And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

And the people shunned the going into the city that day as a people would do that hath turned their backs, and fled away from the battle.

And the people stole away that day into the city, as people steal away when ashamed of fleeing in battle.

And the people withdrew by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

And the people stealeth away, on that day, to go in to the city, as the people steal away, who are ashamed, in their fleeing in battle;

And the people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

And the people made their way back to the town quietly and secretly, as those who are shamed go secretly when they go in flight from the war.

And the people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

The people sneaked into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

And the people declined to enter the city on that day, in the manner that the people were accustomed to decline if they had turned and fled from battle.

And the people got them by stealth that day into the city,.... Did not march into it in companies, in a public and triumphant manner, as conquerors used to do; but entered in a private manner, one by one, or a very few together, not caring to be seen or known, at least by the king, as fearing they had incurred his displeasure: but
as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle; as if they had been conquered, and not conquerors; nay, had acted a cowardly part, and ran away; and so cared not to be seen, lest they should be reproached, or suffer for their cowardice.

JOAB CAUSES THE KING TO CEASE MOURNING. (2-Samuel 19:1-8)
the people gat them by stealth . . . to the city--The rumor of the king's disconsolate condition spread a universal and unseasonable gloom. His troops, instead of being welcomed back (as a victorious army always was) with music and other demonstrations of public joy, slunk secretly and silently into the city, as if ashamed after the commission of some crime.

By stealth - Not openly and triumphantly, as conquerors use to do; but secretly, as if they were afraid and ashamed, lest David should see them, and look upon them with an evil eye, as those that had an hand in killing of his beloved son.