But translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context it expresses contrast between the fact that only Amnon has been killed and the report (verse 30) that all of David’s sons had been killed.

The son of Shime-ah: or better, “the son of Shammah,” as discussed in verse 3.

The son of … David’s brother: in some languages it will be more natural to speak of “David’s nephew” at this point. However, the meaning of a literal rendering will be more precise, since it will exclude the possibility that Jonadab was the son of David’s sister.

Let not my lord suppose: literally “Do not say, my lord.” Since my lord is a polite way of speaking to the king, it will have to be replaced by an equally polite formula that is also natural in the receptor language. Note that Good News Translation has “Your Majesty.” The rest of this clause may be rendered something like “you shouldn’t believe the report that…” or “don’t accept the hearsay….”

That they have killed: the pronoun subject is indefinite and these words may easily be rendered by a passive construction where such forms are natural. Some may prefer “that someone [or, some people] have killed.” Another possibility is to say “that all your sons have died.”

All the young men the king’s sons: the words the king’s sons are in apposition to all the young men. Compare New Jerusalem Bible, “all the young men, the king’s sons.” Revised English Bible and New American Bible say “all the young princes.” Since Jonadab is speaking directly to David, it will be more natural in most languages to say “all of your sons” instead of all … the king’s sons. Compare verses 23, 27, 29, and 30.

For by the command of Absalom this has been determined: or, more literally, “this has been decided by the command [literally ‘the mouth’] of Absalom.” The difficulty in understanding the meaning of these words lies in the word rendered determined in Revised Standard Version. This word occurs only here in the Old Testament. Some interpreters understand the Hebrew word to be a noun meaning “scowl,” that is, as referring to an expression on the face of Absalom (Revised English Bible and Moffatt). Others understand this to be a rare passive participle of the verb meaning “to determine” (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible). Probably it is best to understand it as showing Absalom’s determination that was a result of his anger. Some possible alternatives renderings are “Absalom has been promising himself to do this” (New Jerusalem Bible); “Absalom planned this…” (New Century Version); “This has been Absalom’s expressed intention…” (New International Version). Anchor Bible follows a slightly different text meaning “this happened because of Abishalom’s anger….”

From the day he forced his sister Tamar: the first part of this is often translated “ever since….” The pronoun references may have to be clarified in this clause. It was, of course, Amnon who forced Tamar to have sex with him, but the pronoun in the expression his sister almost certainly refers to Absalom. On the word translated forced, compare verses 12, 14, and 22. Moffatt makes the referents quite clear, with “for ever since Amnon violated Absalom’s sister Tamar, there has been a scowl on the face of Absalom.” It is doubtful, however, that Moffatt has correctly translated the word rendered determined in Revised Standard Version.

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 .