Now: the Hebrew text here has the transition verb that is sometimes rendered “And it came to pass” (King James Version). The verb is followed by a word meaning “later” or “following this.” New American Standard Bible translates the two terms together as “Now it was after this that…,” while New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh begins the chapter with “This happened some time afterward:….” Anderson says the same thing in a slightly different way: “Another incident took place some time later.” And New International Version has “In the course of time….” Given the importance of this transition device in 2 Samuel, it is probably better not to omit it altogether as Good News Translation has done. The same device is found at 1.1; 2.1; 10.1; 15.1; 17.21; and 21.18.

There may be minor variations in the word order of some parts of this verse. For example, in some languages it will be more natural to say “Absalom, son of David,” while others will prefer “the son of David who was called Absalom.”

Sister: Absalom and Tamar had the same father (David) and the same mother (Maacah). In some languages it may sound very unnatural to state the relationships in the same way as the Hebrew does. A more natural rendering may be “David had a son named Absalom and another son named Amnon. He also had a beautiful daughter named Tamar who had the same mother as Absalom.” Good News Translation adds the information that Tamar was not yet married. This information is actually moved forward from the following verse, which speaks of Tamar being a “virgin.” Since it is so important to the story, Good News Translation introduces the idea at the very beginning. The adjective beautiful refers to outward, physical appearance.

When Amnon is called David’s son after the same terminology has been used in speaking of Absalom, it will be better to say “another one of David’s sons” or possibly “one of David’s sons by another wife.” Amnon was born to David by Ahinoam, who was from Jezreel, a town of Judah (see 3.2). Amnon was therefore a half brother of Absalom and Tamar, and he was David’s oldest son (3.2).

After a time: these words do not appear here in the Hebrew, but apparently in Revised Standard Version they are a way of rendering the transition expression discussed at the beginning of this verse. But they seem out of place here. New Revised Standard Version shifts this idea back to the very beginning of the verse and translates it “Some time passed.”

Loved her: the verb used here has a rather broad range of meanings, from friendship to sexual attraction. The idiom “fell in love with her” is used by Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, and many other modern English versions. But New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh may be more accurate in view of the rest of the story, “became infatuated with her.” Other languages may say things like “felt a desire for her” or “wanted to embrace her.”

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 .