But: the conjunction here marks a very definite contrast between the course of action proposed by Abishai and King David’s more temperate attitude. For this reason several English versions use the conjunction “But” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version).

The question What have I to do with you? has been rendered “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah?” (New International Version), but it is more likely a way of telling Abishai and Joab to mind their own affairs. New Century Version rightly translates “This does not concern you.” In Hebrew the pronoun you is plural. The same question is repeated in 19.22.

The use of the plural in David’s response to the question indicates that he was addressing not only Abishai but also his brother Joab. Both of these sons of Zeruiah are depicted as persistently seeing a military solution to problems that arose during David’s reign. And frequently Abishai in particular had to be restrained by his commander in chief, as, for example, in 1 Sam 26.8 and 2 Sam 19.21-23.

The embedded quotation ‘Curse David’ should almost certainly be made indirect in many languages. Similarly the second embedded direct quotation within the larger quotation should probably also be made indirect. A possible model with indirect quotations is “If he is cursing me because the LORD has told him to curse, then who may question what he is doing?” or as in Contemporary English Version, “If Shimei is cursing me because the LORD has told him to, then who are you to tell him to stop.”

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 .