2 Samuel 6:1

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

6:1 David again assembled ¹  all the best ²  men in Israel, thirty thousand in number.

2 Samuel 15:23

15:23 All the land was weeping loudly ³  as all these people were leaving. ⁴  As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving ⁵  on the road that leads to the desert.

2 Samuel 17:4

17:4 This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders ⁶  of Israel.

[6:1]  ¹ tn The translation understands the verb to be a defective spelling of וַיְּאֱסֹף (vayyÿ’esof) due to quiescence of the letter א (alef). The root therefore is אסף (’sf, “to gather”). The Masoretes, however, pointed the verb as וַיֹּסֶף (vayyosef), understanding it to be a form of יָסַף (yasaf, “to add”). This does not fit the context, which calls for a verb of gathering.

[6:1]  ² tn Or “chosen.”

[15:23]  ³ tn Heb “with a great voice.”

[15:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “crossing over.”

[15:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “crossing near the face of.”

[17:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “elders.”