He said: in order to avoid ambiguity it may be better to begin this verse with “David replied” or something similar, as Good News Translation has done. The initial word of David’s reply, Good, is intended to show his agreement with Abner’s proposal of a military alliance. It may be better translated in some languages by a complete sentence, such as “It is good” or “I agree.”

The personal pronoun I [will make a covenant] is emphatic in the Hebrew. Such a use of personal pronouns is common in Hebrew in reply to an invitation or to a question, especially in the case of a solemn promise, as here. Chouraqui preserves the emphatic pronoun here in his very literal translation, but other translations do not.

One thing: the use of the word thing does not mean that David is asking for a physical object. The idea is rather that “one action” will be required, that of bringing Michal to David. The story of David’s winning the right to marry Michal is told in 1 Sam 18.

The word unless introduces the condition required before Abner could meet with David. Certain languages may require considerable restructuring in order to convey the meaning. One possibility is to say something like “I am asking you to do one thing: Bring to me my wife, Michal, the daughter of Saul; only then will you be able to meet with me.”

When you come to see my face: that is, “when you come into my presence” or “when you come before me.” Some languages will more naturally say “when you come before my eyes.” “To see the face of the king” is an idiom that means “to be allowed to enter into the king’s court for an official visit.” This idiom occurs again in chapter 14 regarding Absalom’s return to Jerusalem. Nueva Biblia Española says “I will not receive you.”

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 .