If a transition word is required here, it should probably be one such as “Then” (Good News Translation), indicating that David’s action in having the altar built followed the events described in the previous verse, and at the same time came as a consequence of those events. However, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and several other English versions see no need for an overt transition marker here.
Burnt offerings and peace offerings: see the comments on 1 Sam 10.8, and compare also chapters 1 and 3 of Leviticus. After these words the Septuagint adds “Later Solomon enlarged the altar because it was small at first.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text; and none of the modern versions consulted follows the Septuagint here.
Heeded supplications for the land: the words heeded supplications translate a single Hebrew verb, which appears also in 21.14. It means literally “was prayed to,” but it includes the idea that the requests were granted. The word supplications may be legitimately rendered “prayers.” The text does not indicate whose prayers are involved, but the context seems to imply that it was the prayers of David. For this reason Revised English Bible and New Century Version as well as Good News Translation say clearly “his prayers.” Nevertheless Contemporary English Version takes the absence of the possessive pronoun to mean that it was “the prayers of the people.” The expression heeded supplications for has also been understood by other translations as meaning “took pity on…” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “granted relief to…” (New American Bible).
The word land is translated “country” in New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, and others. But perhaps the focus should be on the people of the land, since they were the ones who were dying as a result of the epidemic. Some may prefer to say “the people of Israel.”
The plague was averted: as stated in verse 21 this was the ultimate purpose of David’s activities. The wording here shows that he was successful. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente keeps the focus on the fact that God was causing the plague, by saying “he stopped striking the people of Israel.”
While this verse provides an acceptable conclusion to the story presented in this chapter, some readers may find it a difficult way to end the book as a whole. However, it should be kept in mind that this was not really the end of a book for the readers of the Hebrew Bible. 1 Kings is a continuation of the material of 2 Samuel. And the first verse of 1 Kings continues “King David was now old….” If translators find it necessary, it is possible to add a footnote explaining to modern readers that the apparently abrupt ending of 2 Samuel is not the end, but that the narrative continues in the next book.
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 .