2 Samuel 1:5

1:5 David said to the young man ¹  who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ² 

2 Samuel 2:7

2:7 Now be courageous ³  and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”

2 Samuel 9:8

9:8 Then Mephibosheth ⁴  bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?” ⁵ 

2 Samuel 11:24

11:24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers ⁶  died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”

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 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!”

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¹ tn In v. 2 he is called simply a “man.” The word used here in v. 5 (so also in vv. 6, 13, 15), though usually referring to a young man or servant, may in this context designate a “fighting” man, i.e., a soldier.

² tc Instead of the MT “who was recounting this to him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?’” the Syriac Peshitta reads “declare to me how Saul and his son Jonathan died.”

³ tn Heb “let your hands be strong.”

⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Mephibosheth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Heb “What is your servant, that you turn to a dead dog which is like me?”

⁶ tc The translation follows the Qere (“your servants”) rather than the Kethib (“your servant”).