12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined 5 David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 6
20:1 In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, 13 Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.
1 tn Heb “and David went out before them and answered and said to them.”
2 tn Heb “there will be to me concerning you a heart for unity.”
3 tn Heb “with no violence in my hands.”
4 tn Heb “fathers.”
5 tn Heb “fell upon,” here in a good sense.
6 tn Heb “and they did not help them for by counsel they sent him away, the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘With our heads he will fall to his master Saul.’”
7 tn Heb “a nation, one.”
8 tn Heb “whose God,” or “because God.” In the Hebrew text this clause is subordinated to what precedes. The clauses are separated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
9 tn Heb “redeem” or “deliver.”
10 tn Heb “to make for yourself a name [with] great and awesome [deeds].”
11 tn Heb “to drive out.”
12 tn Heb “from Egypt, nations.” The parallel text in 2 Sam 7:23 reads “from Egypt, nations and its gods.”
13 tn Heb “and it was at the time of the turning of the year, at the time of the going out of kings.”