OET interlinear 2 SAM 18:23

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

וִ⁠יהִי־מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ

and=let_it_be what run

The direct quotation can be marked to clearly show that these are Ahimaaz’s words. Use whatever punctuation or other ways of indicating quotations that are natural in your language. Alternate translation: [But Ahimaaz replied, “But whatever may be, let me run.”]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: and=let_it_be what run and=he/it_said to=him/it run and,he_ran ʼAḩīmaˊaʦ road/way_of of,the_plain and,he_passed_by DOM the,Cushite )

The pronoun he refers to Joab, while the pronoun him refers to Ahimaaz. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [And Joab said to Ahimaaz]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

ר֑וּץ

run

This is an imperative, but it communicates permission rather than a command. Use a form in your language that communicates permission. Alternate translation: [You may run]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַֽ⁠יַּעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַ⁠כּוּשִֽׁי

(Some words not found in UHB: and=let_it_be what run and=he/it_said to=him/it run and,he_ran ʼAḩīmaˊaʦ road/way_of of,the_plain and,he_passed_by DOM the,Cushite )

The implication is that Ahimaaz ran faster than the Cushite and got to King David before he did. The author indicates that Ahimaaz took a different route, so it was not the case that he passed the Cushite in the sense of running past him on the same road. Indicate this in your translation in a way that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [and he outran the Cushite]