16:23 In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. 1 Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. 2
20:4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together for me in three days, 3 and you be present here with them too.”
1 tn Heb “And the advice of Ahithophel which he advised in those days was as when one inquires of the word of God.”
2 tn Heb “So was all the advice of Ahithophel, also to David, also to Absalom.”
3 tn The present translation follows the Masoretic accentuation, with the major mark of disjunction (i.e., the atnach) placed at the word “days.” However, some scholars have suggested moving the atnach to “Judah” a couple of words earlier. This would yield the following sense: “Three days, and you be present here with them.” The difference in meaning is slight, and the MT is acceptable as it stands.