Now, then: these words have a very definite time reference in this context. The idea is that Joab is requesting action on the part of his commander in chief at this time. But there is also a logical connection. The request comes at this time because the city of Rabbah is about to fall. New Jerusalem Bible, which combines the temporal and logical connections, may provide the best model: “So now….”

The rest of the people: the people involved here are fighting men. This is taken by some as an indication that there was a second group of Israelite reserves “living in huts” (see 11.11). In any case there were clearly more fighting men available, and Joab requested that these men be assembled by David to help in the final battle against Rabbah.

Encamp against the city: the verb plus the Hebrew preposition here gives rather the sense of an active siege against the city. Contemporary English Version uses the verb “surround” while Good News Translation has “attack.” This is the second in a series of three military terms that must be taken together: “muster … besiege … capture” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “assemble … join the siege … capture” (New American Bible). This middle term refers to the active siege.

Lest: another way of saying this is “otherwise.” But in many languages it will be better to start a new sentence at this point, beginning with the idea “If you do not [come for the battle], then….”

And it be called by my name: literally “and he will be called by the name of me to her.” To call a person’s name over something or someone showed that person’s ownership or dominance over the thing or person (compare 6.2, where the ark is called by the name of the LORD). Joab was concerned for the reputation of David and showed his desire to give the honor of victory to his commander in chief.

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 .

Tidings came to David: literally “tidings came to David saying.” While the word translated tidings is frequently used in the Bible, it is unusual for it to be the subject of a sentence as here. In 1 Sam 2.24 the same word is translated “report” and in 2 Sam 4.4 as “news.” This structure may be avoided by using a passive construction as in Good News Translation, if the language has such forms. Otherwise it may be better to say something like “David learned the news” or “Someone made a report to David.” In some languages the choice of words may be especially important here, since the report given to David was not actually true. Amnon was the only one of David’s sons who was killed. Anderson has the following rendering: “a hearsay reached David to the effect that….”

All the king’s sons: this is the same expression as in verses 23, 27, and 29. It occurs again in verse 33. Here, of course, it must be clear that David and the king refer to the same person. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “all your sons.”

Not one of them is left: that is, “none of them is still alive.” In some cases it will be more natural to say “they have all died.”

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 .

And: the content of what follows shows that the conjunction used here should be rendered by something marking contrast, since what follows is somewhat contrary to what the reader may have expected. Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible have “however.” Many other versions use the word “but” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, New International Version, New Century Version).

Let him dwell apart: while this clearly refers to Absalom, this may not be clear in some languages if a pronoun is used. The name may have to be used. The meaning of apart is further clarified by the words in his own house. What is most important is that, while David had permitted his return to Jerusalem, he did not want to see his son.

The words translated come into my presence and come into the king’s presence are more literally “see my face” and “see the face of the king.” As noted in 3.13, this is a technical expression meaning “to come into the king’s court by invitation of the king.” Nueva Biblia Española says “because I do not want to receive him.” The primary sense here is not that Absalom never saw David at all, though that is probably intended, but rather that David never invited him to appear before him while he sat on his throne. In certain languages it will be more natural to translate this literally rather than following either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation.

So represents the common Hebrew conjunction, but here indicates that, as a result of David’s command, Absalom did what he had ordered.

The precise fulfillment of the king’s commands is underlined by the repetition of all the elements of his original order. Unless this repetition is especially unnatural in the receptor language, it should be retained.

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 .

Carry the ark of God back into the city: Zadok is instructed to see to it that the Covenant Box is returned to its rightful place in Jerusalem. The fact that Zadok would not have done this alone may affect the translation at this point in some languages. It may be necessary to use a causative form and say something like “make the box return to the city” or “cause people to take the box back into Jerusalem.”

If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD: that is, “If the LORD is satisfied with me” or “Should I win Yahweh’s favor” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Bring me back: that is, to Jerusalem. It may be a good idea to make this clear in some languages.

His habitation: or “its habitation,” referring to the Covenant Box. Contemporary English Version has “his tent.” In either case the reference is essentially to the same object, the tabernacle where the Covenant Box was kept and which was also considered the special “dwelling place of Yahweh.” It is, however, probably better to translate “its dwelling place,” “the place where it is kept,” or “the house where it is.”

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 .

So: it is not essential to translate the common conjunction here; but if it is overtly represented, the connection is more logical than temporal. The action was taken as a result of the advice given.

They: there is no clear referent for this pronoun. Rather it is a way of saying that some unknown or unnamed persons performed the action, following instructions from Absalom. Translators may say “someone” or “some people.” Or, following Contemporary English Version, it may be possible to begin by saying that “Absalom had a tent set up….” The passive form is used in certain modern versions (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), and this may be reproduced in those languages that have natural passives in such a context.

