Unlike much of 2 Samuel, this story has no parallel in 1 Chronicles or elsewhere. 1 Sam 20.14-17 provides the background for the events in this chapter. Good News Translation begins with “One day….” This merely reflects the common conjunction in Hebrew, but it makes the transition to the next episode smoother in English. Other languages may require a similar transition at the beginning of a new story.
Said: the original text does not say to whom he spoke. Some scholars suppose that the following quotation is more like a thought that occurred to David rather than a question directed to anyone. Contemporary English Version translates “David thought, ‘I wonder….’ ” Otherwise translators may be required by their language to provide an indirect object such as “said to someone” or, more probably, “said to himself.”
House of Saul: that is, in the family of Saul. It may be more natural to speak of “relatives of Saul” or “descendants of Saul” in this context.
Show him kindness: this same expression is rendered “showed loyalty” in 2.5. See also comments under 1 Sam 15.6 and Ruth 1.8.
For Jonathan’s sake: in some languages it is difficult to express the idea “for the sake of….” Some may prefer to say more directly “because of my esteem for Jonathan,” “in honor of Jonathan,” or, using a verbal expression, “because I loved Jonathan [so much].”
In the receptor language what David said may be divided into two parts, separating out the question (“Is there anyone left of the family of Saul?”) and the statement of his plan (“I would like to show that person kindness for the sake of Jonathan”).
It is also possible to translate the whole verse without a direct quote:
• One day David wondered whether there was anyone left of Saul’s family, and decided that if he found any relatives he would be kind to them because of his great love for Jonathan.
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 .