Far be it from me: on this strong form of denial, see 1 Sam 2.30; 12.23; 20.9. And note also that the formula is used twice in succession here. This repetition makes the denial even stronger. In other languages expressions of denial may have a very different form. Some may say “Never in my life” or “Not at all,” or a threefold repetition of the word “No [or, Never].”

There is no expressed object for the verbal expressions swallow up or destroy, which are repeated from the previous verse, but it is quite clear that the city of Abel is what is intended. This may be supplied in those languages that require an object in such a context. The Hebrew verb rendered destroy is different from the verb so translated in the previous verse. The verb there means “to kill,” while the verb here means “to cause to spoil” or “to bring ruin on.”

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 .