He has sacrificed oxen, fatlings, and sheep in abundance: For sacrificed New American Bible has “slaughtered.” See the comments on the same verb in verse 9.

For the translation of the words fatlings and sheep, see the comments on verse 9. As in verse 9, Revised English Bible says “buffaloes,” that is, humped cattle, instead of fatlings. The Hebrew word translated oxen here is different from the word translated “oxen” in verse 9. The Hebrew word here usually refers to a fully grown male bovine, whether castrated or not, but it may also refer to a female animal. It may be translated “bulls,” oxen, or “cattle.” New Century Version renders this “cows,” but the English word “cows” refers to female cattle and is, therefore, a less common translation of the Hebrew noun.

The qualifying words, in abundance, are not found in verse 9 but they should not be omitted here, even though they may constitute an exaggeration on the part of Bathsheba. One way to translate the meaning is by qualifying the animals with “many” (Good News Translation) or “a lot of” (Contemporary English Version). Revised English Bible speaks of “great numbers of.”

All the sons of the king: Since Solomon was a son of David and was not invited, the sense is clearly “all your sons except Solomon.” In some languages it may be necessary to restructure the verse in order to make this meaning clear.

Since Joab was the commander of David’s army, it is acceptable and in some cases much more natural to say “the commander of your army” (Good News Translation, International Children’s Bible).

But Solomon your servant he has not invited: Good News Translation makes it clear that Solomon is the king’s “son,” but loses the sense that Solomon remains loyal to the king. A better model is International Children’s Bible, which has “But he did not invite Solomon, your son who serves you.” Compare also Contemporary English Version: “… except Solomon, your loyal servant.”

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 .