2 Samuel 20:5

5 Amasa went to call Judah together, but he took longer to do it than David had given him.

2 Samuel 20:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:5

So Amasa went to assemble [the men of] Judah
To gather, them together out of their several tribes, and bring them to Jerusalem:

but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him:
than the three days; whether this was owing to the remissness of Amasa, or the unwillingness of the people to serve under him, who had been Absalom's general in the late rebellion, or not having time sufficient allowed him, is not certain.

2 Samuel 20:5 In-Context

3 When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but no longer slept with them. So they lived like widows in confinement until they died.

4 The king told Amasa, "Call the people of Judah together for me, and in three days be here yourself."

5 Amasa went to call Judah together, but he took longer to do it than David had given him.

6 David then told Abishai, "Sheba, son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or he will find some fortified cities and take the best ones for himself."

7 So Joab's men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, Bichri's son.