2 Samuel 1:18

1:18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.”¹ Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)²

2 Samuel 7:3

7:3 Nathan replied to the king, “You should go³ and do whatever you have in mind,⁴ for the Lord is with you.”

2 Samuel 12:23

12:23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!’”

2 Samuel 13:26

13:26 Then Absalom said, “If you will not go,⁵ then let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king replied to him, “Why should he go with you?”

2 Samuel 15:26

15:26 However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”⁶

2 Samuel 16:9

16:9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

2 Samuel 17:6

17:6 So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to him, “Here is what Ahithophel has advised. Should we follow his advice? If not, what would you recommend?”

2 Samuel 19:12

19:12 You are my brothers – my very own flesh and blood!⁷ Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back?’

2 Samuel 19:21

19:21 Abishai son of Zeruiah replied, “For this should not Shimei be put to death? After all, he cursed the Lord’s anointed!”

2 Samuel 19:29

19:29 Then the king replied to him, “Why should you continue speaking like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together.”

2 Samuel 19:36

19:36 I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short distance.⁸ Why should the king reward me in this way?

¹tn Heb “be taught the bow.” The reference to “the bow” is very difficult here. Some interpreters (e.g., S. R. Driver, P. K. McCarter, Jr.) suggest deleting the word from the text (cf. NAB, TEV), but there does not seem to be sufficient evidence for doing so. Others (cf. KJV) understand the reference to be elliptical, meaning “the use of the bow.” The verse would then imply that with the deaths of Saul and Jonathan having occurred, a period of trying warfare is about to begin, requiring adequate preparation for war on the part of the younger generation. Various other views may also be found in the secondary literature. However, it seems best to understand the word here to be a reference to the name of a song (i.e., “The Bow”), most likely the poem that follows in vv. 19-27 (cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV, CEV, NLT); NIV “this lament of the bow.” To make this clear the words “the song of” are supplied in the translation.

²sn The Book of Yashar is a noncanonical writing no longer in existence. It is referred to here and in Josh 10:12-13 and 1 Kgs 8:12-13. It apparently was “a collection of ancient national poetry” (so BDB 449 s.v. יָשָׁר).

³tc Several medieval Hebrew mss and the Syriac Peshitta lack this word.

⁴tn Heb “all that is in your heart.”

⁵tn Heb “and not.”

⁶tn Heb “as [is] good in his eyes.”

⁷tn Heb “my bone and my flesh.”

⁸tn Heb “Like a little your servant will cross the Jordan with the king.”