Tidings came to David: literally “tidings came to David saying.” While the word translated tidings is frequently used in the Bible, it is unusual for it to be the subject of a sentence as here. In 1 Sam 2.24 the same word is translated “report” and in 2 Sam 4.4 as “news.” This structure may be avoided by using a passive construction as in Good News Translation, if the language has such forms. Otherwise it may be better to say something like “David learned the news” or “Someone made a report to David.” In some languages the choice of words may be especially important here, since the report given to David was not actually true. Amnon was the only one of David’s sons who was killed. Anderson has the following rendering: “a hearsay reached David to the effect that….”

All the king’s sons: this is the same expression as in verses 23, 27, and 29. It occurs again in verse 33. Here, of course, it must be clear that David and the king refer to the same person. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “all your sons.”

Not one of them is left: that is, “none of them is still alive.” In some cases it will be more natural to say “they have all died.”

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 .