2 Samuel 20:5

5 So Amasa went to get the men of Judah. But he took longer than the time the king had set for 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 David returned to his palace in Jerusalem. He had left ten concubines there to take care of the palace. He put them in a house and kept them under guard. He gave them what they needed. But he didn't make love to them. They were kept under guard until the day they died. They lived as if they were widows.

4 The king said to Amasa, "Send for the men of Judah. Tell them to come to me within three days. And be here yourself."

5 So Amasa went to get the men of Judah. But he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

6 David said to Abishai, "Sheba, the son of Bicri, will do more harm to us than Absalom ever did. Take my men and go after him. If you don't, he'll find cities that have high walls around them. He'll go into one of them and escape from us."

7 So Joab's men marched out with the Kerethites and Pelethites. They went out with all of the mighty soldiers. All of them were under Abishai's command. They marched out from Jerusalem and went after Sheba, the son of Bicri.