2 Samuel 13:17

13:17 He called his personal attendant and said to him, “Take this woman out of my sight ¹  and lock the door behind her!”

2 Samuel 14:10

14:10 The king said, “Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won’t bother you again!”

2 Samuel 15:1

Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David

15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire ²  a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. ³ 

2 Samuel 15:6

15:6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty ⁴  of the citizens ⁵  of Israel.

2 Samuel 22:31

22:31 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; ⁶ 

the Lord’s promise is reliable; ⁷ 

he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

2 Samuel 22:44

22:44 You rescue me from a hostile army; ⁸ 

you preserve me as a leader of nations;

people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. ⁹ 

2 Samuel 23:15

23:15 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!”

[13:17]  ¹ tn Heb “send this [one] from upon me to the outside.”

[15:1]  ² tn Heb “acquired for himself.”

[15:1]  ³ tn Heb “to run ahead of him.”

[15:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “stole the heart.”

[15:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “the men.”

[22:31]  ⁶ tn Heb “[As for] the God, his way is blameless.” The term הָאֵל (ha’el, “the God”) stands as a nominative (or genitive) absolute in apposition to the resumptive pronominal suffix on “way.” The prefixed article emphasizes his distinctiveness as the one true God (see BDB 42 s.v. II אֵל 6; Deut 33:26). God’s “way” in this context refers to his protective and salvific acts in fulfillment of his promise (see also Deut 32:4; Pss 67:2; 77:13 [note vv. 11-12, 14]; 103:7; 138:5; 145:17).

[22:31]  ⁷ tn Heb “the word of the Lord is purified.” The Lord’s “word” probably refers here to his oracle(s) of victory delivered to the psalmist before the battle(s) described in the following context. See also Pss 12:5-7 and 138:2-3. David frequently received such oracles before going into battle (see 1 Sam 23:2, 4-5, 10-12; 30:8; 2 Sam 5:19). The Lord’s word of promise is absolutely reliable; it is compared to metal that has been refined in fire and cleansed of impurities. See Ps 12:6. In the ancient Near East kings would typically seek and receive oracles from their god(s) prior to battle. For examples, see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 241-42.

[22:44]  ⁸ tn Heb “from the strivings of my people.” In this context רִיב (riv, “striving”) probably has a militaristic sense (as in Judg 12:2; Isa 41:11), and עַם (’am, “people”) probably refers more specifically to an army (for other examples, see the verses listed in BDB 766 s.v. עַם 2.d). The suffix “my” suggests David is referring to attacks by his own countrymen, the “people” being Israel. However, the parallel text in Ps 18:43 omits the suffix.

[22:44]  ⁹ tn Heb “a people whom I did not know serve me.” In this context the verb “know” (יָדַע, yada’) probably refers to formal recognition by treaty. People who were once not under the psalmist’s authority now willingly submit to his rulership to avoid being conquered militarily (see vv. 45-46). The language may recall the events recorded in 2 Sam 8:9-10 and 10:19.