In the context of the conversation between David and the Gibeonite leaders, the verb twice repeated, said, may be better translated “responded” or “answered” in the first case and “asked” in the second. Compare Good News Translation.
The Hebrew says “Not to me of silver or gold.” The margin of the Masoretic Text, however, indicates that the pronoun “us” should be read, that is, “Not to us of silver or gold.”
Not a matter of silver or gold: the Gibeonites made it very clear that their problem with Saul and his family could not be solved by money. In those languages where the names of the two metals are problematic, it is possible to translate the sense of the text by using a more general term for “money.” Some may say, for example, “Money is not sufficient to solve the matter” or “The problem cannot be settled by giving us any amount of money [no matter how great].”
Between us and Saul or his house: that is, between the Gibeonites and the family or descendants of Saul. Since Saul himself was already dead, members of his family were held responsible for what he did.
Neither is it for us to put any man to death: this has been understood by some to mean either that the death of any single individual in Israel would be inadequate to atone for the wrong, or that the death of an Israelite not from Saul’s family would be inadequate. This interpretation is found in New Jerusalem Bible, “nor by putting to death one man in Israel,” and Revised English Bible, “and there is no other man in Israel whose death would content us.” Bible en français courant similarly says “Our difference with Saul and his family can’t be settled with silver or gold nor in putting to death an Israelite.” But other interpreters take it to mean that the Gibeonites were saying that they had no right to kill any Israelites unless David gave his permission, and this is probably the intended meaning. This interpretation is found in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which reads “we have no claim on the life of any other man in Israel,” and Contemporary English Version, “we don’t have the right to put any Israelite to death.” The Gibeonites had no right to execute any of David’s subjects without his permission, but they were suggesting that the only solution to the problem would be found in the taking of life. The responsibility was thereby placed squarely on David. The translation in Good News Translation says that the Gibeonites did not want to kill any Israelite, but the meaning is more likely that found in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Contemporary English Version.
The response of David, What do you say…? allows the Gibeonites to define the terms that they would consider an acceptable way of resolving the problem. In effect he was saying “Whatever you say I will do for you” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “I’ll do whatever you ask” (Contemporary English Version). Others may prefer to translate “What do you think I should do?” or “What would you like for me to do?”
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 .