2 Samuel 5:23

5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. ¹  This time ²  the Lord ³  said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. ⁴ 

2 Samuel 10:9

10:9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. ⁵ 

[5:23]  ¹ tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.

[5:23]  ² tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.

[5:23]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:23]  ⁴ tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.

[10:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “and Joab saw that the face of the battle was to him before and behind and he chose from all the best in Israel and arranged to meet Aram.”