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 15:15

15:15 The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.” ³ 

[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.”

[15:15]  ³ tn Heb “according to all that my lord the king will choose, behold your servants!”