Absalom said to him: literally “Absalom said to him, saying….”

Thus has Ahithophel spoken: there is obviously something that has been left to the understanding of the reader at this point. The word Thus, literally “According to this word,” is an indication that Absalom explained to Hushai in some detail the plan that Ahithophel had proposed. But in very many languages it may be better to make the first part of the quotation indirect rather than direct. The translation may read something like “Absalom told him what Ahithophel had proposed and then asked…” or “Absalom reported the plan recommended by Ahithophel. Then he asked Hushai….”

You speak: that is, “you make a different proposal,” “what do you say?” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “can you come up with anything better?” (Contemporary English Version). Absalom was giving Hushai an opportunity to suggest a different plan in the event that he did not agree with the one made by Ahithophel. The pronoun you may be understood as emphatic in the Hebrew. In English this emphasis can be shown in print by the use of italic font. Fox, for example, says “If not, you speak.” But translators should use other means if they are available, in order to communicate the meaning to the hearers as well as to the readers.

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 .