But: This verse begins in Hebrew with the common conjunction. Here it clearly expresses contrast with those in verse 7 who supported Adonijah, so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other versions translate it “But.” New American Bible marks this contrast with the word “However.” Compare New Living Translation: “But among those who remained loyal to David and refused to support Adonijah were….”
Zadok is first mentioned in 2 Sam 8.17. He was a descendant of Eleazar, who was Aaron’s third son.
Benaiah was in charge of David’s bodyguards (2 Sam 8.18; 20.23).
Nathan the prophet is mentioned earlier in 2 Sam 7.2 and 12.25. The word prophet refers essentially to a person who serves as a channel of communication between God and human beings. He proclaims a message given to him by God. Translators should avoid conveying the mistaken idea that this word refers primarily to a person who predicts the future, since this is only rarely the case in the Old Testament. A prophet is rather a person who proclaims a message that he has received from God. It has therefore been translated “spokesperson for God,” “God’s message-giver,” or something similar.
As many as fifteen or sixteen different men in the Old Testament have the name Shimei. Nothing further is known of this individual, unless he is the same person mentioned in 1 Kgs 4.18 as one of Solomon’s administrators. Translators may wish to use a note in 1 Kgs 2.8 to indicate that Shimei the son of Gera is not the same person mentioned in this verse.
Rei is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament. One part of the Septuagint tradition reads “Shimei, and his friends, David’s mighty men,” and this is the basis for the New American Bible rendering “Shimei and his companions, the pick of David’s army.” In Hebrew the consonants of the noun meaning “friend” are the same as those in the name Rei. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament does not even discuss the textual variant here although it is discussed in Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. Nearly all translations follow the Masoretic Text, using the proper name. Translators are advised to do the same.
David’s mighty men: Usually in 2 Samuel, the expression “the mighty men” suggests a special group of well-trained men or professional soldiers who served in David’s army. The same meaning is intended here. Compare “the pick of David’s army” (New American Bible), “David’s champions” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “David’s bodyguard of heroes” (Revised English Bible).
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 .