This verse continues the quotation within the larger quotation and should be made indirect if the last part of the previous verse is handled in this way. Good News Translation provides a good model in this respect.

For: this does not represent the common Hebrew conjunction but rather reflects a Hebrew particle that sometimes means “Perhaps” (New International Version) but can also mean “Indeed” (Fox), “Surely” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “In fact” (Contemporary English Version).

The king will hear: using the indirect address to the king, what the woman means is “I knew you would hear me” or “I felt certain that you would listen to what I had to say.”

His servant: this is again an indirect reference to the woman who is speaking. It should therefore be translated by the pronoun “me” in most languages.

Hand: as often elsewhere in Scripture, the word hand refers to power. Instead of deliver … from the hand of the man …, it will be more natural in many languages to say “deliver me from the man.”

The heritage of God: the Hebrew word translated heritage often refers to wealth or possessions received by a person when his father died. But it is also used to refer to the land of Canaan, which the people of Israel received from God, as in 1 Sam 26.19 and Psa 136.21. The more frequently occurring expression is “the heritage of the LORD” (20.19 and 21.3 as well as 1 Sam 26.19). In this context it will be better in most languages to make specific reference to the “land God gave to his people” as in Good News Translation (also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). This same word sometimes refers to the Israelite people themselves (see the comments on 1 Sam 10.1), and this is the interpretation of La Bible du Semeur and Bible en français courant, “… from the people whom God chose for himself.” Either interpretation is acceptable here, since both meanings may be intended by the writer.

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 expressions your handmaid and my lord the king will be better translated as pronouns as above. The word mentioned here refers to the commitment given by David in verse 8 or possibly in verse 10. In any case the woman expected to be at ease because of what she hoped the king would promise. This verse also contains the particle of entreaty seen in verses 2, 11, 12, and 15. While it is left untranslated in Revised Standard Version, it may be acceptable in some languages to include something similar at this point.

The word of my lord the king will set me at rest: literally “please may the word of my lord the king be for rest.” The noun translated rest often refers to a resting place, but here it means emotional or mental rest. Revised English Bible says “I thought too that the words of my lord the king would be a comfort to me.”

And as in verse 15, the quotation within the larger quotation should probably be made indirect.

Like the angel of God: see the comments on this term in 1 Sam 29.9. Though the Hebrew refers to “the angel,” it may be that the reference is not to a particular angel but rather to the class or category of beings called angels. For this reason it may be better to translate “an angel of God” (Goldman and Contemporary English Version). Either interpretation is possible.

To discern good and evil: the root meaning of the verb used here is “to hear,” but in this context it carries the idea of “understanding” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), making distinctions, or knowing the difference between good and evil. New Century Version has “you know what is good and what is bad.”

Your God: a literal rendering of these words in some languages will give the clear impression that the woman rejected the God worshiped by King David. If this is the case, these words may have to be translated “our God.” There is every indication that the woman of Tekoa was a part of the community of faith that honored Yahweh, the God of Israel. She may have said your God to emphasize David’s relation to the God by whom he had sworn the oath in verse 11.

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 .

Answered: literally “answered and said.”

David’s words to the woman of Tekoa are introduced by the same particle of entreaty seen in her requests to him (verses 12, 15, and 17). Goldman presents the king as beginning his remarks with the words “I pray thee….” But most versions leave this element untranslated here.

Do not hide from me anything I ask you: this is a request for complete truthfulness, but it also contains the idea that David intends to ask the woman a question. Good News Translation breaks this up into two parts by first indicating that a question will be asked and then insisting that the answer must be absolutely truthful. The last part may be best translated in some languages as “Do not lie to me at all by your answer” or “Do not deceive me in the smallest detail.”

Let my lord the king speak: the answer of the woman is simply an acknowledgment that the king should go ahead with the question he wanted to ask. The reply in the receptor language should indicate respect in the most natural way possible and should also request that David carry on with his question.

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 .

Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? It is unnecessary and probably not advisable in most languages to retain the word hand in the translation of this question. What David wanted to know is whether it was Joab who had prompted the woman to come to him with the shrewd plea for the return of Absalom. Contemporary English Version uses the idiomatic expression “Did Joab put you up to this?” Some other ways of saying this are “Isn’t Joab behind all this?” “Was Joab working with you in all this?” (Moffatt), and “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?” (New Century Version). The question should be asked in such a way as to indicate that David believed that the answer was positive.

The response of the woman continues the use of indirect references to herself and to the king. Within this quotation my lord the king will usually be translated “you” or “Your Majesty,” and your handmaid as “me” or some other more natural self-reference. On the other hand your servant refers not to the woman but to Joab and means “your official.” Since Joab was not simply “an official” but was the commander of David’s army, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente states “Joab, your general,” and this may be a useful model in those languages where such military terms exist.

As surely as you live: see the comments on 11.11 and 1 Sam 1.26.

