A new section is started at this point by New American Bible and Contemporary English Version, but it is probably sufficient to begin a new paragraph.

The summit: this is a reference to the top of the Mount of Olives mentioned in verse 30. In some languages it may be helpful to make this clear.

Where God was worshiped: the passive form here may be made active as “where people used to worship God” (New International Version and New Century Version), or it may be possible to speak of “a place of worship” (Good News Translation) in some languages.

Behold: the Hebrew focusing particle used here may be left untranslated in some languages, or it may be rendered by an entirely different kind of form. Here it serves to highlight the dramatic entrance of Hushai.

Hushai the Archite: apart from the story of Hushai, the only mention of the Archites is found in Josh 16.2. Their territory is said to have been between Bethel and Ataroth, and they were a part of the tribe of Benjamin. The word Archite here is probably intended to indicate the clan from which Hushai came. It may therefore be rendered “of the clan of the Archites.” Good News Translation brings forward from verse 37 the information that Hushai is David’s “friend.” On the meaning and translation of this word, see the comments in verse 37.

His coat rent and earth upon his head: on these signs of mourning, see 1.2 and 1 Sam 4.12. In some cases these ideas will have to be rendered by active verbs with Hushai as subject, “He had torn his coat and put dirt on his head.” New Century Version provides a good model for some languages by making it very clear that these actions were “to show how sad he was.”

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 .