وَدَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ إِذْ يَحْكُمَانِ فِى ٱلْحَرْثِ إِذْ نَفَشَتْ فِيهِ غَنَمُ ٱلْقَوْمِ وَكُنَّا لِحُكْمِهِمْ شَٰهِدِينَ
Important Words:
حرث (crop) is infinitive noun from حرث (haratha) which means, he ploughed or tilled the soil; he sowed seeds or planted plants in it. حرث means, a tilth or a piece of land ploughed for sowing or land actually sown with some crop; land under crop; crop or produce of land (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:206.
نفشت (strayed therein) is derived from نفش . They say نفش القطن i.e. he corded the cotton.نفشت الغنم means, the sheep pastured at night without a shepherd. نفش الراعی الابل means, the shepherd left the camel at night that it may pasture (Aqrab).
Commentary:
In order to add to the beauty of expression use has been made of metaphorical language in this and the following few verses. الحرث in this verse may signify Solomon’s country and the words غنم القوم may be taken as standing for those wild and predatory neighbouring tribes who raided Solomon’s country. The reference is to the policy which David and Solomon adopted to repel and defeat the depredations of these savage tribes. David was a great warrior and as such was in favour of adopting a strong policy. Solomon, however, wished to pursue a milder policy and to win over these tribes by entering into treaties of friendship with them. Taken literally the verse would signify that even very ordinary people had ready access and could submit their cases to these great Prophets of God who were very powerful rulers. See also 6:85; 34:11-14 & 38:18-21.
The verse may also signify that when a nation rises to power and prosperity, ambitious persons, in order to win power and influence, seek to weaken the hands of the constituted authority by creating dissensions and discord. The expression غنم القوم i.e. "persons of beastly nature" may refer to such people.
In order to add to the beauty of expression, use has been made of metaphorical language in this and the following few verses. Al-Harth may signify Solomon’s country and the words Ghanamul-Qaum may represent those wild and predatory neighbouring tribes who raided Solomon’s country. The reference is to the policy which David and Solomon adopted to repel and defeat the depredations of those savage tribes. David was a great warrior and as such was in favour of adopting a strong policy. Solomon, however, wished to pursue a milder policy and to win over those tribes by entering into treaties of friendship with them.