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2 Samuel 20:2-4
New International Version
2 Samuel 20:2-4
New International Version
2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines(A) he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
4 Then the king said to Amasa,(B) “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”
2 Samuel 20:2-4
New English Translation
2 Samuel 20:2-4
New English Translation
2 So all the men of Israel deserted[a] David and followed Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stuck by their king all the way from the Jordan River[b] to Jerusalem.
3 Then David went to his palace[c] in Jerusalem. The king took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace and placed them under confinement.[d] Though he provided for their needs, he did not sleep with them.[e] They remained under restriction until the day they died, living out the rest of their lives as widows.
4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together for me in three days,[f] and you be present here with them too.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 20:2 tn Heb “went up from after.”
- 2 Samuel 20:2 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Samuel 20:3 tn Heb “house.”
- 2 Samuel 20:3 tn Heb “and he placed them in a guarded house.”
- 2 Samuel 20:3 tn Heb “come to them.” The expression בּוֹא אֶל (boʾ ʾel) means “come to” or “approach,” but is also used as a euphemism for sexual relations.
- 2 Samuel 20:4 tn The present translation follows the Masoretic accentuation, with the major mark of disjunction (i.e., the ’atnakh) placed at the word “days.” However, some scholars have suggested moving the ’atnakh 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.
New International Version (NIV) 
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New English Translation (NET)
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