The question asked at the beginning of this verse is not intended to obtain information but rather to assert that Zadok and Abiathar would indeed be present in Jerusalem with Hushai. For this reason it will be more accurately translated in many languages as a statement of fact: “you will have the priests Zadok and Abiathar there…” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This is the beginning of the setting up of a spy network in which the two priests and their sons (verse 36) help to pass information on to David.

Hear from the king’s house: that is, from people in the royal palace into which Absalom had moved, after having proclaimed himself king and then having returned to Jerusalem.

The expression Zadok and Abiathar the priests occurs twice in this verse, once at the beginning and again at the end. In many languages this repetition must be avoided. The second occurrence may be represented by a third person plural pronoun.

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 .