Abstract
Ledabbēr baššelî in 2 Sam 3:27 seems to be equivalent in its underlying meaning to such a technical expression from the vocabulary of treaty-making as ledabbēr šālôm, and thus it too is to be identified as such a technical expression denoting “to talk peace” in the sense “to negotiate and seal a peace treaty”. These two expressions may then be either synonyms, in which case the hapax šelî would be another word in biblical Hebrew denoting peace; or the word šelî should be emended to šālôm. Since there is in biblical Hebrew the root šlh with its various derivatives, all denoting meanings from the semantic field of peace, quietude and the like, no emendation of the word šelî is needed. It seems then that the common derivation of this word by most commentators from the root šlh is eminently possible.
Highlights
2. Basically two interpretations for this expression, based on the general understanding of the context and its basic theme, are to be found in the various commentaries, both old and new: 1) Most commentators understand the form baššelî in the sense “in peace, in quietude, privately”, meaning that Joab proposed that he and Abner move aside to some quiet place to discuss matters with no disturbance.[1] Scholars usually adduce here the usage of the verb šlh, of which šelî is believed to be a derivative, in such verses as Ps 122:6-7; and cf Jer 12:1; Job 12:6; etc
The expression ledabbƝr baššelî occurs in the famous episode in 2 Samuel 3 when Joab cunningly traps Abner and kills him cold-bloodedly (v. 27)
It is the single occurrence of this expression in the Hebrew Bible, and the word šelî itself is a hapax the meaning and etymology of which are not definitely certain, it has generally been related to the Hebrew root šlh
Summary
2. Basically two interpretations for this expression, based on the general understanding of the context and its basic theme, are to be found in the various commentaries, both old and new: 1) Most commentators understand the form baššelî in the sense “in peace, in quietude, privately”, meaning that Joab proposed that he and Abner move aside to some quiet place to discuss matters with no disturbance.[1] Scholars usually adduce here the usage of the verb šlh, of which šelî is believed to be a derivative, in such verses as Ps 122:6-7; and cf Jer 12:1; Job 12:6; etc.
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