Took: this is a very general term in Hebrew, but in the context of war a verb like “seize” or “capture” will be more natural in certain languages.

Shields of gold: the exact meaning of the Hebrew word translated shields in Revised Standard Version is uncertain. Several versions take the word translated shields as meaning “quivers” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible; Revised English Bible margin) or “bow cases” (Anchor Bible), but the majority of English versions consulted retain the idea of small, circular shields.

The passive construction were carried by the servants of Hadadezer may be easily transformed into an active expression by saying something like “the servants of Hadadezer had carried….” But the word translated servants once again refers to people who were more than menial domestic workers. For this reason New International Version has “officers,” and Good News Translation “officials.” New Jerusalem Bible speaks of “guards,” and Revised English Bible “attendants.”

Brought: the use of this verb seems to imply that the writer is in Jerusalem. But in some languages the perspective of the reader is more important. In such cases a verb like “transported,” “transferred,” or “took” (Good News Translation) may be more appropriate. In all probability David himself did not perform the actions described by the verbs in this verse. He almost certainly had his soldiers do the work. In some languages this may affect the verb forms used. Here some may say “he had them brought to Jerusalem” or “he caused them to be brought….”

At the end of this verse, New American Bible has the following addition based on the Septuagint, the Old Latin, and a manuscript from Qumran: “[These Shishak, king of Egypt, took away when he came to Jerusalem in the days of Rehoboam, son of Solomon.]” Most textual specialists consider this sentence to be a later addition to the text, and the shorter reading found in Revised Standard Version is preferred by the vast majority of modern versions. It is recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, which gives a {B} rating 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 .

The structure of this verse in Hebrew as reflected by Revised Standard Version may prove to be awkward in many languages. The prepositional phrase from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer comes first but is dependent on the main clause that follows. In Good News Translation the main clause has been moved up to the beginning of the sentence.

Betah: New International Version has “Tebah” in harmony with 1 Chr 18.8, which actually has “Tibhath,” but which is also transformed to “Tebah” by New International Version. New American Bible and Osty-Trinquet also have “Tebah” here but do not alter the parallel in Chronicles. While the consonants may have been reversed during the process of transmission, the textual evidence for this is scant, and the problem is not even dealt with by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project or Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. Translators should probably follow the reading Betah.

Berothai: the 1 Chronicles (18.8) account has “Cun” at this point. But there is no justification for harmonizing the two accounts. Translators should have Berothai in this verse.

Bronze: or “copper” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Since bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, it is possible that the purer meaning (“copper”) is intended here. See the comments at 1 Sam 17.5, where the same term is used. Bible du rabbinat français also has “copper,” although most translations say “bronze,” which would have been stronger than copper.

At the end of this verse, the Septuagint has the following addition: “with that Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the basin and all the utensils.” These words seem to have been added to harmonize the text with that in 1 Chr 18.8. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which is followed by nearly all translations consulted.

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 .

While Revised Standard Version uses a temporal subordinate clause introducing what is said in verses 10 through 12, Good News Translation has made this into a separate sentence. It still sets the stage for what follows but is grammatically independent.

Defeated: the verb so translated by most versions can also mean “killed.” But few versions follow this interpretation.

The small kingdom of Hamath was located between Zobah and the Euphrates River. It is therefore likely that the people of this area endured suffering at the hands of Hadadezer and his army (see verse 10). This explains why their king was pleased that David had defeated Hadadezer.

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 .

Toi: it may be unnecessary in many languages to repeat the name at this point. As in Good News Translation, the pronoun may be sufficient.

His son Joram: some textual evidence has “Hadoram his son” at this point, and this is adopted by New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, and An American Translation. Joram means “Yahweh is exalted,” while Hadoram (probably a shortened form of Hadadram), which is found in 1 Chr 18.10, signifies “Hadad is exalted” (concerning the name “Hadad,” see the comments on the name “Hadadezer” in verse 3). It is unlikely that the original name of this non-Israelite was in praise of Yahweh, so Hadoram was probably original. It may have been changed out of gratitude for the Israelite victory over Hadadezer and the subsequent protection provided by the Israelites. But the translation here should be based on the best available textual evidence, which has Joram. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text and recommend that the name Joram be used.

Congratulate: this verb may have to be rendered “praise” or “honor” in some languages. The Hebrew word is, in fact, the one usually translated “bless,” as indicated in King James Version and New American Standard Bible. Another possible translation is “transmit greetings” (La Bible du Semeur).

Articles: the Hebrew term used here is a very general one that may refer to anything man-made. It sometimes refers to containers of liquid (Ruth 2.9), or figures (1 Sam 6.8), or weapons (1 Sam 8.12). Probably in this context it refers to a number of different types of objects. So it will be advisable to use a general term, such as “objects,” “items,” or “things” in the receptor language.

Of silver, of gold, and of bronze: these three metals were the material used to make the objects. The most probable meaning is that some objects were made of one metal and others of another—not that each object was made of a combination of the three metals. As indicated in the comments on 8.8 and 1 Sam 17.5, the word rendered bronze may also be “copper.”

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 .

These: meaning “these objects.” The demonstrative pronoun points back to the objects referred to at the end of the previous verse. Good News Translation has restructured this verse so that the subject and main verb come before this demonstrative pronoun.

Dedicated: this verb implies dedication to a particular purpose, and that purpose is made clear in Good News Translation by the addition of “for use in worship.” This is actually a translation of to the LORD. In other languages translators may have to say “for the affairs of God,” “in service to the LORD,” or something similar.

Silver and gold: this is in addition to the objects made of the precious metals mentioned in the previous verse. The focus here is on quantities of the metals themselves and not on things made from them.

All the nations he subdued: on the word for nations see the discussion under 1 Sam 8.5. The verb rendered subdued is dealt with in 1 Sam 7.13. Here it may be rendered “defeated” (New Century Version) or “subjugated” (New Jerusalem Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, like Good News Translation, has “conquered.”

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 .

Edom: the names “Edom” and “Aram” are very similar in Hebrew and are often confused. Here most Hebrew texts have “Aram,” but a few have “Edom.” “Edom” is also found in the ancient Greek and Syriac translations as well as in the parallel passage in 1 Chr 18.11. Several modern versions follow the reading of the traditional Hebrew text and have “Aram” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Osty-Trinquet, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “Syria” (King James Version). But the majority translate “Edom,” which is also the recommendation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, which gives Edom a {C} evaluation.

Moab: see the comments on 1 Sam 12.9.

Ammonites: see the comments on 1 Sam 11.1.

Amalek: the reference is to the descendants of Amalek (see the comments on 1 Sam 15.2). In many languages it will be better to say “the Amalekites” (so La Bible du Semeur).

The spoil: see 3.22 as well as 1 Sam 14.30.

Note that, as in Good News Translation, it may be more natural in other languages not to repeat the identifying information about Hadadezer. The words the son of Rehob, king of Zobah may be dropped, since they are a repetition of what has already been said in verse 3.

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 .

Won a name for himself: although certain interpreters take this as a reference to the setting up of some sort of monument (Anchor Bible), it is more likely that it is a reference to becoming famous, as is the case with the similar expression in 7.23.

Slew: as in verse 5 above, this rather archaic English word has been translated by the more common verb “killed” in New Revised Standard Version.

The Valley of Salt: the location of this valley is unknown, but there are several possibilities to the south or southwest of the Dead Sea. The problem for the translator is to determine the relationship between “valley” and “salt.” The idea hidden by the preposition “of” is probably that there were places where salt deposits and brackish water were found. Such places were unfavorable to agricultural pursuits and were usually considered to be unfit for human beings to live in (Deut 29.23; Job 39.6; and Jer 17.6). The translation may thus read “the valley where salt is found.” Compare also 2 Kgs 14.7 and the Hebrew superscription at the beginning of Psalm 60.

There is a textual problem in this verse. The Masoretic Text says “… when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.” But the context seems to require the name “Edom” rather than “Syria” (the two names look very similar in Hebrew). And 2 Kgs 14.7 refers to the Valley of Salt in connection with Edom rather than Syria. Numerous translations correct the Hebrew text on the basis of the Septuagint to read “when he returned, he smote Edom” (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the original text probably read “when he returned from smiting Syria, he smote Edom,” and that the words “Syria, he smote” were accidentally omitted by a scribe. But since no manuscript support exists for this reading, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and recommends that it be translated, and that a footnote be used to explain what the original reading probably was. Despite the recommendation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament that this corrected reading be included in a footnote and not in the text itself, translators are urged to follow the models of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and include this corrected reading in the text itself:

• David gained great fame when, having returned from an expedition against the Syrians, he defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

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 .

The Hebrew of this verse uses a common device in which the meaning is stated a second time with special emphasis. The result is a kind of parallelism, in which the second element adds a detail to what has already been stated in the first. The words for he put garrisons and Edom all appear twice. But additional emphasis is provided in the second statement by adding the word for all. (On the word translated garrisons, see verse 6.) In some languages this kind of repetition may be distracting to the reader and should be eliminated, as in Good News Translation. However, translators should ensure that all the elements of meaning are present in the single statement.

Became … servants: as in verse 6, the word translated servants really means “subjects.”

Gave victory: see verse 6.

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 .