2 Samuel 3:11

3:11 Ish-bosheth ¹  was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

2 Samuel 6:1

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

6:1 David again assembled ²  all the best ³  men in Israel, thirty thousand in number.

2 Samuel 6:22

6:22 I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! ⁴  But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!”

2 Samuel 7:20

7:20 What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, ⁵  O Lord God!

2 Samuel 14:10

14:10 The king said, “Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won’t bother you again!”

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ish-bosheth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn The translation understands the verb to be a defective spelling of וַיְּאֱסֹף (vayyÿ’esof) due to quiescence of the letter א (alef). The root therefore is אסף (’sf, “to gather”). The Masoretes, however, pointed the verb as וַיֹּסֶף (vayyosef), understanding it to be a form of יָסַף (yasaf, “to add”). This does not fit the context, which calls for a verb of gathering.

³ tn Or “chosen.”

³ tn Heb “and I will shame myself still more than this and I will be lowly in my eyes.”

⁴ tn Heb “and you know your servant.” The verb here refers to recognizing another in a special way and giving them special treatment (see 1 Chr 17:18). Some English versions take this to refer to the Lord’s knowledge of David himself: CEV “you know my thoughts”; NLT “know what I am really like.”