Abner Defects to David

The following is a stained glass window from the Three choir windows in the Marienkirche, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, of the 14th century, depicting Abner’s defection to David:

Source: Der gläserne Schatz: Die Bilderbibel der St. Marienkirche in Frankfurt (Oder), Neuer Berlin Verlag, 2005, copyright for this image: Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Landesmuseum

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

See also other stained glass windows from the Marienkirche in Frankfurt.

complete verse (2 Samuel 3:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 3:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “When Ishbosheth had received those news, he sent people to remove Michal from the home of Paltiel son of Laish, because he had taken (her) to be his wife.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Isbosheth sent men and took Michal from her husband Palti, son of Laish and brought [her].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Ishboshet commanded to take-away Mical from her husband Paltiel the child of Laish.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Ishbosheth sent some men to take Michal from her husband Palti. But when they took her, her husband followed them all the way to Bahurim town, crying as he went.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 3:15

And: it is as a result of the message from David that Ishbosheth took this action. For this reason a stronger transition word may be required. Revised English Bible uses the less common language word “Thereupon,” while New Jerusalem Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, like Good News Translation, have “So.”

Sent, and took: the idea behind the two verbs is that Ishbosheth made the decision that resulted in Michal’s being taken from her present husband. It does not mean that he performed the action himself. This is made clear in Contemporary English Version, “sent some of his men to take Michal away from her new husband….”

Her husband Palti-el: this man’s name is given as “Palti” in 1 Sam 25.44. But since the reference is obviously to the same person, it will be legitimate to harmonize the two different forms of the name as is done in New Century Version. Instead of saying “her husband” it may be necessary in some cases to say something like “the man she was living with at the time” or “her current husband.”

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 .