And: the content of what follows shows that the conjunction used here should be rendered by something marking contrast, since what follows is somewhat contrary to what the reader may have expected. Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible have “however.” Many other versions use the word “but” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, New International Version, New Century Version).

Let him dwell apart: while this clearly refers to Absalom, this may not be clear in some languages if a pronoun is used. The name may have to be used. The meaning of apart is further clarified by the words in his own house. What is most important is that, while David had permitted his return to Jerusalem, he did not want to see his son.

The words translated come into my presence and come into the king’s presence are more literally “see my face” and “see the face of the king.” As noted in 3.13, this is a technical expression meaning “to come into the king’s court by invitation of the king.” Nueva Biblia Española says “because I do not want to receive him.” The primary sense here is not that Absalom never saw David at all, though that is probably intended, but rather that David never invited him to appear before him while he sat on his throne. In certain languages it will be more natural to translate this literally rather than following either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation.

So represents the common Hebrew conjunction, but here indicates that, as a result of David’s command, Absalom did what he had ordered.

The precise fulfillment of the king’s commands is underlined by the repetition of all the elements of his original order. Unless this repetition is especially unnatural in the receptor language, it should be retained.

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 .