Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:13

The son of Zeruiah: as in 1 Sam 26.6, the way the text is worded here, there is no way of knowing that Zeruiah was Joab’s mother, not his father. As in 1 Sam 26.6, it is not absolutely essential to state clearly that Zeruiah was Joab’s mother as in Good News Translation, but it is certainly acceptable and will probably be a good idea in most languages.

Servants of David: as in the case of the servants of Ish-bosheth in the previous verse, these were important officials and not mere domestic laborers. Good News Translation says “other officials” because Joab, who has just been mentioned, was also one of his officials.

Went out: Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which is the text followed by Revised Standard Version. There is, however, some evidence that the original reading may have included the words “from Hebron” after the verb (Revised English Bible, Osty-Trinquet). These additional words are found in some Septuagint manuscripts, and there is a gap at this point in the Dead Sea scroll containing this text, which may indicate that the words “from Hebron” were once present. But since the majority of modern versions follow the Masoretic Text in omitting the additional words, and since this is also the recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, other translators are advised to do likewise. The sense of the verb went out here in the Masoretic Text is “they set out on a military campaign.” That is, the verb here does not mean that they went out from somewhere, but that they “started off on a military campaign.”

Pool of Gibeon: this pool has been located by archaeologists just inside the wall of the ancient city. It was cut out of bedrock and is approximately eleven meters (thirty-six feet) deep and eleven meters across, and was used to store water for use in the city. The pool is also mentioned in Jer 41.12. The idea of such a pool may have to be expressed in some languages as “a [large] place of water cut out of a stone,” or something similar.

The one … the other: Good News Translation renders this “the one group … the other group.” New Century Version is even more specific, with “Abner’s group” and “Joab’s group.” Contemporary English Version provides a slightly different model, “Abner and his men … Joab and his men….”

Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente provides a clear model for verses 12 and 13:

• 12 The troops of Ish-Baal, Saul’s son, led by Abner, son of Ner, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Then the troops of David, led by Joab, son of Zeruiah, began to march out. The two armies met at the large well of Gibeon and halted on opposite sides.

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:14

Said: the verb used here is a very general one, but in view of the nature of the encounter, and the fact that the two groups were seated at least eleven meters (thirty-six feet) apart on opposite sides of the pool of Gibeon, a stronger verb may be required. Contemporary English Version has “yelled to Joab.” It has also been translated in some languages as “proposed” (La Bible du Semeur); it can be rendered “challenged.”

Young men: as in 1.15 this expression refers to fighting men, or “soldiers” (Anchor Bible).

Arise and play: what is proposed here was probably not a matter of a harmless sporting match that got out of hand, although some commentators speculate about this possibility. Rather it was very likely an individual confrontation between the best men from each side: “join in single combat” (Revised English Bible). Anderson speaks of seasoned warriors engaging in “a trial of arms,” and Fox has “arise and do-a-war-dance.” The story goes on to show clearly that this was a fight to the death. The verb play is therefore probably much too weak for this context. A translation such as “hold a tournament [or, contest]” may express the correct meaning in some languages.

Let them arise: this is a repetition of what Abner had just said to Joab, and is simply a way of agreeing with what he had said. Instead of a direct quotation as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, it is possible to say simply “and Joab agreed” or “Joab accepted Abner’s proposal [or idea, or plan].”

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:15

Then: the transition word here indicates that, as a result of the agreement between the two leaders, the men representing the two groups prepared themselves for the coming conflict. The word “So” is found at this point in New International Version and New American Bible as well as Good News Translation.

They arose: the pronoun they seems to refer, in anticipation, to the two groups of twelve men who were to engage in the contest. Since it can be understood as referring to Abner and Joab, this meaning should be avoided by making the subject explicit. Translators may say “the fighting men arose” or, as in Good News Translation, “So twelve men….”

Passed over by number: the idea here is that the men from each side were counted to ensure that neither group had a numerical advantage. La Biblia Latinoamerica says “moving forward in equal number.” The text gives no clear indication of where they went to engage in the fighting, but presumably it was near the pool where the members of the two groups had been seated.

For Benjamin and Ish-bosheth: the fighters opposing David’s men represented Ishbosheth as king over the northern confederation as a whole, but they apparently came only from the tribe of Benjamin. It will be important in translation to make it clear that Benjamin does not refer to an individual but to the tribal group of that name. The Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran read “for the sons of Benjamin.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text, arguing that a scribe changed “Benjamin” to “the sons of Benjamin” under the influence of the same expression in verses 25 and 4.2. But since “sons of [Benjamin]” is an idiom meaning “belonging to the tribe of [Benjamin],” the meaning is the same, whichever text is followed.

The name Ish-bosheth (or Ishbaal) should be rendered consistently, as in verse 8.

Servants: here the reference is undoubtedly to the fighting men who were in the service of David. It is therefore possible to translate “soldiers.”

Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente provides a different model for translating this verse:

• Twenty-four soldiers stepped forward: twelve from the tribe of Benjamin for Ish-Baal, son of Saul, and twelve from David’s troops.

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:16

Each: this refers to each one of the twenty-four fighters, that is, all the men on both sides. In some languages the most natural way of translating this verse will involve the use of reciprocal verb forms showing that the fighters each did the same to his adversary.

By the head: it will probably be more natural in some languages to say “by the hair on his head” or simply “by the hair.”

