The first part of this verse repeats certain elements in the previous verses, showing that the prophet fulfilled rather precisely what the LORD had instructed him to do.
Told him, and said to him is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Good News Translation expresses the sense: first Gad told David what the LORD had said, and then Gad said, that is, “asked” him the three questions. The pronouns you and your in this verse are all second person singular.
The three alternatives begin as questions, Shall …, will you flee …, and shall there be …, but in most languages it will be better to begin with an overall question like “Which do you prefer…?” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “What do you choose among these three things:…?” Then it will be possible to list the three choices, beginning each one with “Do you want…?”
Three years: this translates the Septuagint and agrees with the Hebrew parallel in 1 Chr 21.12. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, recommends the reading of the Masoretic Text, “seven years,” giving it a {B} evaluation. While many versions seem to prefer the reading of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (including New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version, Osty-Trinquet,Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nueva Biblia Española, Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel), many other translations adopt the reading of the Masoretic Text: New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, La Bible Pléiade, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Contemporary English Version. It is easy to see how copyists may have harmonized this figure with the two other cases of the number “three” in this verse. But the parallel in 1 Chr 21.12 as well as the ancient Greek version clearly have “three.” Given the uncertainty of the text, translators may do well to use the figure found in the most commonly used versions in their area.
Pestilence: the same term is translated “plague” in Exo 9.3 (compare also Lev 26.25). This term refers to a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is very deadly and destructive. In some languages it may have to be translated “a terrible sickness that will kill many people.”
Consider, and decide: or “think about these three possibilities and choose one.”
What answer I shall return: or “how I am to answer” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “what reply I shall take back” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
To him who sent me: this clearly refers to Yahweh, and in some languages it will be better to avoid any uncertainty by saying “to the LORD who sent me” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or possibly simply “to the LORD.”
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 .