Tidings came to David: literally “tidings came to David saying.” While the word translated tidings is frequently used in the Bible, it is unusual for it to be the subject of a sentence as here. In 1 Sam 2.24 the same word is translated “report” and in 2 Sam 4.4 as “news.” This structure may be avoided by using a passive construction as in Good News Translation, if the language has such forms. Otherwise it may be better to say something like “David learned the news” or “Someone made a report to David.” In some languages the choice of words may be especially important here, since the report given to David was not actually true. Amnon was the only one of David’s sons who was killed. Anderson has the following rendering: “a hearsay reached David to the effect that….”

All the king’s sons: this is the same expression as in verses 23, 27, and 29. It occurs again in verse 33. Here, of course, it must be clear that David and the king refer to the same person. Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “all your sons.”

Not one of them is left: that is, “none of them is still alive.” In some cases it will be more natural to say “they have all died.”

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 .

Then: the transition word here seems to indicate that King David’s next action is a direct result of what he had just learned. Although Good News Translation leaves it untranslated, it is possible to render it “At this…” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “At that…” (Knox). Other languages may even use something like “Therefore” or “So” at this point.

Rent his garments … their garments: see the comments on the similar expression at verse 19.

Lay on the earth: the impulsive nature of this action, which the context seems to suggest, is more clearly brought out by the renderings of Good News Translation and Revised English Bible (“threw himself on the ground”). David almost certainly did not calmly lie down on the ground but rather threw himself to the ground. However, compare also 12.16, where David spent all night lying on the ground.

Following the last two phrases New Century Version provides an explanation of the meaning of these actions by adding “to show his sadness.” Something like this may be helpful in other languages as well.

The servants mentioned in this verse may have been officials, that is, “officers” (New Jerusalem Bible, Nueva Biblia Española, La Bible du Semeur: “ministers”), or subordinate household servants (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible). The context is ambiguous and translators must simply choose between the two possible senses.

Who were standing by: this is taken by most interpreters to mean “who were present” at the time that David heard the news and reacted to it by showing his sadness. Others, however, take it to mean that the servants “remained standing” (Contemporary English Version, similarly Revised English Bible), in contrast with David, who had thrown himself to the ground. In this context the latter sense seems to fit better.

Rent their garments: in Hebrew the participle rent is passive in form, and the subject of the participle is the word garments. This Hebrew construction focuses more on the result of the process of tearing than on the action itself. For this reason Revised English Bible more accurately captures the sense of the Hebrew, with “all his servants were standing round him with their clothes torn.” The Hebrew leaves implicit that the servants had torn their garments. But for reasons of translation it may be necessary to state that they tore their clothes and not merely say that their clothes were torn.

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 .

But translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context it expresses contrast between the fact that only Amnon has been killed and the report (verse 30) that all of David’s sons had been killed.

The son of Shime-ah: or better, “the son of Shammah,” as discussed in verse 3.

The son of … David’s brother: in some languages it will be more natural to speak of “David’s nephew” at this point. However, the meaning of a literal rendering will be more precise, since it will exclude the possibility that Jonadab was the son of David’s sister.

Let not my lord suppose: literally “Do not say, my lord.” Since my lord is a polite way of speaking to the king, it will have to be replaced by an equally polite formula that is also natural in the receptor language. Note that Good News Translation has “Your Majesty.” The rest of this clause may be rendered something like “you shouldn’t believe the report that…” or “don’t accept the hearsay….”

That they have killed: the pronoun subject is indefinite and these words may easily be rendered by a passive construction where such forms are natural. Some may prefer “that someone [or, some people] have killed.” Another possibility is to say “that all your sons have died.”

All the young men the king’s sons: the words the king’s sons are in apposition to all the young men. Compare New Jerusalem Bible, “all the young men, the king’s sons.” Revised English Bible and New American Bible say “all the young princes.” Since Jonadab is speaking directly to David, it will be more natural in most languages to say “all of your sons” instead of all … the king’s sons. Compare verses 23, 27, 29, and 30.

For by the command of Absalom this has been determined: or, more literally, “this has been decided by the command [literally ‘the mouth’] of Absalom.” The difficulty in understanding the meaning of these words lies in the word rendered determined in Revised Standard Version. This word occurs only here in the Old Testament. Some interpreters understand the Hebrew word to be a noun meaning “scowl,” that is, as referring to an expression on the face of Absalom (Revised English Bible and Moffatt). Others understand this to be a rare passive participle of the verb meaning “to determine” (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible). Probably it is best to understand it as showing Absalom’s determination that was a result of his anger. Some possible alternatives renderings are “Absalom has been promising himself to do this” (New Jerusalem Bible); “Absalom planned this…” (New Century Version); “This has been Absalom’s expressed intention…” (New International Version). Anchor Bible follows a slightly different text meaning “this happened because of Abishalom’s anger….”

From the day he forced his sister Tamar: the first part of this is often translated “ever since….” The pronoun references may have to be clarified in this clause. It was, of course, Amnon who forced Tamar to have sex with him, but the pronoun in the expression his sister almost certainly refers to Absalom. On the word translated forced, compare verses 12, 14, and 22. Moffatt makes the referents quite clear, with “for ever since Amnon violated Absalom’s sister Tamar, there has been a scowl on the face of Absalom.” It is doubtful, however, that Moffatt has correctly translated the word rendered determined in Revised Standard Version.

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 .

Now therefore: these words serve as a transition from the logical explanation of the reason for what had happened to a repetition of the plea not to accept the rumor that all David’s sons had been killed. Some other possible renderings are “So” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as well as Good News Translation) or “Therefore” (Bible en français courant and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). But note that several versions leave it untranslated (New International Version, Contemporary English Version).

My lord the king: in some cases this polite formula will be adequately translated by “please, sir….”

Take it to heart: see the comments on verse 20 above. And compare also Isa 42.25, where the same expression occurs. The context here shows that this means “don’t believe it” and does not mean simply “don’t worry about the report” (Contemporary English Version).

All the king’s sons: this expression once again refers to David’s sons. Since the speaker is addressing David directly, it will again be better in most languages to say “all your sons.” Compare verses 23, 27, 29, 30, and 32.

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 .

But: the translation of the transition word here will depend on how the following phrase Absalom fled is understood. If it is considered a separate statement of the narrator, a connecting word like “In the meantime” (Good News Translation) or “Meanwhile” (New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) will be appropriate. But if it is taken as a continuation of the quotation of what Jonadab says in the previous verses (so New Jerusalem Bible,Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), then a simple “and” will be better. Both interpretations of the Hebrew are equally possible, so translators may follow either.

Absalom fled: these words present several problems to translators. They have been omitted by Anchor Bible and Nueva Biblia Española, which consider them out of place here. Certain other scholars (Wellhausen, for example) also reject them as being a repetition from verses 37 and 38, where the same expression is used. As already indicated, a number of versions and commentaries (New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant,Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Anderson) take this as a part of the quotation of verses 32 and 33. This seems to be a slightly better solution than making it a separate statement of the narrator, as has been done by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Young man who kept the watch: there is no need to emphasize the youth of the watchman. Other versions have rendered this as “the man standing watch” (New International Version); “the sentry on duty” (Revised English Bible); “One of the guards” (Contemporary English Version); or “a guard standing on the city wall” (New Century Version).

Lifted up his eyes: on the use of this expression, see 1 Sam 6.13.

Behold: this is an indication of the sudden nature of what is described here. Some translations may wish to shift this element to a point earlier in the sentence and begin with something like “suddenly” (Bible en français courant) or “just then” (Anchor Bible).

Horonaim road: the traditional Hebrew text as it stands means “the road behind him” (New American Standard Bible,Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Fox), which may also be rendered “the road west of him” (New International Version). The majority of modern scholars, however, alter the Hebrew preposition “behind” and take this word to refer to a place named Horonaim. Horonaim was a city in the southern part of Moab that is mentioned by both Isaiah (15.5) and Jeremiah (48.3), but this Horonaim in Moab is not the city referred to here. New Jerusalem Bible alters the Hebrew text to read “the Bahurim road.” New American Bible adopts a solution similar to that of New Jerusalem Bible, but such a solution is not recommended. To complicate matters further Knox has “an unfrequented path.”

In spite of all this confusion, the most likely reading is the one recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, “the Horonaim road.” Horonaim is the plural form of Horon. Since there were twin cities in the mountains of Judah called Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon (Josh 16.3 and 5; 2 Chr 8.5), the name Horonaim here refers to these two cities. Moffatt therefore correctly speaks of “the Beth-Horon road,” since this is another name for Horonaim. This may be rendered “the road from the town of Horonaim,” or perhaps better, “the road leading down from [the towns of] Beth-horon” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Beth-horon is mentioned also in 1 Sam 13.18.

By the side of the mountain: this has been taken to mean “on the side of the hill” (New International Version), “from the other side of the hill” (New Century Version), and “coming down the mountainside” (New American Bible). The latter seems more likely.

At this point the ancient Greek translation has additional words that are not in the traditional Hebrew text but are reflected in the Good News Translation rendering, “He went to the king and reported what he had seen.” But this is a rather summary version of the extra text, which literally reads “and the watchman came and informed the king; he said ‘I saw men from the Horonaim road, from the mountainside.’ ” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends this longer addition, giving it an {A} rating, but in translation the repetition may prove to be cumbersome. In such a case it can be summarized as in Good News Translation for the sake of naturalness.

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 .

To the king: that is, “to David” or, perhaps better, “to King David.”

Behold: the particle found here may be understood in its more common sense in this context. Jonadab is urging David to look at the men coming toward them to verify that they are indeed his sons. It should therefore probably be translated “Look” (New Century Version) or “There!” (New American Bible and Moffatt).

The king’s sons: another indirect reference to David, to whom Jonadab is speaking. This will be better rendered “your sons” in most cases.

Instead of the verb form have come, it will be better in some cases to say “are coming,” or possibly “have arrived.”

Your servant: this is yet another case of the speaker referring to himself in the third person in order to show his respect for the king. It will be better translated in most languages by the first person singular pronoun, but if there is a natural way of showing the respect indicated by this formula, it may be used here. Compare verse 24 as well as 9.2.

So it has come about: Jonadab is simply saying to David “I told you so.” Receptor language considerations will determine the order of the last elements in this verse. Translators may choose between “Just as I told you, your sons are coming back” or “your sons are returning home, just as I said they would.”

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 .

Behold: the focusing particle here serves to heighten the excitement of the account. But since the text already says as soon as he had finished speaking, it may be unnecessary to translate the particle here.

The king’s sons: since this is narrative and not a part of a direct quotation, it will be acceptable to render it literally or to say more explicitly “David’s sons” as Good News Translation has done.

Lifted up their voices and wept: that is, they “began to cry out loud” or “broke into loud lamentations” (Revised English Bible).

All his servants: once again the servants in question will probably have been of rather high status, and so the expression may be rendered “all his officials” (though see the comments on verse 31).

Wept very bitterly: literally “they wept a weeping very great.” New Century Version, “began crying also,” seems a rather weak translation of this expression. Bible en français courant provides a better model for some languages, “poured out abundant tears.”

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 .