2Sa 11:1 | NETfull | STEP | In the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, David sent out Joab with his officers and the entire Israelite army. They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1

1 In the spring of the year, at the time when kings ^{▼▼ Codex Leningrad (B19A), on which BHS is based, has here “messengers” (הַמַּלְאכִים, hammal’khim), probably as the result of contamination from the occurrence of that word in v. 4. The present translation follows most Hebrew mss and the ancient versions, which read “kings” (הַמֶּלָאכִים, hammela’kim).} normally conduct wars, ^{▼▼ Heb “go out.”} David sent out Joab with his officers ^{▼▼ Heb “and his servants with him.”} and the entire Israelite army. ^{▼▼ Heb “all Israel.”} They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. ^{▼▼ The disjunctive clause contrasts David’s inactivity with the army’s activity.} ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.}