Lamented: see 1.17.

Should Abner die as a fool dies? The uncertainty about the word translated fool is indicated by the variety of ways in which it has been rendered in modern versions: “an outcast” (Anchor Bible); “a brute” (New Jerusalem Bible); “a churl” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh); “the lawless” (New International Version). Revised English Bible changes the structure of the question: “Must Abner die so base a death?” (Revised English Bible). Basically this noun is used to refer to a person who has committed some kind of disgrace (as in 13.13; see also 1 Sam 25.25, where Abigail’s husband, Nabal, is called a “fool”) or has violated God’s law and has thus lost his proper place in society. Since Abner was already dead when David sang his lament, the verb form used in translation should probably reflect this fact. Some languages may have to separate the statement of fact (“Abner died like a villain”) and the question in David’s mind: “Was that just?” or “Why did that have to happen?”

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 .