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

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

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Juda, but he tarried beyond the set time which the king had appointed him.

So Amasa went to call together the men of Judah; but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

and Amasa goeth to call Judah, and tarrieth beyond the appointed time that he had appointed him;

So Amasa went to get all the men of Judah together, but he took longer than the time David had given him.

Therefore, Amasa went away, so that he might summon Judah. But he delayed beyond the agreed time that the king had appointed to him.

He tarried - The cause of Amasa's delay is not stated. It may have been the unwillingness of the men of Judah to place themselves under his orders, or it may have been caused by a wavering or hesitation in loyalty. This last is evidently insinuated in 2-Samuel 20:11, and no doubt this was the pretext, whether grounded in fact or not, by which Joab justified the murder of Amasa before David.

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.

Tarried - Either, because the people being wearied out by the late war, were not forward to engage in another: or because the soldiers had more affection to Joab, than to their new general.