah, child of Abital.	3e	4B	11 12
וְהַשִּׁשִּׁ֣י יִתְרְעָ֔ם לְעֶגְלָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת דָּוִ֑ד אֵ֛לֶּה יֻלְּד֥וּ לְדָוִ֖ד בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן	5		And the sixth, Yitream, of Eglah, wife of David. These were born to David in Hebron.	3d	4B	14 10
וַיְהִ֗י בִּֽהְיוֹת֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְאַבְנֵ֛ר הָיָ֥ה מִתְחַזֵּ֖ק בְּבֵ֥ית שָׁאֽוּל	6		And it was when there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, and Abner became resolute in the house of Saul.	3d	4C	17 12
וּלְשָׁא֣וּל פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה בַת־אַיָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אַבְנֵ֔ר מַדּ֥וּעַ בָּ֖אתָה אֶל־פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ אָבִֽי	7		And Saul had a courtesan and her name, Ritspah the daughter of Ayah. And he said to Abner, Why did you come to the courtesan of my father?	3e	4B	13 17
וַיִּחַר֩ לְאַבְנֵ֨ר מְאֹ֜ד עַל־דִּבְרֵ֣י אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֗שֶׁת וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הֲרֹ֨אשׁ כֶּ֥לֶב אָנֹ֘כִי֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָה֒ הַיּ֨וֹם אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־חֶ֜סֶד עִם־בֵּ֣ית ׀ שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֗יךָ אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ וְלֹ֥א הִמְצִיתִ֖ךָ בְּיַד־דָּוִ֑ד וַתִּפְקֹ֥ד עָלַ֛י עֲוֺ֥ן הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם	8		And Abner burned much over the words of Ishboshet and said, Am I the head of a dog? that for Judah, today, I would do kindness with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friend, and not have you found by the hand of David? And you visit concerning me with the iniquity of the woman today?	3d	4B	62 12
כֹּֽה־יַעֲשֶׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְאַבְנֵ֔ר וְכֹ֖ה יֹסִ֣יף ל֑וֹ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֤ע יְהוָה֙ לְדָוִ֔ד כִּֽי־כֵ֖ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לּֽוֹ	9		Thus God do to Abner and thus again to him, for as Yahweh has sworn to David, so I will deal with him.	3e	4C	15 17
לְהַֽעֲבִ֥יר הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה מִבֵּ֣ית שָׁא֑וּל וּלְהָקִ֞ים אֶת־כִּסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדָּ֖ן וְעַד־בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע	10		To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan and to Beer-Sheva.	3e	4B	12 25
וְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֣ל ע֔וֹד לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר דָּבָ֑ר מִיִּרְאָת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ	11		And he could not any more return a word to Abner, for he feared him.	3e	4B	12 6
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אַבְנֵ֨ר מַלְאָכִ֧ים ׀ אֶל־דָּוִ֛ד תַּחְתָּ֥יו לֵאמֹ֖ר לְמִי־אָ֑רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר כָּרְתָ֤ה בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ אִתִּ֔י וְהִנֵּה֙ יָדִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לְהָסֵ֥ב אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	12		And Abner sent messengers to David in his stead, saying, To whom is land, to say, Cut your covenant with me, and behold my hand is with you, to bring around to you all Israel.	3c	4C	18 27
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ט֔וֹב אֲנִ֕י אֶכְרֹ֥ת אִתְּךָ֖ בְּרִ֑ית אַ֣ךְ דָּבָ֣ר אֶחָ֡ד אָנֹכִי֩ שֹׁאֵ֨ל מֵאִתְּךָ֤ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־פָּנַ֔י כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־לִפְנֵ֣י הֱבִיאֲךָ֗ אֵ֚ת מִיכַ֣ל בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל בְּבֹאֲךָ֖ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־פָּנָֽי	13		And he said, Good. I myself will cut with you a covenant. But one thing I am asking from you, saying, You will not see my face, except you bring before me Michal, the daughter of Saul, when you come to appear before me.	3e	4C	12 43
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֥שֶׁת בֶּן־שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר תְּנָ֤ה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־מִיכַ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּי לִ֔י בְּמֵאָ֖ה עָרְל֥וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים	14		And David sent messengers to Ishboshet, child of Saul, saying, Give up my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.	3e	4C	17 22
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ אִ֣ישׁ בֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ מֵ֣עִֽם אִ֑ישׁ מֵעִ֖ם פַּלְטִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־לָֽיִשׁ	15		And Ishboshet sent and took her from a man, from Paltiel, child of Laish.	3e	4B	14 8
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִתָּ֜הּ אִישָׁ֗הּ הָל֧וֹךְ וּבָכֹ֛ה אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ עַד־בַּֽחֻרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֥יו אַבְנֵ֛ר לֵ֥ךְ שׁ֖וּב וַיָּשֹֽׁב	16		And her man went with her meandering and weeping, following her to Bachurim. And Abner said to him, Go. Return. And he returned.	3c	4A	20 12
וּדְבַר־אַבְנֵ֣ר הָיָ֔ה עִם־זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר גַּם־תְּמוֹל֙ גַּם־שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם הֱיִיתֶ֞ם מְבַקְשִׁ֧ים אֶת־דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶֽם	17		And Abner had a word with the elders of Israel, saying, Even recently, even the day before yesterday, you were seeking David to be king over you.	3c	4B	14 21
