Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? It is unnecessary and probably not advisable in most languages to retain the word hand in the translation of this question. What David wanted to know is whether it was Joab who had prompted the woman to come to him with the shrewd plea for the return of Absalom. Contemporary English Version uses the idiomatic expression “Did Joab put you up to this?” Some other ways of saying this are “Isn’t Joab behind all this?” “Was Joab working with you in all this?” (Moffatt), and “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?” (New Century Version). The question should be asked in such a way as to indicate that David believed that the answer was positive.

The response of the woman continues the use of indirect references to herself and to the king. Within this quotation my lord the king will usually be translated “you” or “Your Majesty,” and your handmaid as “me” or some other more natural self-reference. On the other hand your servant refers not to the woman but to Joab and means “your official.” Since Joab was not simply “an official” but was the commander of David’s army, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente states “Joab, your general,” and this may be a useful model in those languages where such military terms exist.

As surely as you live: see the comments on 11.11 and 1 Sam 1.26.

One cannot turn to the right hand or to the left …: a literal translation of this phrase is certainly not advised. But these words may mean either “no one could avoid answering your question” or “you are right on target in what you have said.” Revised English Bible follows the first interpretation: “When your majesty asks a question, there is no way around it, right or left.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh follows the second interpretation, which seems more probable, translating “it is just as my lord the king says.” Compare also New American Bible, “it is just as your majesty has said, and not otherwise.” Another possible way of saying this is “it is impossible to deny what you have just said” or “no one can hide the truth from you” (Contemporary English Version).

Bade me: in modern English it is more natural to say “commanded me” (New Revised Standard Version), “gave me my orders” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “instructed me” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New International Version).

Put all these words in the mouth: on this expression see the comments under verse 3.

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 .