2 Samuel 16:21

16:21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Have sex with ¹  your father’s concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.” ² 

2 Samuel 18:3

18:3 But the soldiers replied, ³  “You should not do this! ⁴  For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won’t be too concerned about us. ⁵  Even if half of us should die, they won’t be too concerned about us. But you ⁶  are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.”

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¹ tn Heb “go to”; NAB “have (+ sexual NCV) relations with”; TEV “have intercourse with”; NLT “Go and sleep with.”

² tn Heb “and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

³ tn Heb “the people said.”

⁴ tn Heb “march out.”

⁵ tn Heb “they will not place to us heart.”

⁶ tc The translation follows the LXX (except for the Lucianic recension), Symmachus, and Vulgate in reading אָתָּה (’atta, “you”) rather than MT עָתָּה (’atta, “now”).