2 Samuel 20:5 - Forerunner Commentary

2 Samuel 20:5

3 Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, ^ahis concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 And the king said to Amasa, ^a“Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”

5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.

6 And David said to ^aAbishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take ^byour lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.”

7 So Joab’s men, with the ^aCherethites, the Pelethites, and ^ball the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out.

9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” ^aAnd Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. And ^ahe struck him with it ^bin the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—follow Joab!”

12 But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted.

13 When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to ^aAbel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after¹ Sheba.

15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they ^acast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.

Verse Comparison: 2 Samuel 20:5

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American Standard Version
So Amasa went to call `the men of' Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

Amplified® Bible
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he tarried longer than the set time which had been appointed him.

Contemporary English Version
Amasa started bringing the army together, but it was taking him more than three days.

Darby English Version
So Amasa went to call together [the men of] Judah; but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

Good News Bible
Amasa went to call them, but he did not get back by the time the king had told him to.

King James Version
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

New American Standard Bible
So Amasa went to call out {the men of} Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

New International Version
But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

New King James Version
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

Revised Standard Version
So Ama'sa went to summon Judah; but he delayed beyond the set time which had been appointed him.

Young's Literal Translation
and Amasa goeth to call Judah, and tarrieth beyond the appointed time that he had appointed him;

New English Translation
So Amasa went out to call Judah together. But in doing so he took longer than the time that the king had allotted him.

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