Then: the conjunction here may be seen as making a more logical connection. It was because of Joab’s double refusal to come to him that Absalom took the action described in this verse. So the transition word may be translated “Therefore” (Goldman) or “So” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Contemporary English Version, in fact, introduces this verse with the word “Finally,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “At this….”

The pronoun references may be unclear if translated literally into some languages. Translators should ensure that the readers and hearers of this story will know who is being talked about in each case.

See: this imperative verb has the sense of “seeing” but is also often used more figuratively as “perceive” or “consider.” Here Absalom is telling his servants to consider Joab’s field, which was located next to his. In some languages it is necessary to indicate whether the plural consists of two persons only or more than two. The Hebrew does not specify, but probably more than two are intended.

He has barley there: since the barley was in the field, it was still growing or possibly cut but not yet harvested. Whichever the case may have been, the servants of Absalom were instructed to destroy it with fire in order to get Joab’s attention. But in languages that use different terms for grain that is still growing and grain that has been cut, it will probably be better to use the word for what is still growing in the field. In those cultures where barley does not exist, translators will have to use a more general term for “grain” or borrow the word from the dominant language in the area. If this is done it will be helpful to add an explanation in the glossary and include an illustration in the text. Compare Ruth 1.22.

At the end of this verse, the Septuagint has an addition that is the basis for the following words in New American Bible: “Joab’s farmhands came to him with torn garments and reported to him what had been done.” Compare also the addition in Anchor Bible, “Joab’s servants came to him with their clothes torn and said, ‘The servants of Abishalom have set the property on fire.’ ” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggests that these words in the Greek were added to introduce Joab’s reaction in the next verse, and most translations seem to agree with this understanding. But Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament also acknowledges that these words may have been original and were accidentally omitted from the Hebrew, and therefore only gives the Masoretic Text a {D} rating.

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 .