Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which is often rendered “and” (see the comments on this conjunction in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 13). In some languages it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction since the beginning of a new section and a new paragraph will indicate the beginning of a new thought. The division between 2 Samuel and 1 Kings is artificial (see the comments in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 6), and the Hebrew conjunction should be seen as connecting this verse with 2 Sam 20.26.

Was old and advanced in years is literally “was old, entered into days.” The words advanced in years are in apposition to was old. The Hebrew idiom “entered into days” occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament (for example, Gen 18.11; 24.1). Good News Translation has united these two expressions into the single expression “was now a very old man.” According to 2 Sam 5.4, David was thirty when he began to rule and he ruled for forty years. This corresponds to the normal life span indicated in Psa 90.10.

And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm: The second half of this verse in Hebrew is literally “and they covered him with the clothes and it was not warm for him.” The context clearly indicates that the sense is “despite the fact that they covered him, he could not get warm.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation correctly express this sense with the word although. The fact that the third person plural verb they covered has no clear subject may be a problem in some languages. Probably the reference is to some unnamed household servants as the Good News Translation translation suggests. But the reference could be to the officials mentioned in the following verse.

It is possible to understand the English translations in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation as referring to a single occasion when David was covered with blankets. The form of the final Hebrew verb, however, suggests that this was something that happened more than once. Anchor Bible therefore translates “they would cover him with clothes.” In certain languages this will be better translated by a habitual verb form to show the repeated nature of the action.

The Hebrew word translated clothes is a general word used of clothes and garments. It may refer, for example, to a king’s robe (1 Kgs 22.10), to the covering of the Covenant Box (Num 4.6, translated “cloth” in Revised Standard Version), or to bedclothing, as the context here requires. It is certainly legitimate here to translate “bedclothes” (Moffatt, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “covers” (New American Bible), or “blankets” (Contemporary English Version).

Instead of using the negative form he could not get warm, translators may prefer a positive statement of the same idea; for example, “he always felt cold” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Therefore translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context it may be translated Therefore or “So” since verse 2 expresses the logical consequence of verse 1. However, in this case some versions (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible) omit the conjunction altogether, leaving the logical relationship implicit.

His servants said to him: Translators must decide whether the Hebrew term rendered servants refers to domestic house servants or whether it has the more specific meaning of “officials” as in Good News Translation. Either meaning is possible here, but it seems more likely in the context that these were royal officials or “advisers” (New Living Translation), since they were involved in making important decisions about the king. Servants may refer to domestic servants, but this term also has a wide range of uses, indicating various types of subordination. Frequently in 1-2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings, this noun refers to officers of a king or of a military commander. In such contexts Good News Translation usually translates it with the term “officials.” Some other possible translations here are “courtiers” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “attendants” (Revised English Bible). For a fuller discussion on “servant,” see “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 12.

In Hebrew the servants first speak to the king in the third person (my lord the king … the king). Then they speak directly to him in the second person (your) and then again in the third person (my lord the king). Good News Translation has used second person pronouns throughout but has maintained the aspect of respect by saying “Your Majesty….” See the comments on “Indirect reference” in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 10.

Let a young maiden be sought: Young maiden translates two Hebrew nouns. The first one, naʿarah, means “young woman [or, maiden],” and may be used of young single girls who are still virgins or of young married women. The second word, bethulah, often is used to refer to virgins, but it is frequently the context and not the word itself that specifies the idea of virginity. The same nouns occur in the plural in Est 2.2, where the context strongly suggests that the sense is “young virgins.” The context here in 1 Kings is not specific, but the sense may well be “young virgin” (so New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Living Translation, Anchor Bible). In verses 3-4 the word “maiden” is used without the Hebrew word bethulah, but verse 2 sets the context in which later references to the “beautiful maiden” must be understood.

Let her wait upon the king, and be his nurse: The Hebrew verb translated wait upon is literally “stand before.” This idiom means “to serve.” The exact meaning of the Hebrew participle translated nurse here and in verse 4 is uncertain. The verb behind this participle means “to be of use,” “to be of service.” A general verbal construction such as “take care of” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible), “to nurse” (New American Bible), or “look after” (New Jerusalem Bible) may be used.

Let her lie in your bosom: The Hebrew word translated bosom may refer to a person’s lap or to the upper part of the body where one hugs a loved one. Compare “let her lie in your arms” (Revised English Bible) and “she will lie close beside you” (New Jerusalem Bible). In this context the sense is clearly that the young woman is expected to sleep with the king. Compare New American Bible: “If she sleeps with your royal majesty.” New International Version says “She can lie beside him,” but such a translation may not capture the physical contact implied in the Hebrew.

If it seems more natural to translate the direct discourse of this verse as indirect discourse in the receptor language, the following model may serve as an example:

• So his officials suggested that they should find a young woman to stay with the king and take care of him. They wanted someone to lie close to him and keep him warm.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

So translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which here expresses the logical result of what the servants suggested in verse 2.

They sought for a beautiful maiden throughout all the territory of Israel: No explicit subject of the verb sought is stated in Hebrew. It is not clear whether the king’s officials, mentioned in verse 2, are the persons who actually searched throughout the kingdom or whether they gave this task to other unnamed persons.

Regarding the word maiden, see the comments on verse 2. Here the noun is qualified by the adjective beautiful, which in Hebrew is used of both men and women and refers to outward physical appearance.

The search was made in all the territory of Israel. Here the word Israel refers to the entire kingdom of both the northern and southern tribes.

And found Abishag the Shunammite: The Shunammite refers to a person from the village of Shunem, which is located southwest of Lake Galilee and at the northern end of the Valley of Jezreel, near Mount Gilboa (1 Sam 28.4). The prophet Elisha in the ninth century B.C. frequently visited Shunem (2 Kgs 4.8-37). It may be helpful to make explicit that Shunem was a village (so Parole de Vie). Contemporary English Version translates “who lived in the town of Shunem.” Abishag reappears in the narrative of Adonijah’s death in 1 Kgs 2.13-25.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The maiden (see the comments on this noun in verse 2) was not only “beautiful,” as in verse 3, but she was very beautiful. If possible, the word used for “beautiful” in verse 3 should be qualified by an adverb meaning “exceptionally,” “indeed” or “truly” in this verse. Anchor Bible, for example, says “the girl was very beautiful indeed.”

She became the king’s nurse and ministered to him: As in verse 2, the Hebrew word translated nurse is a participle of a verb meaning “to be of service.” The verb ministered is sometimes used in the context of worship to mean “to minister” or “to serve” before God, but here the meaning is simply that she “waited upon” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “took care of” (Good News Translation) the king.

A literal translation of the final clause but the king knew her not may express the wrong meaning in many languages. Use of the verb “to know” is a common Hebrew idiom meaning “to have sexual intercourse with” (as in Gen 4.1; Jdg 19.25; Matt 1.25). Contemporary English Version says “But David did not have sex with her.” If a euphemism for sex exists in the receptor language, it may be used here. Compare the following English euphemisms: “but the king did not make love to her” (God’s Word), “… did not have relations with her” (Anchor Bible), and “… was not intimate with her” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). As noted in the introduction to this section, it is not clear whether the end of this verse should be understood to mean that David did not attempt to have any sexual relationship with Abishag or whether he tried but was unable. The Hebrew states simply that David did not have sex with her, without any further comment. But the reason for the statement may have been to show that it was time for a new king to replace King David.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .