Horn of oil: The Hebrew word translated horn refers here to a container made from an animal horn and used for holding liquids (the same term occurs in 1 Sam 16.1). The relationship between the words horn and oil should be made clear in translation; for example, Good News Translation says “the container of olive oil” and Parole de Vie says “the horn filled with oil.” The oil was “olive oil” (see Exo 30.22-25), and this may be made explicit as Good News Translation and New Living Translation have done.

The tent is the Tent of the LORD’s presence that David had brought to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6.17). Since a specific tent is being referred to, it may be best to follow the example of Good News Translation in stating that this was “the Tent of the LORD’s presence.” Contemporary English Version says “the sacred tent.” This same tent is referred to by its fuller name in Hebrew as “the tent of meeting” in 1 Kgs 8.4.

Since Zadok must have taken the horn before he went down to Gihon, Good News Translation correctly uses the past perfect “had brought” in English.

Anointed Solomon: See the comments on verse 34. New Living Translation says “poured it on Solomon’s head.”

The subject in the expression they blew the trumpet is indefinite and does not refer to any particular group of people already named in the text. The singular trumpet is to be understood collectively here as in verse 34. In languages where the passive form is commonly used, it will be possible to say “trumpets were blown” (similarly Contemporary English Version). But in other cases it may be necessary to say “some people blew trumpets.”

In the Old Testament all the people sometimes refers to the Israelite people as a whole, but here and in the following verse it seems to refer specifically to the small group of people mentioned in verses 32-38.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .