The initial words in this verse are translated as a rhetorical question by Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation transforms the question into a statement indicating that this was not the first time that Ahimelech had consulted God for David (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has precisely the opposite meaning, “This is the first time that I inquired of God for him; I have done no wrong….”
Is today the first time…? is literally “Today I began.” It is sometimes difficult to know whether some Hebrew words should be understood as marking their sentences as statements or questions. Here either is possible. Good News Translation (also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) apparently understands the words to be a rhetorical question, with the implied answer “No.” So Good News Translation then turns the rhetorical question into a statement saying that this is not the first time (so also Nueva Biblia Española). Though the translation in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is certainly possible, most modern translations agree with the interpretation found in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.
Ahimelech first refers to both himself and Saul using the third person (the king and his servant). He then refers to himself in the third person and to Saul in the second person (your servant). It should be clear that Ahimelech is referring to himself; at the same time the respectful form of address should be maintained.
No! is literally “far be it from me.” See the comments on this expression at 2.30. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which states that this was the first time Ahimelech had consulted God for David, translates these words “I have done no wrong.” However, most translations that understand Ahimelech to have consulted God on other occasions for David say something like “Indeed it was not!” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “No indeed!” (New American Bible). The translation of these words will depend in part on the way the first part of this sentence is understood and translated.
Impute anything to his servant: literally “put [or, place] on his servant a word.” The English word impute is sometimes used as a technical theological term in discussions of the apostle Paul’s theology. Here, however, the Hebrew verb means simply that the king should not consider Ahimelech to be guilty of any wrongdoing. New Jerusalem Bible rewords this by saying “The king has no grounds for bringing any charge against his servant.”
Nothing of all this, much or little: the matter to which Ahimelech refers is David’s plot against Saul. La Bible du Semeur fills out the meaning, translating “I have never had any idea of plotting against you!”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .