Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 2:29

The Arabah: the presence of the definite article shows that this refers to a specific geographical area and is not a name. In the present context this term refers to the Jordan valley. It occurs nearly thirty times in the Old Testament, including Deut 1.1; Josh 3.16; and 1 Sam 23.24. The meaning should be translated rather than the form transliterated.

Jordan: that is, the Jordan River. The addition of the classifier term for “river” will be both natural and helpful in many languages.

The whole forenoon: this is the only occurrence of the Hebrew word rendered forenoon in the Old Testament, and the exact meaning is not certain. It seems to be related to a verb meaning “to cut in two.” Some therefore understand this as a reference to a shortcut through the mountains (so Moffatt). The parallel with all that night, however, suggests the meaning the whole forenoon.

While most modern English versions follow the interpretation of Revised Standard Version, New International Version sees it as a geographical place name rather than a time reference: “continued through the whole of Bithron” (so also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and Bible en français courant); but Moffatt tries to translate the meaning of this term as “ravine.” Knox makes a different geographical reference, “Beth-horon,” following the Latin Vulgate. Probably it is best to follow the majority and render this as a time reference. Some languages may have to say something like “marched from sunrise until noon” or “… all morning long.”

Mahanaim: see verse 8 above.

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 2:30

Returned from the pursuit: the use of the verb returned (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised Standard Version) is misleading. The idea of the verb is not returning to a place, since none is stated. Rather in this context it means to “leave off” doing something. In this case it is the chasing of Abner and his men that is abandoned. New Jerusalem Bible translates “having stopped pursuing Abner.” And New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “after Joab gave up the pursuit of Abner….”

Gathered all the people: the word people is the general term that refers in this context to the army under the direction of Joab (as in verse 26). New International Version renders it “assembled all his men.”

As at the end of most battles, the armies then count their dead and make estimates of enemy losses. This accounts for the content of the remainder of this verse as well as the following one.

Besides Asahel: literally “and Asahel.” In some languages a literal translation of the Hebrew will be quite natural, but in other languages this may have to be expressed “if Asahel is not included” or “if you don’t count Asahel.”

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 2:31

But: showing contrast between the relatively small number of men on David’s side who were killed (20) and the larger number of Benjaminites who fought for Abner and who were lost in the battle (360).

Of Benjamin … of Abner’s men: here again Abner’s army is described as being made up primarily of Benjaminites. See verses 9, 15, and 25 above. Bible en français courant, however, understands this to mean that David’s men killed “three hundred and sixty Benjaminites and other soldiers of Abner.” The interpretation reflected in Bible en français courant is not, however, widely accepted, nor does it seem to be the most natural understanding of the Hebrew.

As in verse 15 the Masoretic Text reads Benjamin, but the Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran read “sons of Benjamin.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives a {C} evaluation to the Masoretic Text.

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 2:32

They: the pronoun here refers to Joab and his soldiers. It may be wise to make this clear in translation as Good News Translation has done.

The tomb of his father: in many languages the word tomb presents difficulties for translators. In this context it is possible to say simply “the place where his father was buried.”

Bethlehem: See 1 Sam 16.4 (also Ruth 1.1and elsewhere.)

Marched: literally “walked.” The English word marched is a technical military term referring to the rhythmic step of foot soldiers moving together. But this word is also used more loosely to refer to the movement of troops on foot without any notion of walking in rhythmic step or in step to drums or other kinds of music. Many English translations say “marched” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation). If such a technical term exists in other languages, it may be used here.

Day broke upon them: this idiom indicates that the sun rose when they got to Hebron (see verse 3). In some cases it will be more natural to say something like “when they got back to Hebron the sun was rising.”

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 3:1

As already indicated the chapter break is unfortunate, since this verse provides the conclusion of the section dealing with the war between Israel and Judah.

There was a long war: the idea here is that beginning at that time there was long conflict. One way of saying this is as in New American Bible, “there followed a long war….” Or, in order to show that the previously described battle was also considered a part of this long period of conflict between the two groups, “So the war dragged on” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “This battle was the beginning of a long war…” (Contemporary English Version).

House of Saul … house of David: as often in the Bible, the word house in such a context refers to the families of the individuals named. In most languages it will be better to translate “family” rather than using the literal rendering “house.” But in this context the word house may be intended to convey a broader meaning. Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch speak of the “partisans of Saul and those of David,” and this seems to express the intended sense of the Hebrew. Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje and Good News Translation speak of those who supported the families of Saul and of David, and this model is also acceptable.

David grew stronger: perhaps intentionally the writer does not repeat the expression the house of David but rather refers to David as an individual. But this does not refer to his physical strength. He grew stronger politically and so his whole group became stronger. Note also that, while the text repeats the house of Saul here, Good News Translation keeps the focus on David and translates “his opponents.”

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 3:3

Second … third: see the comments on birth order in verse 2 above. Note that the word “son” is not explicitly stated but is certainly to be understood in both cases.

Chile-ab: at this point in the parallel passage (1 Chr 3.1), the name given is “Daniel.” Anchor Bible reconstructs the name here as “Daluiah,” and this reading has support from the ancient Greek version and possibly from the Dead Sea Scrolls. But many experts consider that there is so little textual evidence for anything other than Chile-ab that it should probably be retained. Neither Hebrew Old Testament Text Project nor Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament acknowledges the other possibilities. A footnote may be added to inform the reader of the problem and possible solutions, if translators think one is necessary.

Of Carmel: this may describe either Nabal or Abigail and is probably true for both, but in the light of 1 Chr 3.1 it is probably intended here to refer to the origin of Abigail. Some manuscript evidence omits the words the widow of Nabal altogether. They may have been added by a copyist from 2.2.

The son of: this idea is expressed in other words by Good News Translation, “whose mother was….” This changes the focus slightly, but the meaning is the same.

Talmai king of Geshur: translators should seek the most natural order of these three elements in their own language rather than blindly following the order of Revised Standard Version. Some will say “King Talmai of Geshur,” while others may render these words “the king of Geshur, Talmai.” Geshur was a small Syrian kingdom located northeast of the Sea of Galilee. The people who lived in the kingdom of Geshur are not the same as the Geshurites mentioned in 1 Sam 27.8. If translators consider this to be important, the information may be stated in a footnote.

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 3:4

Fourth … fifth: see the comments on verses 2 and 3 above.

The son of: as in the previous verse, note that Good News Translation has “whose mother was….”

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 3:5

David’s wife: the presence of these words in this context has aroused the curiosity of Bible scholars. The words have been omitted by Good News Translation as redundant. But it is probably better to follow the model of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Contemporary English Version, “another one of David’s wives.” This retains the curious element, but includes the information that the other women mentioned were also wives of David.

Born to David in Hebron: this is a repetition of information already given in verse 2. If the repetition is unnatural in the receptor language, this does not need to be restated here, but in most cases it will do no harm.

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 .