2 Samuel 2:29
Context2:29 Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan River 1 and went through the whole region of Bitron 2 and came to Mahanaim.
2 Samuel 10:16-17
Context10:16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from 3 beyond the Euphrates River, 4 and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them. 5
10:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, 6 and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him.
1 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “and they went, all the Bitron.” The meaning of the Hebrew word “Bitron,” which is used only here in the OT, is disputed. The translation above follows BDB 144 s.v. בִּתְרוֹן in taking the word to be a proper name of an area east of the Jordan. A different understanding was advocated by W. R. Arnold, who took the word to refer to the forenoon or morning; a number of modern scholars and translations have adopted this view (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, CEV, NLT). See W. R. Arnold, “The Meaning of בתרון,” AJSL 28 (1911-1912): 274-83. In this case one could translate “and they traveled all morning long.”
3 tn Heb “and Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram which is.”
4 tn Heb “from beyond the River.” The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “was before them.”
6 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.