2 Samuel 1:18

1:18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” ¹  Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) ² 

2 Samuel 3:10

3:10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!”

2 Samuel 4:6

4:6 They ³  entered the house under the pretense of getting wheat and mortally wounded him ⁴  in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah escaped.

2 Samuel 10:16

10:16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from ⁵  beyond the Euphrates River, ⁶  and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them. ⁷ 

2 Samuel 11:23

11:23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us ⁸  in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way ⁹  to the door of the city gate.

2 Samuel 15:4

15:4 Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me ¹⁰  a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint ¹¹  could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

2 Samuel 18:23

18:23 But he said, ¹²  “Whatever happens, I want to go!” So Joab ¹³  said to him, “Then go!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.

2 Samuel 19:10

19:10 But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, ¹⁴  has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?” ¹⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “be taught the bow.” The reference to “the bow” is very difficult here. Some interpreters (e.g., S. R. Driver, P. K. McCarter, Jr.) suggest deleting the word from the text (cf. NAB, TEV), but there does not seem to be sufficient evidence for doing so. Others (cf. KJV) understand the reference to be elliptical, meaning “the use of the bow.” The verse would then imply that with the deaths of Saul and Jonathan having occurred, a period of trying warfare is about to begin, requiring adequate preparation for war on the part of the younger generation. Various other views may also be found in the secondary literature. However, it seems best to understand the word here to be a reference to the name of a song (i.e., “The Bow”), most likely the poem that follows in vv. 19-27 (cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV, CEV, NLT); NIV “this lament of the bow.” To make this clear the words “the song of” are supplied in the translation.

² sn The Book of Yashar is a noncanonical writing no longer in existence. It is referred to here and in Josh 10:12-13 and 1 Kgs 8:12-13. It apparently was “a collection of ancient national poetry” (so BDB 449 s.v. יָשָׁר).

³ tc For the MT’s וְהֵנָּה (vÿhennah, “and they,” feminine) read וְהִנֵּה (vÿhinneh, “and behold”). See the LXX, Syriac Peshitta, and Targum.

⁴ tn Heb “and they struck him down.”

⁵ tn Heb “and Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram which is.”

⁶ tn Heb “from beyond the River.” The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn Heb “was before them.”

⁷ tn Heb “and came out to us.”

⁸ tn Heb “but we were on them.”

⁹ tn Heb “Who will make me?”

¹⁰ tn Heb “a complaint and a judgment.” The expression is a hendiadys.

¹¹ tn The words “but he said” are not in the Hebrew text. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

¹² tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹³ tn Heb “over us.”

¹⁴ tc The LXX includes the following words at the end of v. 11: “And what all Israel was saying came to the king’s attention.” The words are misplaced in the LXX from v. 12 (although the same statement appears there in the LXX as well).