The men: it may be better in some languages to make it clear that the men referred to here are Jonathan and Ahimaaz, as Good News Translation has done. And in some cases the first pronoun they may have to be made clearer by saying something like “Absalom’s men.”

Some translators may prefer to change the order of the last part of this verse. It provides the reason for the advice to move quickly across the river. And in some languages it will be better for this to be given before the actual imperative forms Arise, and go quickly …, which are both second person plural, referring to David and his men. The pronoun you is also plural. If this is made into indirect discourse, translators may wish to say something like “what Ahithophel had planned against David and his men.”

Thus and so: as in verse 15 above, this expression is used as a kind of summary of what was actually said. For this reason it may be necessary that this part of the direct quotation be made indirect in other languages.

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 .