But: this conjunction is used because the story turns from impossibility in the previous verse to a possible solution to Amnon’s problem by the introduction of a very shrewd person.

A friend: as the text goes on to explain, Jonadab was actually the cousin of Amnon as well as of Tamar and Absalom. But at this point the text emphasizes their friendship, and this emphasis should be retained in translation.

Son of Shime-ah, David’s brother: some translators may prefer to add a special term, such as “nephew,” showing the relationship between David and Jonadab. Since this brother of David is called “Shammah” in 1 Sam 16.9 and 17.13, it will be better to use the same spelling here. Shammah was the third son of Jesse.

A very crafty man: the word here translated crafty is elsewhere rendered “wise.” The Hebrew term refers not only to intellectual wisdom but also to practical wisdom. Fox, therefore, says that Jonadab was “an exceedingly worldly-wise man.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New American Bible use the word “clever” in this context, while Revised English Bible has “shrewd.” The fact that his cleverness is used in a deceitful way gives rise to translations that emphasize his underhandedness. Some languages use expressions like “bad wisdom” to describe craftiness.

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 .