Lexical Summary eshpar: Finger joint, knuckle Original Word: אֶשְׁפָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance good piece of flesh Of uncertain derivation; a measured portion -- good piece (of flesh). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition perhaps cake or roll NASB Translation dates (1), portion (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶשְׁמָּר 2 Samuel 6:19 = 1 Chronicles 16:3; ᵐ5 2 Samuel 6:19 Aq Symm. cake or roll; other Verss. ancient & modern have various conjectures, but actual etymology & meaning unknown; see LagGGA 1884, No. 7. 262 = M i. 214 DrSm. אַשְׁמֹּת, אַשְׁמַּתּוֺת see שׁפת. Topical Lexicon Textual occurrences The term appears exclusively in 2 Samuel 6:19 and 1 Chronicles 16:3, the twin narratives that recount King David’s procession of the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem. In both accounts David distributes three items to “every man and woman in Israel”: a loaf of bread, a serving of meat, and אֶשְׁפָר. The Berean Standard Bible renders the verse, “He distributed to every one of the multitudes of Israel … a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake” (2 Samuel 6:19). The giving of אֶשְׁפָר therefore functions within a liturgical celebration of national significance. Cultural background Archaeological and textual evidence from the broader Ancient Near East confirms that dense fruit-cakes composed of pressed dates, figs, or raisins were common staples for travel, military rations, and religious feasts. High in sugars and easily preserved, they symbolized abundance and the fruitfulness of the land “flowing with milk and honey” that Israel now enjoyed under David’s unified rule. Liturgical context of the Ark procession The transfer of the Ark marked a decisive theological moment: the enthronement of the LORD in Zion as covenant King (2 Samuel 6:2; Psalm 132:8–14). By distributing אֶשְׁפָר along with bread and meat, David acts in a priest-like capacity, leading the nation in corporate thanksgiving. The gifts parallel the fellowship (peace) offering, portions of which were eaten by worshippers in the presence of God (Leviticus 7:15). Thus the cakes function as tangible tokens of shared communion with the LORD whose throne now rests in Jerusalem. Symbolism and theological themes 1. Covenant abundance: Fruit-cakes, drawn from the produce of vine and tree, declare God’s covenant faithfulness in granting “the precious fruits of the sun” (Deuteronomy 33:14). Practical and ministry applications • Generosity in corporate worship: David’s public largesse models a leadership that feeds rather than taxes the people (cf. Ezekiel 34:2). Church leaders likewise serve by sharing both spiritual and material bread (Acts 6:2–4). Christological foreshadowing David’s dual role as king and liturgical provider points forward to Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who both leads the procession of salvation (Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:8) and distributes the true bread of life (John 6:35). In His earthly ministry He fed multitudes with loaves and later instituted the Supper in which believers receive a foretaste of the messianic banquet (Revelation 19:9). The modest אֶשְׁפָר, handed out on the streets of Jerusalem, thus whispers of the day when “they shall feast on the abundance of Your house” (Psalm 36:8). Forms and Transliterations וְאֶשְׁפָּ֖ר וְאֶשְׁפָּ֣ר ואשפר veeshPar wə’ešpār wə·’eš·pārLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 6:19 HEB: לֶ֙חֶם֙ אַחַ֔ת וְאֶשְׁפָּ֣ר אֶחָ֔ד וַאֲשִׁישָׁ֖ה NAS: and one of dates and one KJV: of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon INT: of bread and one of dates and one of raisins 1 Chronicles 16:3 2 Occurrences |
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