וְעַתָּ֖ה עֲשׂ֑וּ כִּ֣י יְהוָ֗ה אָמַ֤ר אֶל־דָּוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּיַ֣ד ׀ דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֗י הוֹשִׁ֜יעַ אֶת־עַמִּ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמִיַּ֖ד כָּל־אֹיְבֵיהֶֽם	18		Now make it so. For Yahweh promised to David, saying, By the hand of David, my servant, I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.	3e	4C	5 37
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר גַּם־אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גַּם־אַבְנֵ֗ר לְדַבֵּ֞ר בְּאָזְנֵ֤י דָוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן אֵ֤ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־טוֹב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־בֵּ֥ית בִּנְיָמִֽן	19		And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner even went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron, all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin.	3e	4C	12 36
וַיָּבֹ֨א אַבְנֵ֤ר אֶל־דָּוִד֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וְאִתּ֖וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּ֨עַשׂ דָּוִ֧ד לְאַבְנֵ֛ר וְלַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ מִשְׁתֶּֽה	20		And Abner came to David at Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David made for Abner and for the men that were with him a party.	3c	4C	18 19
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֣ר אֶל־דָּוִ֡ד אָק֣וּמָה ׀ וְֽאֵלֵ֡כָה וְאֶקְבְּצָה֩ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִכְרְת֤וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּרִ֔ית וּמָ֣לַכְתָּ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיְּשַׁלַּ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם	21		And Abner said to David, I arise that I may go to collect to my lord the king, all Israel, and they will cut with you a covenant, and you will reign in all that desire your integrity. And David sent Abner, and he went in peace.	3d	4C	53 14
וְהִנֵּה֩ עַבְדֵ֨י דָוִ֤ד וְיוֹאָב֙ בָּ֣א מֵֽהַגְּד֔וּד וְשָׁלָ֥ל רָ֖ב עִמָּ֣ם הֵבִ֑יאוּ וְאַבְנֵ֗ר אֵינֶ֤נּוּ עִם־דָּוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן כִּ֥י שִׁלְּח֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם	22		And behold, the servants of David, and Joab, came from a raiding party and they brought abundant spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him, and he had gone in peace.	3e	4C	23 21
וְיוֹאָ֛ב וְכָל־הַצָּבָ֥א אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ בָּ֑אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לְיוֹאָב֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא־אַבְנֵ֤ר בֶּן־נֵר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֖הוּ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם	23		When Joab, and all the host that were with him, had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner child of Ner came to the king, and he sent him, and he went in peace.	3d	4C	14 28
וַיָּבֹ֤א יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָה הִנֵּה־בָ֤א אַבְנֵר֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה שִׁלַּחְתּ֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֽוֹךְ	24		And Joab came to the king, and he said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is this that you sent him, and he has gone away?	3e	4C	16 19
יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֶת־אַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן־נֵ֔ר כִּ֥י לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖ בָּ֑א וְלָדַ֜עַת אֶת־מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙ וְאֶת־מ֣וֹבָאֶ֔ךָ וְלָדַ֕עַת אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה	25		You know Abner, child of Ner, for to seduce you he came. And to know your going out, and your coming in, and to know all that you have done.	3d	4B	14 27
וַיֵּצֵ֤א יוֹאָב֙ מֵעִ֣ם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכִים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ מִבּ֣וֹר הַסִּרָ֑ה וְדָוִ֖ד לֹ֥א יָדָֽע	26		And Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner. And they returned with him from the cistern of Revolt, and David not did know.	3e	4C	31 6
וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה־אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו	27		And Abner returned to Hebron, but Joab pushed him into the centre of the gate, to speak with him at ease, and struck him there in the fifth rib, and he died in the blood of Asahel, his brother.	3e	4C	26 18
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע דָּוִד֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י מֵעִ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם מִדְּמֵ֖י אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־נֵֽר	28		And David heard afterward, and thus he said, Innocent I am, and my kingdom, with Yahweh for evermore, from the blood of Abner, child of Ner.	3c	4C	29 6
יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר־לָֽחֶם	29		Let there be turmoil over the head of Joab, and to all the house of his father. And let there not be cut off from the house of Joab one with a discharge, or leprosy, or held resolutely by a spindle, or that falls by the sword, or lack of bread.	3d	4B	13 31
וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו הָרְג֖וּ לְאַבְנֵ֑ר עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵמִ֜ית אֶת־עֲשָׂהאֵ֧ל אֲחִיהֶ֛ם בְּגִבְע֖וֹן בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה	30		And Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, in that he had put to death Ashael their brother in Gibeon in battle.	3c	4B	14 19
