But: since the reaction of the Ammonite leaders is contrary to what is expected, the Hebrew conjunction may be translated in this way. But this will depend to some extent on the structuring of the end of verse 2.

Princes: these were not sons of a king, as in English. Other versions have rendered it “officials” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “nobles” (New International Version), and “important men” (New Century Version). They may also have been military commanders (see discussion of this word at 1 Sam 8.12).

Their lord: this has the same root as the word that is sometimes used for God, but is also commonly used as a term of respect for people who rule others. Some languages may translate “their chief” or “their master.”

Is honoring your father: literally “is honoring your father in your eyes.” By qualifying the verb honoring with the word “really,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh emphasizes their doubt that David is sincere. New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible give the same effect by attaching “really” to the verb think earlier in the verse.

The city, that is, the capital city of the Ammonites, Rabbah (see 11.1; 12.26; also the comments on 1 Sam 11.1). In order to make the reference clearer, Contemporary English Version has the Ammonite officials say “our city.”

The purpose of the two questions asked by the Ammonite leaders is to cause hostility and destroy confidence between David and Hanun. The implication, of course, is that David is deceitful, and that he actually wants to conquer Hanun’s kingdom. In some languages it will be more natural to make these statements directly rather than by implication in the form of questions. It is possible, for example, to say something like:

• David is not sending comforters to you because he wants to honor your father. He is just sending them to look at the city so that he can take it over.

Or another possible model is:

• David is sending people only to pretend to show his sorrow, not because he really cared about your father. He only wants to see where our weak points are so that he can defeat us and make us his subjects.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .