In the overall context of the conversation between David and Ziba, the words the king said may be better translated “the king asked,” and Ziba said may be more naturally “Ziba answered.”

Your master’s son: as has already been noted (9.9-10), Mephibosheth was actually the grandson rather than the son of Saul. In some languages it may be quite natural to use the word “son” in this way, but in many others the more precise and correct word “grandson” should be used. Similarly, later in the verse my father may be better translated “my grandfather” in order to avoid confusion. If the direct quotation is made indirect, “his grandfather” will be more appropriate.

Behold: see 1.2 and 1 Sam 2.31, as well as the discussion of this term in the introduction, page 18.

The quotation within the larger quotation at the end of this verse should probably be made indirect in many languages for the sake of naturalness and clarity of meaning. Good News Translation provides a model for doing this.

The house of Israel: this, of course, refers to the “people of Israel” or “the Israelites” and should probably be so translated in most languages. More specifically the reference may be to the northern tribes. If this interpretation is followed, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente may serve as a model: “He thinks that now the Israelites of the north will restore to him….” But here, as in 15.2, it is probably better not to be this specific, since Israel may refer to both the southern and northern tribes.

Give me back: the kingdom could not, of course, be literally “given back” to Saul, since he was already dead. And since Mephibosheth had never ruled as king, the words give … back may not be appropriate in some languages. What Mephibosheth meant was that as Saul’s grandson he would be made king and that in this way the kingdom would be restored, or given back, to the family of Saul. Compare Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente: “… restore to him the kingdom that was his father’s.”

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 .