Nathan the prophet: this is the first mention of the prophet Nathan. The presence of the definite article indicates that he was well known during the time of David and probably also well known to the first readers of this book. But there is no indication where he came from or how he became a part of David’s court. It should be clear that this is not the same Nathan mentioned in 5.14, who was one of David’s sons. In some languages it will be better to say here “a certain prophet, whose name was Nathan.” See also comments on “the prophet Gad” in 1 Sam 22.5.
See now: the word translated See is not the emphatic particle usually rendered “behold” or “lo” in Revised Standard Version. Rather it is actually a verb meaning “to see.” However, it is used in a way similar to the emphatic particle, and, together with the word translated now, it draws attention to and emphasizes what follows. The idea is almost like the English idiom “Look at me….” This is why several versions including Good News Translation translate it as “Here I am….”
Dwell … dwells: the same word is used of David and the Covenant Box, but in some languages it will not be possible to retain the same verb for a person living in a house and an object, such as the ark, being in a certain place. In the second use of this verb, it may be necessary to say “but we are keeping the Covenant Box in a tent” or “the Covenant Box is sitting in a tent.”
The contrast between a house of cedar and a tent is significant and should be reflected in the receptor language. David was concerned that, while he was living in luxury in his palace, the Covenant Box was left in a mere tent. The word cedar will be difficult to translate in languages where such a tree is unknown. Cedar trees were well known for their size and strength and had been sent to David by Hiram, the king of Tyre (see 5.11). The emphasis here is on the fact that David lived in a very strong, permanent building, while the Covenant Box remained in a weak and temporary structure. It should also be noted that the word translated tent here is not the one that is usually so translated, as in 6.17. The meaning of this word is more like “curtains” (Anchor Bible) or “awnings” (New Jerusalem Bible). This word and the more common one for tent are used together in Song 1.5; Jer 4.20; and Hab 3.7. An American Translation combines the meanings with “tent curtains.” Similarly Moffatt has “the curtains of a tent,” and Fox says “a curtained shrine.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .