2 Samuel 1:17-18

David’s Tribute to Saul and Jonathan

1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. 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 3:2

3:2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.

2 Samuel 3:15

3:15 So Ish-bosheth took her ³  from her husband Paltiel ⁴  son of Laish.

2 Samuel 4:1

Ish-bosheth is killed

4:1 When Ish-bosheth ⁵  the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, ⁶  and all Israel was afraid.

2 Samuel 9:5

9:5 So King David had him brought ⁷  from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in ⁸  Lo Debar.

2 Samuel 9:12

9:12 Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.

2 Samuel 10:10

10:10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army ⁹  and they were deployed ¹⁰  against the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:26

David’s Forces Defeat the Ammonites

12:26 ¹¹ So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

2 Samuel 13:3

13:3 Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man.

2 Samuel 13:27

13:27 But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons along with him.

2 Samuel 13:35

13:35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look! The king’s sons have come! It’s just as I said!”

2 Samuel 14:1

David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem

14:1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see ¹²  Absalom.

2 Samuel 20:23

20:23 Now Joab was the general in command of all the army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites.

2 Samuel 21:21

21:21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, killed him.

2 Samuel 23:22

23:22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the three elite warriors.

2 Samuel 23:24

23:24 Included with the thirty were the following: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, ¹³ 

2 Samuel 23:37

23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (the armor-bearer ¹⁴  of Joab son of Zeruiah),

[1:18]  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.

[1:18]  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).

[3:15]  ¹ tn Heb “sent and took her.”

[3:15]  ² tn In 1 Sam 25:44 this name appears as “Palti.”

[4:1]  ¹ tn The MT does not specify the subject of the verb here, but the reference is to Ish-bosheth, so the name has been supplied in the translation for clarity. 4QSam^a and the LXX mistakenly read “Mephibosheth.”

[4:1]  ² tn Heb “his hands went slack.”

[9:5]  ¹ tn Heb “sent and took him.”

[9:5]  ² tn Heb “from.”

[10:10]  ¹ tn Heb “people.”

[10:10]  ² tn Heb “he arranged.”

[12:26]  ¹ sn Here the narrative resumes the battle story that began in 11:1 (see 11:25). The author has interrupted that story to give the related account of David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. He now returns to the earlier story and brings it to a conclusion.

[14:1]  ¹ tn Heb “the heart of the king was upon.” The Syriac Peshitta adds the verb ’ethre’i (“was reconciled”).

[23:24]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[23:37]  ¹ tc The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss in reading the singular rather than the plural of the Kethib of the MT.