So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

2 SAMUEL 20:5KJV
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2 Samuel 20:5 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 20:5 mean?

2 Samuel 20:5 describes Amasa carrying out King David’s order to gather the men of Judah, but taking longer than David allowed. The delay matters because the men were needed to respond to a rebellion led by Sheba.

The narrator reports the delay rather than recording anyone’s speech. David had given Amasa three days to gather the men and return (verse 4), so “the set time” points to a specific deadline.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 20:5

  • “assemble” — זָעַק (zaʿaq): This word can carry the sense of calling people together. Here it pictures Amasa summoning the men of Judah for David’s service.

  • “appointed” — יָעַד (yaʿad): This word can mean to set or designate something in advance. Here it points to the deadline David had established for Amasa.

Why 2 Samuel 20:5 matters

  • The delay shapes David’s next decision. In verse 6, David turns to Abishai and warns that Sheba may reach fortified cities.

  • Amasa’s task puts him in Joab’s path. In verses 8–10, Joab meets Amasa at Gibeon and kills him while approaching him as if to greet him.

Where else these words appear

“Amasa” Hebrew H6021 · used in 12 verses

  • 2 Samuel 17:25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
  • 2 Samuel 20:8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
  • 1 Kings 2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

“longer” Hebrew H309 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 24:56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
  • Deuteronomy 23:21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
  • Proverbs 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

“appointed” Hebrew H3259 · used in 29 verses

  • Exodus 21:8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
  • Numbers 14:35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
  • Job 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

“assemble” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 1 Samuel 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
  • Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.