Some versions add a section heading at this point to describe the content of verses 13-16. Contemporary English Version, for example, has “David’s Sons Born in Jerusalem,” and Jerusalem Bible has “The sons born to David in Jerusalem.” Verses 13-16 correspond to 3.2-5, which names David’s sons who were born in Hebron.

The structure may be changed as in Good News Translation by shifting the part about moving to Jerusalem to the beginning of the sentence. This allows for putting the parts about wives and children together, which will be more natural in a number of languages.

Concubines: see the comments on 3.7. In this case some translators may prefer to combine the meaning of concubines and wives by translating “married many women” as in Contemporary English Version. Note, however, that Contemporary English Version is forced to include a footnote explaining that “some of these women were second-class wives.”

From Jerusalem: or “in Jerusalem” (so Fox). After David had moved to Jerusalem, it was there that he took additional wives and concubines.

The passive expression were born to David may be rendered actively as “David’s wives bore him more sons and daughters,” or simply “David fathered more children.”

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 .