Let not my lord regard: literally “Please let not my lord set his heart on.” The “heart” in Hebrew thought is the center of thinking and decision making. The element of politeness contained in the use of the expression my lord is reflected by the use of the word “please” in Good News Translation. “Please, sir” might be even better.

This ill-natured fellow: literally “this man of Belial.” See the comments on 1.16 and verse 17 above.

The Hebrew contains a play on words between the name Nabal and the word translated “folly.” This play on words may need to be explained in a footnote, if the words for as his name is, so is he are to make sense in the receptor language. The Hebrew word n-b-l means fool, but the word also seems to suggest some lack of moral uprightness. For this reason some versions translate with a term other than “fool.” Compare Revised English Bible (“He is just what his name Nabal means: ‘Churl’ is his name, and churlish his behavior”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“for his nature is like his name; ‘Brute’ is his name and brutal he is”). Fox gives the Hebrew name followed by a slash and the translation of the name, that is, “Naval/Vile-One.” In a footnote Fox states “In some other contexts it [Nabal] means ‘fool, foolish-one.’ A more colloquial translation might use contemporary ‘jerk’ or ‘idiot.’ ”

Did not see the young men: Abigail implies that she had not seen the servants at all, but since she eventually spoke to at least one of them later (verse 14), Good News Translation states this differently, saying only that “I wasn’t there when your servants arrived.” But the purpose of her statement is clearly to get David to put the blame on her.

The young men … whom you sent: that is, David’s servants. See verses 5-11.

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 .