This verse contains two quotations within a quotation. Good News Translation turns the two embedded quotations into indirect quotations; and this may be a good model in other languages. Solomon’s long question is rhetorical and may be restated as positive affirmations (so Good News Translation). For the terminology used in these embedded quotations, see the comments at verses 37-38.

Sent and summoned Shimei: The Hebrew text has no object for the verb sent. Translators may say “sent messengers and called Shimei” or simply combine the two verbs sent and summoned into one verb, as Good News Translation has done. See the comments at verse 36, where these same two verbs are used together in the same way.

For swear by the LORD, see verse 8.

Solemnly admonish translates a Hebrew verb meaning “to give a strong warning.”

The Septuagint adds the words “from Jerusalem,” following the words on the day you go forth. Some modern translations similarly add “Jerusalem” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “this/the city” (Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) for reasons of clarity in translation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .