chay.yah denotes a gathered company or collective body, including Philistine forces, announcing women, and afflicted people.

The attested use presents chay.yah as a collective body: Philistines gathered as a group, women formed a great host of announcers, and afflicted people were addressed as a community.

1. A gathered company or collective body · dominant

   In 2 Samuel 23:11, the absolute singular form occurs where the APB renders the Philistines as gathered “at the community.” The construct forms occur with a Philistine “band” in 2 Samuel 23:13, a “great host” of women announcing news in Psalm 68:11, and the afflicted people’s “community” in Psalm 74:19.

   2 Samuel 23:112 Samuel 23:13Psalm 68:11Psalm 74:19

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the collective with “community,” “band,” and “great host” across these verses. These terms confirm the verses’ collective setting rather than establish separate lexical senses.