If verses 17-19 have been treated as a flashback, then verse 20 resumes the story from verse 16.

David made a feast: this wording may give the impression to some readers that David himself prepared the food for the meal. But this was surely not the case. Although New Revised Standard Version retains this wording, most modern English versions say “gave a feast” or “held a feast” (New Jerusalem Bible). Fox says “a drinking-feast,” since the Hebrew word comes from a root that means “to drink.” The Hebrew word denotes a feast at which wine was served. In some languages it will be more natural to use a causative form of the verb, saying something like “caused much food to be prepared for them” or “caused them to eat a big meal.”

Abner and the men who were with him: this expression at the end of the verse repeats the same information given at the beginning. For this reason the pronoun “them” may be substituted as in Good News Translation.

The following restructuring of the verse as a whole may serve as a good model for some languages:

• Abner brought twenty men with him as he came to see David at Hebron. And David had a big meal prepared for Abner and all his company.

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 .