2 Samuel 20:19

20:19 I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city ¹  in Israel. Why should you swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”

2 Samuel 20:2

20:2 So all the men of Israel deserted ²  David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stuck by their king all the way from the Jordan River ³  to Jerusalem. ⁴ 

2 Samuel 1:8

1:8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m ⁵  an Amalekite.’

Psalms 55:20

55:20 He ⁶  attacks ⁷  his friends; ⁸ 

he breaks his solemn promises to them. ⁹ 

Psalms 120:6-7

120:6 For too long I have had to reside

with those who hate ¹⁰  peace.

120:7 I am committed to peace, ¹¹ 

but when I speak, they want to make war. ¹² 

[20:19]  ¹ tn Heb “a city and a mother.” The expression is a hendiadys, meaning that this city was an important one in Israel and had smaller cities dependent on it.

[20:2]  ² tn Heb “went up from after.”

[20:2]  ³ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[20:2]  ⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[1:8]  ⁵ tc The present translation reads with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss “and I said,” rather than the Kethib which has “and he said.” See the LXX, Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate, all of which have the first person.

[55:20]  ⁶ sn He. This must refer to the psalmist’s former friend, who was addressed previously in vv. 12-14.

[55:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “stretches out his hand against.”

[55:20]  ⁸ tc The form should probably be emended to an active participle (שֹׁלְמָיו, sholÿmayv) from the verbal root שָׁלַם (shalam, “be in a covenant of peace with”). Perhaps the translation “his friends” suggests too intimate a relationship. Another option is to translate, “he attacks those who made agreements with him.”

[55:20]  ⁹ tn Heb “he violates his covenant.”

[120:6]  ¹⁰ tn The singular participial form probably has a representative function here. The psalmist envisions the typical hater of peace who represents the entire category of such individuals.

[120:7]  ¹¹ tn Heb “I, peace.”

[120:7]  ¹² tn Heb “they [are] for war.”