And: while many English versions leave the transition word untranslated, it may be better to show the connection with the previous verses by using something like “So” (New American Bible, Knox, New International Version) or “Then” (An American Translation and Moffatt).

His young men: that is, “his soldiers.” See 1.15 and 2.14.

Hanged them: the referent of the pronoun them is unclear. Was it the bodies of these men or only their hands and feet that had been severed from their bodies that were put on display to others? Good News Translation and Revised English Bible seem to take it as referring to the hands and feet (so also the footnote in La Bible Pléiade), but New Revised Standard Version says clearly “hung their bodies” (similarly New International Version). While either is possible grammatically, it is more probable that the bodies of the guilty men were hung up as a public display (1 Sam 31.10; Deut 21.22).

The pool at Hebron: the pool referred to was probably the most public place in Hebron and was chosen in order to give maximum exposure to the fact that those who committed such deeds could expect swift punishment. Compare the “pool of Gibeon” in 2.13.

Tomb: as in 2.32 and 3.32, this word may be translated “burying place” or something similar.

The Masoretic Text here reads simply Abner. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, suggests that the words “son of Ner” have been accidentally omitted from the text and recommends that translators include “son of Ner,” following the Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran. But see the comments above on 3.23.

At Hebron: the burial of Ishbosheth’s head took place in the same place where David was when the sons of Rimmon brought it to him, that is, in Hebron. The wording of the translation should not give the impression that Hebron was some distance from where the events took place.

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 .