Since verse 24 already indicated that David had gone to Mahanaim, the verb tense or the verb itself may have to be changed here. New Century Version attempts to deal with the problem by restructuring the sentence and putting David in a subordinate clause: “Shobi, Makir and Barzillai were at Mahanaim when David arrived.” Then New Century Version goes on to give the details about each of these three participants. This may be a good model for others to follow, since the structure of Revised Standard Version (following the Hebrew) is rather complicated.

Shobi was probably the king of the Ammonites and the brother of Hanun (10.1). Some scholars indicate that he was probably appointed by David after the conquest of Rabbah (see 10.1-3 and 12.26-31). On Rabbah see also 11.1.

Machir and Lodebar are mentioned earlier at 9.4-5.

The Gileadite from Rogelim: Rogelim is mentioned only here and in 19.31. It was apparently a town located to the east of Mahanaim in the region of Gilead. Since these men were in the territory of Gilead (verse 26), it is possible to translate this “who was from the town of Rogelim in that region.” The reader learns more about Barzillai in chapter 19.

Verses 27 through 29 are a single sentence in Hebrew, but this sentence is far too long and complex to be translated literally. Even if verse 27 is not broken down following the model of New Century Version as suggested above, there should certainly be a full stop at the end of this verse.

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 .