So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron: this does not represent a different encounter between the leaders of Israel and David. It is rather a continuation and elaboration of the scene already set in verses 1 and 2. A literal rendering of this passage may therefore give the reader or hearer a false impression. Contemporary English Version avoids this by translating the whole first part of the verse “During the meeting….” Another possible model is to begin the verse with a temporal clause like “When the elders of Israel had come in this way to King David at Hebron….” On the word elders see 3.17 and the discussion in 1 Sam 4.3. Instead of using only the title the king in the first case, and the name plus the title King David in the second, it may be better in a number of languages to reverse this, or possibly to substitute a pronoun in the second case.

Covenant: see 3.12.

Before the LORD: the idea contained in these words is translated by the adjective “sacred” in Good News Translation. See the comments on 1 Sam 1.12 and 2 Sam 3.28, where the same expression is used.

Anointed: see 1.14 and discussion in 1 Sam 2.10.

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 .