Servants: that is, David’s officials (see verse 22).

Do you not know…? David was not using this question to request information about how much his officials knew. It was rather his purpose to emphasize as strongly as possible the significance of the death of Abner. This has been changed to a strong affirmative statement in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “You well know that…,” and by Revised English Bible as “You must know that….”

A prince and a great man: translators should ensure that the readers or hearers of this passage do not think that this refers to two different people. Both expressions refer to Abner. The first term (prince) refers to his leadership ability (see 1 Sam 8.12, “commanders”), and the second (a great man) to his prominence. The two noun phrases may be combined in some languages by using an adjective and a noun: “an outstanding commander” or, as in Good News Translation, “a great leader.”

Has fallen: as in verse 34, this is a euphemism for “has died.”

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 .