Pitched a tent … upon the roof: since it is unthinkable to put a tent on the roof of a house in many cultures, translators must take special care in rendering these words. While the original readers and hearers understood that the roof was flat, this information may have to be supplied in other cultures. New Century Version and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, for example, translate clearly “put up a tent on the flat roof of the palace.” The use of the word tent in this context suggests a bridal tent set up for newly married people (compare Psa 19.4).

Went in to his father’s concubines: the same expression as is used in verse 20, but here it is in the past tense. See the comments above.

In the sight of all Israel: this probably does not mean that all the people of Israel watched the actual act of sexual intercourse, but rather that they were able to see Absalom go into the tent on the palace roof with David’s concubines, and that they knew what would happen inside.

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 .

The structure of King David’s response may seem backward in some languages, which will require that the words I will do … come first in the sentence rather than at the end. Note that Good News Translation, as well as New American Bible, Revised English Bible, and others, have reversed the order.

Whatever seems best to you: literally “what goes well in your eyes.” In some languages it may be better to transform the entire quotation into indirect discourse along the lines of what Knox has done, “the king told them he would abide by their judgement.”

So: the conjunction here is probably not a logical connector as the Revised Standard Version rendering seems to indicate. It is rather a marker of the next step in the sequence of events. It was simply after David had made his statement and not a result of his statement that he stepped aside as his army marched out to battle.

Stood at the side of the gate: all of the fighting men passed through the city gate of Mahanaim on their way out to the battle with Absalom’s forces. David therefore stood beside the gate to watch as his troops left the town.

By hundreds and by thousands: that is, according to the groups established in verse 1 above. In languages that have a technical military term for combat units, such as “squadrons,” that term may be used here: “in squadrons of hundreds and thousands” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

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 .

Then: the common conjunction is rendered in Good News Translation and several other modern versions by simply beginning a new paragraph. This may be the best approach in many other languages.

Came into the house to the king: it is uncertain what the house refers to in this case. Possibly David remained where he was when he first heard the news of Absalom’s death. There is no mention of his going elsewhere. In this case the house seems to refer to the room over the gate described in 18.33. But other interpreters think that he had returned to “his residence” (New American Bible) or “his quarters” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Others, however, take the whole expression to be less specific, meaning that Joab simply went “indoors to the king” (Anchor Bible) or “inside to the king” (New Jerusalem Bible). This seems somewhat more likely.

Covered with shame the faces of all your servants: the Hebrew verb may be translated simply “shamed” or “caused shame” rather than covered with shame. The face is often associated with feelings of shame (compare Psa 83.16 and Ezek 7.18). But it may be quite unnatural to include the word for faces in the translation of this expression. Some languages may say “You have caused all your soldiers to see [feel] shame” or “All your soldiers have become ashamed because of your mourning.”

It is quite possible that there is a certain amount of exaggeration in Joab’s statement. It is doubtful whether Absalom would have killed all the people mentioned, even if he had been completely victorious. But it was not uncommon for rebel leaders to kill the entire royal family of the deposed (compare 1 Kgs 15.29-30; 16.11; and 2 Kgs 10.6-7). However, the point is that the men loyal to David had risked their lives to save him and those close to him. But they were now feeling ashamed rather than proud.

On the translation of concubines see the comments on 3.7 and 5.13.

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 .

Then translates the word often rendered “Behold,” and it is so translated here by New American Standard Bible. This particle draws attention to the words that follow. So languages that have a similar function word may use it at the beginning of this verse.

All the men of Israel: that is, the soldiers of Israel from the northern tribes, who were mentioned in the previous verse. Some translators may be troubled by the fact that the word all is used here, while the previous verse spoke of half the people of Israel. Probably what is intended here is that “all of those who were present” came to David. It is also possible that all refers to representatives of the other northern tribes.

Came … and said: when the verb forms are translated in this way, they give the impression of a single event where a large number of Israelite soldiers came to David. It is, however, more likely that there was more than one occasion when the soldiers came with their complaints. The rendering of Anderson is therefore recommended: “kept coming … and saying.”

The question Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen you away…? is more of a complaint than a real question. For this reason it may be better translated as a statement: “Our kinsmen from Judah have taken you from us…” or “Our brothers from the tribe of Judah….”

David’s men: this will, of course, be translated “your men” in most languages, because the complaint is in the form of a direct quotation from the Israelite troops to David.

The threefold repetition of the word for king may again be intended to reinforce the notion that David is indeed the undisputed ruler, but such repetition may not serve the same purpose in the receptor language and may in fact sound very awkward.

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 .