One cannot turn to the right hand or to the left …: a literal translation of this phrase is certainly not advised. But these words may mean either “no one could avoid answering your question” or “you are right on target in what you have said.” Revised English Bible follows the first interpretation: “When your majesty asks a question, there is no way around it, right or left.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh follows the second interpretation, which seems more probable, translating “it is just as my lord the king says.” Compare also New American Bible, “it is just as your majesty has said, and not otherwise.” Another possible way of saying this is “it is impossible to deny what you have just said” or “no one can hide the truth from you” (Contemporary English Version).

Bade me: in modern English it is more natural to say “commanded me” (New Revised Standard Version), “gave me my orders” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “instructed me” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New International Version).

Put all these words in the mouth: on this expression see the comments under 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 .

The structure of the first part of this verse may have to be changed in certain languages. Revised Standard Version reflects the order of the original, where the purpose of Joab’s action is given first. Good News Translation reverses this order.

Change the course of affairs: literally “revolve [or, reverse] the faces of the matter.” Anchor Bible attempts to retain something of the form while at the same time making some sense in English: “to put another face on the matter.” Compare also Revised English Bible, “to give a new turn to this affair.” The word that literally means “face” carries the idea of appearance. Joab certainly wanted to change the way David looked at the matter. And perhaps this is the basic meaning. New Jerusalem Bible translates “to approach the matter indirectly.” And New American Bible is similar with “to come at the issue in a round about way.”

My lord: it should be clear that this does not refer to Joab but to David. In most cases it will be translated by the pronoun “you” or something similar to “your majesty.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “my lord and king.”

The angel of God: see the comments on verse 17 above.

All things that are on the earth: the woman is probably not saying that David knows everything in the whole world. The word translated earth is frequently used to refer to the land of Israel. And that seems to be the most likely sense here, though many translations say “earth” (for example, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). New International Version is correct in translating “everything that happens in the land” (Revised English Bible is similar). But Contemporary English Version conveys the same meaning more naturally with “everything that goes on in this country.” Even this, of course, is probably an overstatement. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch avoids the exegetical difficulty by saying “my lord and king is as wise as God’s angel, nothing escapes him.”

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: this may give the impression that Joab was present during the conversation between David and the woman of Tekoa, and that David turned immediately to Joab and spoke to him. (Contemporary English Version gives this impression, with “David turned to Joab…”). It is, however, more probable that what is described in this verse took place some time after the encounter in the previous verses, and that Joab was not present for the conversation between the woman of Tekoa and King David. For this reason Good News Translation translates the conjunction “Later on….” Another way of expressing this may be “David called for Joab and said to him…” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Behold now: David’s statement to Joab begins with two particles in Hebrew that serve to focus attention on what he is about to say. Most modern translations leave both of these particles untranslated. New Century Version, on the other hand, starts the quotation with “Look…,” while Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Osty-Trinquet begin “So be it!” New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Revised Standard Version attempt to translate these words by beginning David’s statement to Joab with “Very well….”

I grant this: the demonstrative pronoun this refers to the whole idea of bringing Absalom back from exile. In some languages the idea can be made more explicit by saying “this thing you want,” or the whole phrase may be rendered “I am acting according to your advice” (Anchor Bible).

The young man Absalom: this is the first of five occurrences of this expression in 2 Samuel. It seems to stress the youth of Absalom, who is again referred to in this way in chapter 18 (verses 5, 12, 29, and 32). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh takes this to be a kind of affectionate term and translates it “my boy Absalom.” This may be a good model for a number of other languages to follow.

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 .

Fell on his face to the ground: see verse 4 above.

Did obeisance: see the comments on this verb at 1 Sam 24.8.

Blessed the king: in certain languages it is impossible for a person of inferior rank to “bless” a superior. A different verb must be used. This may therefore be translated “asked God to bless the king” or “prayed for God’s favor on the king.” And if this is made a part of the direct quotation of what Joab says to David, it can be rendered “God bless you” (Good News Translation) or “May God give you his blessing.”

Your servant … his servant: these are again indirect references used by Joab to refer to himself. It will be better translated “I” and “my” in most languages. Similarly my lord the king and the king are respectful ways of addressing David. But they will be better translated “you” or “your majesty” in this direct quotation.

In that translates a Hebrew word expressing cause. Good News Translation and Revised English Bible say “because,” and New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible say “since.”

Found favor in your sight: see the comments on this idiom in 1 Sam 16.22; 20.3, 29; and 27.5. Compare also Ruth 2.10.

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 .

So: the common Hebrew conjunction here introduces the next step in the sequence of events

Arose and went: this expression may be translated by a single verb in many languages. See the comments on expressions beginning with “arose and…” at, for example, 1 Sam 17.48. Here one may say “set out for…” or “went at once…” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Geshur: see 3.3 and 13.37.

Brought Absalom to Jerusalem: or “returned to Jerusalem with Absalom,” or “accompanied Absalom back to Jerusalem,” since he had been there before.

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 .