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 10:1

David and the Ammonites

10:1 Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him. ³ 

2 Samuel 10:10

10:10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army ⁴  and they were deployed ⁵  against the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:26

David’s Forces Defeat the Ammonites

12:26 ⁶ So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

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 23:29

23:29 Heled ⁷  son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

[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).

[10:1]  ³ tn Heb “reigned in his place.”

[10:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “people.”

[10:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “he arranged.”

[12:26]  ⁷ 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.

[23:29]  ⁹ tc The translation follows many medieval Hebrew mss in reading חֵלֶד (kheled; cf. NAB, NIV, NLT) rather than the MT חֵלֶב (khelev).