Pray translates the Hebrew particle of entreaty, meaning “please.” Here it accompanies the verb ask.
He will not refuse you is literally “he will not turn back your face” (see the comments on verse 16 regarding this idiom). This statement interrupts the request of Adonijah and in some languages the placement of such a statement here will be considered unnatural. It will fit more logically at the end of the request and be rendered “I know that he will not refuse if you ask him.”
Abishag the Shunammite is first mentioned in 1 Kgs 1.3-4. See the comments there.
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 .
1Kings 2.:18
Once again the common verb meaning said in Hebrew may be more naturally translated in other ways in this ongoing conversation, for example, “replied” (New International Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “answered” (Knox).
Very well is literally “[It is] good.” Translators should feel free to employ whatever formula is naturally used when one person accepts a proposal or suggestion made by another person. In English it has been rendered in this context as “All right” (Contemporary English Version) or “Why, yes” (Knox).
In Hebrew the verb form itself for I will speak indicates that the subject is first person singular, so an independent pronoun is not necessary. Here, however, Hebrew has both a first person singular independent pronoun as well as the first person singular verb. Sometimes the presence of an independent pronoun indicates emphasis. But other times, as seems to be the case here, the presence of the pronoun is more for stylistic reasons and probably does not indicate emphasis. If, on the other hand, the pronoun is used for emphasis, the sense of Bathsheba’s response is “Very well, since you do not have direct access to the king, I myself will speak to him for you.”
For you: This rendering of the Hebrew prepositional phrase here suggests that Bathsheba is willing to speak “on your behalf” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible). However, some interpreters argue that Bathsheba is not agreeing to speak on behalf of Adonijah, but is only saying that she will speak to Solomon “about you” (New Jerusalem Bible). But verses 19-21 give support to the rendering “on your behalf.”
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 .