So: the common conjunction which Revised Standard Version translates in this way seems to introduce a kind of summary statement of what has already been said. The statement clearly provides the reason for Abner’s death and reminds the reader of the death of Asahel at the battle of Gibeon. An American Translation uses the conjunction “but” as if to introduce a sort of justification for the action of Joab and Abishai. Moffatt and New American Bible put the whole verse in brackets as a later scribal addition. Others make it a parenthetical explanation of the fact that the two men had been waiting for an opportunity to perform this deed.

Slew: this rather archaic English verb has been replaced in New Revised Standard Version by “murdered,” which is much more common and easily understood.

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 .