And: the beginning of a new paragraph may be adequate translation of the common transition word in this case.

The question Is this your loyalty…? is really a way of expressing surprise that Hushai, who was known for his closeness to David, had apparently abandoned his old friend. He does not really expect an answer to this question. It may conceivably be translated “You have been so loyal to your friend David. I am surprised that you are doing this!” The word translated loyalty is the same as discussed under 2.5 and 3.8.

Apparently Hushai’s friendship with David was well known even before these events took place. Absalom refers to David twice as your friend. But it will be helpful to ensure that readers in other languages know without any doubt that David is intended. It is for this reason that Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch say “your friend David,” although the second occurrence of the expression is replaced by a pronoun. Compare also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “… your friend? Why haven’t you followed David?”

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 .