Therefore translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context it may be translated Therefore or “So” since verse 2 expresses the logical consequence of verse 1. However, in this case some versions (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible) omit the conjunction altogether, leaving the logical relationship implicit.

His servants said to him: Translators must decide whether the Hebrew term rendered servants refers to domestic house servants or whether it has the more specific meaning of “officials” as in Good News Translation. Either meaning is possible here, but it seems more likely in the context that these were royal officials or “advisers” (New Living Translation), since they were involved in making important decisions about the king. Servants may refer to domestic servants, but this term also has a wide range of uses, indicating various types of subordination. Frequently in 1-2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings, this noun refers to officers of a king or of a military commander. In such contexts Good News Translation usually translates it with the term “officials.” Some other possible translations here are “courtiers” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “attendants” (Revised English Bible). For a fuller discussion on “servant,” see “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 12.

In Hebrew the servants first speak to the king in the third person (my lord the king … the king). Then they speak directly to him in the second person (your) and then again in the third person (my lord the king). Good News Translation has used second person pronouns throughout but has maintained the aspect of respect by saying “Your Majesty….” See the comments on “Indirect reference” in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 10.

Let a young maiden be sought: Young maiden translates two Hebrew nouns. The first one, naʿarah, means “young woman [or, maiden],” and may be used of young single girls who are still virgins or of young married women. The second word, bethulah, often is used to refer to virgins, but it is frequently the context and not the word itself that specifies the idea of virginity. The same nouns occur in the plural in Est 2.2, where the context strongly suggests that the sense is “young virgins.” The context here in 1 Kings is not specific, but the sense may well be “young virgin” (so New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Living Translation, Anchor Bible). In verses 3-4 the word “maiden” is used without the Hebrew word bethulah, but verse 2 sets the context in which later references to the “beautiful maiden” must be understood.

Let her wait upon the king, and be his nurse: The Hebrew verb translated wait upon is literally “stand before.” This idiom means “to serve.” The exact meaning of the Hebrew participle translated nurse here and in verse 4 is uncertain. The verb behind this participle means “to be of use,” “to be of service.” A general verbal construction such as “take care of” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible), “to nurse” (New American Bible), or “look after” (New Jerusalem Bible) may be used.

Let her lie in your bosom: The Hebrew word translated bosom may refer to a person’s lap or to the upper part of the body where one hugs a loved one. Compare “let her lie in your arms” (Revised English Bible) and “she will lie close beside you” (New Jerusalem Bible). In this context the sense is clearly that the young woman is expected to sleep with the king. Compare New American Bible: “If she sleeps with your royal majesty.” New International Version says “She can lie beside him,” but such a translation may not capture the physical contact implied in the Hebrew.

If it seems more natural to translate the direct discourse of this verse as indirect discourse in the receptor language, the following model may serve as an example:

• So his officials suggested that they should find a young woman to stay with the king and take care of him. They wanted someone to lie close to him and keep him warm.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .