2 Samuel 6:19

Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David acts after completing burnt and peace offerings and blessing the assembly in the name of the LORD. He distributes food to the entire crowd of Israel before returning to his own household.

The words — The text records וַ/יְחַלֵּ֨ק (va/y.cha.Lek), meaning "and he distributed," applied to every man and woman in the multitude of Israel. It also notes לְ/מֵ/אִ֣ישׁ (le./me./'Ish), literally "to/from a man," indicating the individual allocation of bread and cakes.

The thread — The pattern of a leader dismissing a gathered crowd to their homes after a feast or blessing appears in Nehemiah 8:10, 1 Kings 8:66, and 2 Chronicles 7:10. These passages similarly describe the people departing joyful after receiving portions or hearing the word.

Why it lands — The verse states that David provided specific food items to every person present and that the crowd dispersed individually to their homes. It requires the reader to observe how communal worship concludes with practical provision and orderly departure.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

Cross-references

Nehemiah 8:10 Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
1 Kings 8:66 On the fifteenth day Solomon sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things that the LORD had done for His servant David and for His people Israel.
2 Chronicles 7:10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.
2 Chronicles 30:24 For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.
1 Chronicles 16:3 Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.
2 Chronicles 35:7 From his own flocks and herds Josiah contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.
2 Chronicles 35:12 They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls.
Ezekiel 45:17 And it shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.
Acts 20:35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”