It was told David: literally, “David said,” but on the basis of the Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran, many interpreters change the form of the Hebrew verb to read “it was told David” (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most translations). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that the Hebrew text be corrected, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, and gives a {C} rating to the recommended reading. The passive form of Revised Standard Version may be made active in those languages where such a form will be impossible or unnatural. It is not known who informed David, so the translation will probably read something like “someone told David” or “they [indefinite] told David.” Even King James Version, which almost always follows the Masoretic Text, inserts the subject “one” into the text: “And one told David….” What was told is given in the form of a direct quotation, but it is not essential to retain this form. It may be transformed into indirect speech as in Good News Translation, if this is more natural in the receptor language.

I pray thee: the use of the archaic pronoun thee in Revised Standard Version when addressing God has been dropped in New Revised Standard Version. This whole phrase may be legitimately translated “please” as in Good News Translation and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh or “I beg you” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The counsel of Ahithophel: the man named Ahithophel had been one of David’s best advisors. Readers learn later (16.23) that he was famous for his good advice. But he had turned against David to become Absalom’s chief advisor. This may be the same person who was the grandfather of Bathsheba (23.34).

Turn … into foolishness: foolishness is the opposite of wisdom, a quality much sought after in advisors. The term is used in the story of Nabal (1 Sam 25.25) and is actually related to the name Nabal. In certain languages a causative form of the verb meaning “be foolish” may be the best translation of this expression. Anderson has “make nonsense of….” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh provides a different kind of model, with “frustrate.”

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 .