This hapax legomenon in Chronicles' war narrative creates textual uncertainty. The consonants can be read as either a form of sawing (from שׂוּר) or setting/placing (from שׂים). David's treatment of Ammonite prisoners involves either brutal execution with saws or forced labor with tools. The parallel passage in Samuel uses different vocabulary, adding to the interpretive challenge. Ancient warfare accounts are often disturbing, and translators must wrestle with the most likely original reading.