Bible Encyclopedias
Helkath-Hazzurim

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hel´kath - haz´ū̇ - rim , - ha - zū´rim ( חלקת הצּוּרים , ḥelḳath ha - cūrı̄m ; Μερὶς τῶν ἐπιβουλῶν , Merı́s tō̇n epiboulō̇n ): The name as it stands means "field of the sword edges," and is applied to the scene of the conflict in which twelve champions each from the army of Joab and that of Abner perished together, each slaying his fellow ( 2 Samuel 2:16 ). Some, following Septuagint, would read חלקת הצּדים , ḥelḳath ha -cōdhı̄m , "field of the crafty," i.e. "of the ambush." Thenius suggested חלקת הצּרים , ḥelḳath ha -cārı̄m , "field of the adversaries" (see also H. P. Smith, ICC , "Samuel," 271). Probably, however, the text as it stands is correct.