If the quotation in the previous verse is made indirect, it will be necessary to introduce a direct quotation at the beginning of this verse. Good News Translation does so by supplying “Hushai added….”

Now therefore: literally “And now.” But there may be a logical connection to be understood. New Revised Standard Version retains “Therefore.” Many versions, however, take this as simply introducing the next step in the fast-moving story and leave out any logical marker.

As indicated in Revised Standard Version this verse contains a quotation within a larger quotation. Hushai tells Zadok and Abiathar what the messengers are to say to David. In many languages it will be better to make this internal quotation indirect rather than direct, as has been done in Good News Translation.

Lodge: this represents the same verb as the one translated spend the night in verse 8. Here it may be rendered “camp” (An American Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) or “spend the night” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, and Revised English Bible as well as Good News Translation). In some languages the most natural translation here will be “sleep.”

The fords of the wilderness: see 15.28.

But by all means pass over: in addition to the conjunction and an emphatic adverb, a Hebrew construction is used here in which the verb is repeated in two forms to make it emphatic. A literal rendering is “and indeed to cross over you cross over.” The emphatic nature of the message is therefore shown in two different ways. Translators should look for ways of expressing the message in the most emphatic way possible in their own languages. In English some versions add the auxiliary verb “must” (Contemporary English Version). Others indicate the urgency by adding something like “at once” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “without fail” (New American Bible), or “as fast as you can” (New Jerusalem Bible) as a part of the quotation.

Lest: in many languages it will be better to translate this by beginning a completely new sentence, making explicit what is implied. The new sentence may begin “If you don’t do this….”

In the context of this direct quotation, the words the king refer to David, who is being addressed. This will be more naturally translated “you” or “your majesty” if the direct quotation is retained. But if it becomes indirect the pronoun should be adjusted to “he.”

Be swallowed up: the basic meaning of this Hebrew verb is “to swallow [something].” Here, as often in the Old Testament, it is used in a figurative sense to mean “destroyed” (New American Bible) or “annihilated” (New Jerusalem Bible). Revised English Bible translates “before an overwhelming blow can be launched.” But in those languages where passive forms are difficult, translators may have to say something like “before the soldiers of Absalom destroy you completely.”

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 .