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־יוֹאָ֜ב וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ קִרְע֤וּ בִגְדֵיכֶם֙ וְחִגְר֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים וְסִפְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמִּטָּֽה	31		And David said to Joab and to all the people that were with him, Rip your garments, and wear sackcloth, and wail before Abner. And king David walked after the bier.	3e	4C	34 14
וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֶת־אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִשָּׂ֧א הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֶת־קוֹל֗וֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ֙ אֶל־קֶ֣בֶר אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ כָּל־הָעָֽם	32		And they entombed Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the tomb of Abner, and all the people wept.	3c	4B	10 22
וַיְקֹנֵ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַכְּמ֥וֹת נָבָ֖ל יָמ֥וּת אַבְנֵֽר	33		And the king sang an elegy to Abner, and said, Did Abner die a senseless death?	3d	4A	12 8
יָדֶ֣ךָ לֹֽא־אֲסֻר֗וֹת וְרַגְלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֹא־לִנְחֻשְׁתַּ֣יִם הֻגָּ֔שׁוּ כִּנְפ֛וֹל לִפְנֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־עַוְלָ֖ה נָפָ֑לְתָּ וַיֹּסִ֥פוּ כָל־הָעָ֖ם לִבְכּ֥וֹת עָלָֽיו	34		Your hands were not bound, nor were your feet brought close to brass chains. As one would fall before the children of injustice, you fell. And again, all the people wept over him.	3d	4B	28 11
וַיָּבֹ֣א כָל־הָעָ֗ם לְהַבְר֧וֹת אֶת־דָּוִ֛ד לֶ֖חֶם בְּע֣וֹד הַיּ֑וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע דָּוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י אִם־לִפְנֵ֧י בֽוֹא־הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֶטְעַם־לֶ֖חֶם א֥וֹ כָל־מְאֽוּמָה	35		And all the people came to make David have a meal of bread while it was day. And David swore, saying, God do thus to me and thus again, if before the going down of the sun, I taste bread or anything whatever.	3c	4C	18 37
וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם הִכִּ֔ירוּ וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּעֵינֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם טֽוֹב	36		And all the people recognized, and it was good in their eyes, as all that the king did in the eyes of all the people, was good.	3e	4B	14 16
וַיֵּדְע֧וּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א הָיְתָה֙ מֵֽהַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהָמִ֖ית אֶת־אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־נֵֽר	37		And all the people and all Israel knew in that day, that it was not from the king to execute Abner, child of Ner.	3c	4C	15 16
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הֲל֣וֹא תֵדְע֔וּ כִּי־שַׂ֣ר וְגָד֗וֹל נָפַ֛ל הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל	38		And the king said to his servants, Do you not know that a chief that was great has fallen this day in Israel?	3d	4B	10 19
וְאָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֥וֹם רַךְ֙ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ מֶ֔לֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י צְרוּיָ֖ה קָשִׁ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נִּי יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה לְעֹשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה כְּרָעָתֽוֹ	39		And I am today tender, and anointed king, and these men, the children of Tseruyah are too hard for me. Yahweh make full payment to one who does evil, according to his evil.	3c	4B	31 15

I continue to see and perform corrections in other places based on what comes up as my guesses for each chapter as I read today. I don't know if the 12% remaining is enough body of data to point out to me all the inaccuracies or inconsistencies in what I have already done. Perhaps it is. Or I may have to write some more sophisticated routines. I already have

• a Hebrew stem derivation algorithm - now obsolete and not in use. It was part of the bootstrap for this project.
• a Hebrew grammatical analysis routine - could be extended but largely not in use. Might be part of a larger effort.
• an English stem derivation algorithm - doesn't work for multiple word glosses where both words are 'significant' but works pretty well for words where I want to avoid the problem of discordant translation - where a single English stem is used for two distinct and uncommon Hebrew stems. (There are dozens of examples in current translations - e.g. mighty אביר occurs exactly 22 times in the data. I never use might except as a conditional helping verb. That in itself is an accident since such might as equivalent to strong would be a legitimate homonym if it turned up. But KJV for instance uses might, mighty in the sense of strong, 290 times for several different Hebrew stems.)
• a half a dozen functions outside my interactive screens that allow me to test ad hoc issues. The interactive screens themselves have embedded many large and small analysis and reporting tools, music, word recurrence patterns, concordance, imposition of domains and subdomains, and the main translation management screen - 7 panels for data entry and selection of gloss and a half dozen significant buttons that allow quick construction of the sentences implied by the word guesses and choices. I am, in essence, quite lazy, and will let the computer do the work if I can. All diligent programmers are lazy.