So: this translation of the common Hebrew conjunction is not really necessary here. It merely serves as a transition marker.

All the people: that is, David’s people or “troops” as contrasted with all Israel. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh takes the first expression to mean “all the troops,” but Revised English Bible seems to see the two expressions as synonymous.

It had not been the king’s will: literally “it was not from the king.” Another way of saying this is “the king had had no hand in [the murder of Abner]” (Revised English Bible) or “the king was not involved in [the death of Abner].”

To slay Abner: the verb translated slay is the general word for “kill,” but in this context it is clear that murder was involved.

The son of Ner: this is now the fourth time this expression is used in this chapter, and it occurs twice in the previous chapter. If the repetition is awkward in the receptor language, it may be dropped here.

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 .