So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together; but he stayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
Parallel translations
- KJV So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
- BSB So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.
- NKJV So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.
- NASB So Amasa went to summon the men of Judah, but he was delayed longer than the set time which he had designated for him.
- NLT So Amasa went out to notify Judah, but it took him longer than the time he had been given.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Amasa delayed beyond the three days David had set. It matters because his tardiness endangered the campaign and gave Joab a pretext to act.
Overview
Amasa failed to muster Judah within the appointed time, whether from inexperience or hesitation. His delay risked letting Sheba fortify himself and gain strength. This lapse prompted David to turn to other commanders and ultimately led to Joab's violent reassertion of power.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 2 Sam 19:13Say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren’t captain of the army before me continually instead of Joab.’”
- 1 Sam 13:8He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 20:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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