ba.rah describes direct eating, food being given or prepared, and once the choosing of a man in a battle challenge.

The attested uses most often concern eating in a meal setting or food being supplied or prepared: speakers seek to eat from Tamar's hand, David declines food, and people come to give him food. One imperative occurs in a battle challenge where the APB renders the clause as a call to choose a man.

1. Eating from food set before someone · dominant

   In 2 Samuel 13:10 and 2 Samuel 13:6, the Qal imperfect form occurs in Amnon's request that Tamar bring cakes so that he may eat from her hand. In 2 Samuel 12:17, the Qal perfect occurs when he refuses to eat food with the elders of his house.

   2 Samuel 12:172 Samuel 13:102 Samuel 13:6
2. Giving or preparing food · common

   In 2 Samuel 13:5, the Hiphil jussive stands in Jonadab's proposed request that Tamar come and give food and prepare it before Amnon's eyes. In 2 Samuel 3:35, the Hiphil infinitive construct occurs as all the people come to give David food; in Lamentations 4:10, the Piel infinitive construct appears in the account of women boiling their youths, who become food.

   2 Samuel 13:52 Samuel 3:35Lamentations 4:10
3. Choosing a man for battle · rare

   In 1 Samuel 17:8, the Qal imperative plural occurs in the Philistine's challenge to Israel's ranks. The APB renders the command, "Choose for yourselves a man," before telling that man to come down.

   1 Samuel 17:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the food-related clauses with expressions such as "eat," "give David food," and "prepare the food." It renders 1 Samuel 17:8 with "Choose,", so its English wording does not by itself establish the term's precise contribution.