The proper noun the Cushite is again used twice in rapid succession in this verse, but it may be have to be replaced by pronouns in some languages.

David repeats the question he had asked of Ahimaaz in verse 29 in almost exactly the same way. This identity should be retained in translation, unless there are compelling contextual reasons for doing otherwise.

My lord the king: this unusual form of reference to royalty will again need to be rendered as in verse 28 and 31. The pronoun “your” will be appropriate here.

Translators should be careful to avoid giving the impression that the words all who rise up against you refer to another group that is different from “your enemies” (the enemies of my lord the king). These are simply two ways of referring to the same people who might oppose David.

The question about Absalom’s welfare is not answered directly by the second messenger, but the meaning was clear to David and was clear to the original readers and hearers of this passage. If there is a possibility that modern readers will not understand this, it will be possible to translate the last part of the verse as “be dead like that young man.” Or probably a better way of conveying this information, without putting additional words into the mouth of the Cushite, will be to begin the following verse as in New Century Version, “then the king knew that Absalom was dead.”

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 .