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2 Samuel 20:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 20:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So Amasa went to call [the men of] Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So Amasa went to call [the men of] Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
2 Samuel 20:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and provided them with sustenance, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be thou here present.
5So Amasa went to call [the men of] Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord`s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.
7And there went out after him Joab`s men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
← 2 Samuel 20:42 Samuel 20:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So Amasa went to assemble [the men of] Judah, etc.] To gather, them together out of their several tribes, and bring them to Jerusalem: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him: than the three days; whether this was owing to the remissness of Amasa, or the unwillingness of the people to serve under him, who had been Absalom’s general in the late rebellion, or not having time sufficient allowed him, is not certain.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He tarried - The cause of Amasa’s delay is not stated. It may have been the unwillingness of the men of Judah to place themselves under his orders, or it may have been caused by a wavering or hesitation in loyalty. This last is evidently insinuated in 2 Samuel 20:11, and no doubt this was the pretext, whether grounded in fact or not, by which Joab justified the murder of Amasa before David. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Tarried - Either, because the people being wearied out by the late war, were not forward to engage in another: or because the soldiers had more affection to Joab, than to their new general. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 20:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“So Amasa: Sa2 19:13 tarried: Sa1 13:8 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 20:6”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification