Sheba: the traditional Hebrew text has only the pronoun “he” (King James Version and New American Standard Bible) at this point, but it will be essential to use the name in most languages, as has been done in Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other modern translations. This is all the more important in versions that begin a new section at this point (New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible, for example). Most interpreters have understood the pronoun as referring to Sheba and make this name explicit (so, for example, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation). But, as below, the pronoun “he” in this verse should be understood as referring to Joab (so Bible en français courant), not to Sheba.

Passed through all the tribes of Israel: if the subject is Sheba, then the idea is that, in his effort to gain support for his revolt against David, Sheba went from one tribe to another proclaiming his message. There is no clear indication, however, that he was accompanied by large groups of men. But if, as seems more likely, the subject is Joab, the sense is that Joab sent from one tribe to another enlisting support against Sheba. In some languages it will be more natural to say “passed through the land of all the tribes of Israel.” Here, of course, Israel refers again specifically to the northern tribes, and for this reason Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “the territory of the tribes of the north.”

Abel of Beth-maacah: the wording of Revised Standard Version suggests that the name of the town was Abel and that it was in a region called Beth-maacah. The text here says literally “to Abel and to Beth-maacah,” but in verse 15 it says “Abel of Beth-maacah.” And it is almost certain that the two refer to the same place. The more usual form “Abel-beth-maacah” is found in 1 Kgs 15.20. It is probably best to take it as a single place name composed of three parts rather than understanding it as containing a reference to a region that is otherwise unknown in the Old Testament. In verse 18 it is referred to as simply “Abel.” It was a fortified city very near to Dan in the extreme northern part of Israel, about forty kilometers (or twenty-five miles) north of the Lake of Galilee.

The Bichrites: the traditional Hebrew text has “the Berites” at this point, and this is followed by Goldman, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, New Century Version, New American Standard Bible, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. But this name is unknown elsewhere in the Old Testament, and many interpreters think it makes much better sense to understand it as a reference to other descendants of Bichri who were the natural allies of Sheba (see verse 1). And, in fact, this is the solution followed in most modern translations. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project acknowledges that the text is corrupt at this point, and in the preliminary report it recommends the reading “all the chosen ones.” This proposed correction of the Masoretic Text requires small changes in the Hebrew noun and finds support in the reading of the Vulgate. This seems to be what Contemporary English Version follows when it translates “All of his best soldiers.”

In the final report, however, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends a different correction of the Masoretic Text, and this is the recommendation of this Handbook also. The initial consonant he is corrected to cheth and the vowels are changed, resulting in a change from the Bichrites to the participle “those joining.” The subject of the following verbs is then those who joined with Joab.

Followed him in: that is, into the town of Abel-beth-maacah. In many cases it will be necessary to translate “followed him into the town,” as Contemporary English Version has done.

Following the correction of the Hebrew text recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, the following translation of verses 14 and 15a may serve as a model:

• And Joab passed through all the territory of the northern tribes to the city of Abel Beth Maacah. And all the people of this territory joined him. And they assembled and followed Joab to the town. And they came and besieged the city….

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 .