Thrust his sword in his opponent’s side: the Hebrew lacks a verb, leaving the action implicit (thrust). Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, as well as virtually all other versions including King James Version, have supplied a verb according to the sense of the passage. Such a verb will almost certainly be required in other languages.

They fell down together: the pronoun refers to all twenty-four of the fighting men. If there is any danger that the reader will think it refers only to one group or the other, then it should probably be spelled out clearly as in Good News Translation. And the verb fell down is meant to imply more than a mere fall to the ground from which they could recover. It is important that the reader understand that all these men died as a result of the battle.

Therefore: this shows the reader that the preceding story gives the reason why the field was given the name that follows.

Helkath-hazzurim: this difficult name, which is made up of two Hebrew words, has a meaning that can be translated into most languages, so there is no reason to retain the transliteration of Revised Standard Version, even though New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and certain other versions have done so. The meaning, however, is problematic, and the relationship between the name and the terminology used in the story is not as clear as it is in most stories of this kind in the Old Testament. In addition to the rendering of Good News Translation, the following have been proposed: “Field of Sharp Knives” (New Century Version); “Field of Blades” (Revised English Bible); “Flints’ Field” (Anchor Bible); “Field of Champions” (Knox); “Portion of Ground of the Sides” (An American Translation); and “The Field of Sides” (Moffatt). There is general agreement that Helkath means field, but the meaning of hazzurim is less certain. However, the most likely possibility is that it is related to the word for “flints” or “blades.” This explains why the majority of those versions seeking to translate the meaning of the name have something related to a fighting instrument.

Another possible solution may be to retain the transliteration and put the meaning in parentheses immediately following, as does Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. Similar is Fox, who translates “Helkat ha-Tzurim/Field of the Sword-Edges.” But it is probably better simply to translate in common language.

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:17

And: in this context the common Hebrew conjunction may be translated in such a way to show that what follows is a continuation of the story, and that it happened almost immediately. Some languages may prefer something like “Then” as in Good News Translation. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh handles the transition by the verb used in the sentence that follows: “A fierce battle ensued that day.” Moffatt speaks of “the fight that followed.”

The battle was very fierce: that is, “All the other men started fighting, and both groups fought very hard” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

That day: Good News Translation omits these words as unnecessary in the context. If nothing is said readers will almost certainly assume that the battle was that day and not some other day. The sense may be, however, that the battle lasted “the entire day” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Were beaten: the text provides the translator with all the information necessary to change this passive expression into an active one: “David’s soldiers defeated [or overpowered, or conquered] Abner and the soldiers of Israel.”

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:18

The three sons … were there: some languages may be forced to say either “all three sons,” implying that she had no others, or “three of the sons of Zeruiah,” implying that she did have other sons who were not present during the battle. Since there is no evidence that Zeruiah had other sons, it may be better to say “all three of Zeruiah’s sons were there.”

Sons of Zeruiah: in verse 13 only one of Zeruiah’s sons, Joab, is mentioned. Here his two brothers, Abishai (see 1 Sam 26.6) and Asahel, are also introduced because the next few verses center on what happened to Asahel. Although Knox uses spellings for the names in the passage that are different from the spellings in Revised Standard Version, he does provide another possible model with the following structure: “Two sons of Sarvia [Zeruiah] besides Joab were fighting, Abisai [Abishai] and Asael [Asahel] ….”

Swift of foot: the expression swift of foot (also found in Amos 2.15) is a way of saying that a person was able to run very fast.

A wild gazelle: or more literally “as one of the gazelles which are in the field” (An American Translation). A gazelle is a kind of antelope. The kind found in Palestine were about two feet (60 cm) tall at the shoulders and about three feet (1 meter) long. They had ringed horns about one foot (30 cm) long and were fast and graceful. Instead of using the adjective wild, which seems to focus on the fact that the animal is untamed, many interpreters feel that what was intended was rather a reference to the speed of a gazelle “in an open field” (New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). A similar expression occurs in 1 Chr 12.8.

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:19

Pursued: since the pursuit continues for some time, Good News Translation focuses here on its beginning by saying “started chasing….” The structure of Good News Translation is also different because it makes the description of the speed of Asahel into a relative clause in the previous verse and so does not need the conjunction and or the repetition of the name here.

Neither to the right hand nor to the left: as in 1 Sam 6.12, this idiomatic expression means simply “not to deviate from” a goal (compare Josh 1.7; 23.6), or to “refuse to abandon” a course of action. Asahel would not be distracted by other skirmishes in the battle or by the possibility of chasing some other enemy. Surprisingly most English versions translate this idiom literally. However, it may be advisable in the receptor language to say something more like Good News Translation, or possibly adding “without being distracted,” or adding a separate sentence to the effect that “he did not consider anything else.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy renders this idiom “without giving him any chance to escape.”

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:20

If direct quotations are used in translation, the context of the battle must be remembered. It is difficult to imagine a man chasing another saying something as stilted as It is I in response to the question asked. And in some languages the direct quotations of this verse will be more naturally translated as indirect. Consider, for example, “Then Abner looked back and asked whether it was Asahel who was chasing him. And Asahel let him know that it was.” Another possible model is that of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “At a certain point [in the chase], Abner turned and asked, ‘Is it you, Asahel?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied.”

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 .