2 Samuel 5:19

5:19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed ¹  hand the Philistines over to you.”

2 Samuel 5:23

5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. ²  This time ³  the Lord ⁴  said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. ⁵ 

[5:19]  ¹ tn The infinitive absolute lends emphasis to the following verb.

[5:23]  ² tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.

[5:23]  ³ tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.

[5:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:23]  ⁵ tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.