2Sa 15:21 | KD | STEP | But Ittai replied with a solemn oath, “Assuredly at the place where my lord the king shall be (stay), whether for death or life, there will thy servant be.” אם כּי means “only,” as in , ; here, in a declaration on oath, it is equivalent to assuredly (vid., Ewald, §356, b .). The Chethib is therefore correct, and the erasure of אם in the Keri is a bad emendation. The כּי in the apodosis is either an emphatic declaration, yea , or like ὅτι merely introduces a distinct assertion. After this assurance of his devotedness, David let Ittai do as he pleased. ועבר לך, “go and pass on.” עבר does not mean to pass by, but to go forward. Thus Ittai and his men and all his family that was with him went forward with the king. By “the little ones” ( taph ) we are to understand a man’s whole family, as in many other instances (see at ).

‏ 2 Samuel 15:21

But Ittai replied with a solemn oath, “Assuredly at the place where my lord the king shall be (stay),whether for death or life, there will thy servant be.” אם כּי means “only,” as in Gen 40:14, Job 42:8; here, in a declaration on oath, it is equivalent to assuredly (vid., Ewald, §356, b.). The Chethib is therefore correct, and the erasure of אם in the Keri is a bad emendation. The כּי in the apodosis is either an emphatic declaration, yea, or like ὅτι merely introduces a distinct assertion.

After this assurance of his devotedness, David let Ittai do as he pleased. ועבר לך, “go and pass on.” עבר does not mean to pass by, but to go forward. Thus Ittai and his men and all his family that was with him went forward with the king. By “the little ones” (taph) we are to understand a man’s whole family, as in many other instances (see at Exo 12:37).