OET interlinear 2 SAM 20:6

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

לָ֛⁠נוּ

to/for=us

By us, David means to include both himself and Abishai, whom he is addressing, so use the inclusive form of that word if your language marks that distinction.

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

אַ֠תָּה קַ֞ח

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said Dāvid to/towards ʼAⱱīshay now do_~_harm to/for=us seven son_of Bikrī from/more_than ʼAⱱīshālōm you(ms) take DOM servants_of your(pl)_master(s)_of,your and,pursue after,him lest he/it_found to=him/it cities fortified and,he_will_tear_out eye_of,our )

See how you translated the similar expression “you, you know” in [17:20](../17/20.md). Alternate translation: [For your part, take]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

אֶת־עַבְדֵ֤י אֲדֹנֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙

DOM servants_of your(pl)_master(s)_of,your

Even though David is addressing Abishai directly, he is speaking of himself regally in the third person as your lord. Your language may have a regal form that it could use here. (For example, in some languages, kings and queens speak of themselves in the plural.) You could also use the first person. Alternate translation: [my servants]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אֶת־עַבְדֵ֤י אֲדֹנֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙

DOM servants_of your(pl)_master(s)_of,your

By the servants of your lord, David means the standing army that is under his direct command. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [my standing troops]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

פֶּן־מָ֥צָא ל֛⁠וֹ עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻר֖וֹת וְ⁠הִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽ⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said Dāvid to/towards ʼAⱱīshay now do_~_harm to/for=us seven son_of Bikrī from/more_than ʼAⱱīshālōm you(ms) take DOM servants_of your(pl)_master(s)_of,your and,pursue after,him lest he/it_found to=him/it cities fortified and,he_will_tear_out eye_of,our )

David is using the word translated as lest to introduce an outcome that he does not want to happen. Because of this, he first gives Abishai the instruction to pursue Sheba, so that this will not happen. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that avoiding this outcome is the purpose of this instruction. Alternate translation: [Otherwise, he may find fortified cities for himself and remove our eyes]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / events

מָ֥צָא ל֛⁠וֹ עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻר֖וֹת וְ⁠הִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽ⁠נוּ

he/it_found to=him/it cities (Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said Dāvid to/towards ʼAⱱīshay now do_~_harm to/for=us seven son_of Bikrī from/more_than ʼAⱱīshālōm you(ms) take DOM servants_of your(pl)_master(s)_of,your and,pursue after,him lest he/it_found to=him/it cities fortified and,he_will_tear_out eye_of,our )

David is describing one event, Sheba finding fortified cities, before describing another event that would precede it, Sheba figuratively removing the eyes of David and his servants. If it would be helpful your language, you may wish to relate these events in the order in which would happen. Alternate translation: [he remove our eyes and find fortified cities for himself]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠הִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽ⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said Dāvid to/towards ʼAⱱīshay now do_~_harm to/for=us seven son_of Bikrī from/more_than ʼAⱱīshālōm you(ms) take DOM servants_of your(pl)_master(s)_of,your and,pursue after,him lest he/it_found to=him/it cities fortified and,he_will_tear_out eye_of,our )

David is speaking as if Sheba might actually remove his eyes and those of his soldiers so that they would not be able to see where he had gone. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also use plain language. Alternate translation: [and we lose sight of where he has gone] or [and he go somewhere that we are not aware of]