But: Revised Standard Version is perhaps correct in translating the Hebrew conjunction in this way, because David’s reply is contrary to what Rechab and Baanah would have expected. New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh also introduce this verse with the conjunction “But.”

Rechab and Baanah his brother: it may be more natural in many cases to substitute the pronoun “them,” as has been done in Good News Translation. The repetition of the names (already mentioned in verses 2, 5, and 6) may be unnecessary.

The sons of Rimmon the Be-erothite: this information is also a repetition of what is given in verses 2 and 5 and so may be eliminated here as redundant if it is considered awkward in the receptor language.

As the LORD lives: literally “on the life of the LORD.” This expression is used frequently in 1 Samuel (see 1 Sam 14.39 for the first occurrence) and is found also in Judges 8.19 and Ruth 3.13. It constitutes a very strong oath or promise that David would actually do what he says in the following verses.

My life: a more literal translation of the term used here is “my soul” (King James Version), but the sense may be easily rendered by the first person singular pronoun, “me,” in this context.

Adversity: the basic meaning of the word is “restriction” or “tightness.” Here it clearly refers to the troubles or hardships that David had experienced. The same word in 1 Sam 26.24 is translated in Revised Standard Version as “tribulation.”

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 .