Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which is often rendered “and” (see the comments on this conjunction in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 13). In some languages it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction since the beginning of a new section and a new paragraph will indicate the beginning of a new thought. The division between 2 Samuel and 1 Kings is artificial (see the comments in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 6), and the Hebrew conjunction should be seen as connecting this verse with 2 Sam 20.26.
Was old and advanced in years is literally “was old, entered into days.” The words advanced in years are in apposition to was old. The Hebrew idiom “entered into days” occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament (for example, Gen 18.11; 24.1). Good News Translation has united these two expressions into the single expression “was now a very old man.” According to 2 Sam 5.4, David was thirty when he began to rule and he ruled for forty years. This corresponds to the normal life span indicated in Psa 90.10.
And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm: The second half of this verse in Hebrew is literally “and they covered him with the clothes and it was not warm for him.” The context clearly indicates that the sense is “despite the fact that they covered him, he could not get warm.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation correctly express this sense with the word although. The fact that the third person plural verb they covered has no clear subject may be a problem in some languages. Probably the reference is to some unnamed household servants as the Good News Translation translation suggests. But the reference could be to the officials mentioned in the following verse.
It is possible to understand the English translations in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation as referring to a single occasion when David was covered with blankets. The form of the final Hebrew verb, however, suggests that this was something that happened more than once. Anchor Bible therefore translates “they would cover him with clothes.” In certain languages this will be better translated by a habitual verb form to show the repeated nature of the action.
The Hebrew word translated clothes is a general word used of clothes and garments. It may refer, for example, to a king’s robe (1 Kgs 22.10), to the covering of the Covenant Box (Num 4.6, translated “cloth” in Revised Standard Version), or to bedclothing, as the context here requires. It is certainly legitimate here to translate “bedclothes” (Moffatt, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “covers” (New American Bible), or “blankets” (Contemporary English Version).
Instead of using the negative form he could not get warm, translators may prefer a positive statement of the same idea; for example, “he always felt cold” (Contemporary English Version).
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 .