Then: marking the next in the series of events. The transition word used here will be determined in some measure by the decision about the textual question at the end of the previous verse.

Commanded: literally “commanded saying.”

Mark: the verb used here really means “look,” “observe,” or “perceive” and is followed in Hebrew by the common particle of entreaty, which neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation translate. He is asking that his servants pay special attention to the state of Amnon so that action can be taken at the proper time. Other versions translate “watch” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “watch your chance” (Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible, on the other hand, takes this as meaning “Listen carefully!” and New International Version translates similarly. But this is not advised.

When Amnon’s heart is merry with wine: while the Hebrew uses the expression involving merriment of the heart, other languages will have very different ways of describing the effects of too much wine. Some may say more directly “when he becomes a little bit drunk,” while others may have more picturesque ways of saying the same thing: “when his head begins to turn,” “when the wine makes him sing,” or “when the wine causes him to start to doze.” Compare Ruth 3.7, where the same Hebrew idiom occurs.

When I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon’: while this includes a direct quotation of what Absalom plans to say in the future, it should probably be made indirect in many languages. Translators may say “when I command you, kill him,” or “when I instruct you to do it, take his life.”

Have I not commanded you? This question has the effect of telling the servants that they will not be held accountable for what they were about to do. They would be simply following orders from their master. But it will be unwise to retain the form of a question in many languages. Rather the meaning can be translated as “for it is I who order you to do it” (New American Bible).

Be courageous and be valiant: this is an additional way of telling the servants not to be afraid. Similar words are used to encourage people in times of political change (see the comments on the same idiom in 2 Sam 2.7).

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 .