2 Samuel 20:4

20:4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together for me in three days, ¹  and you be present here with them too.”

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 9:1

David Finds Mephibosheth

9:1 ⁵ Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family ⁶  of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”

[20:4]  ¹ tn The present translation follows the Masoretic accentuation, with the major mark of disjunction (i.e., the atnach) placed at the word “days.” However, some scholars have suggested moving the atnach to “Judah” a couple of words earlier. This would yield the following sense: “Three days, and you be present here with them.” The difference in meaning is slight, and the MT is acceptable as it stands.

[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.

[9:1]  ⁵ sn 2 Samuel 9–20 is known as the Succession Narrative. It is a literary unit that describes David’s efforts at consolidating his own kingdom following the demise of King Saul; it also provides the transition to subsequent leadership on the part of David’s successor Solomon.

[9:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “house.”