OET interlinear 2 SAM 3:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-time-background

וַ⁠תְּהִ֤י הַ⁠מִּלְחָמָה֙ אֲרֻכָּ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּ⁠בֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד

(Some words not found in UHB: and=it_became the,war long between house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) and=between house_of Dāvid and,David grew and,strong and,the_house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) grew and,weak )

The author is using this clause to describe something that was ongoing. This provides the background for other events he will describe that began to happen during this time. Connect this clause to the story in a way that makes it clear in your language that this clause is describing something that was ongoing in the background. Alternate translation: [For a long time after that there was war between the house of Saul and between the house of David.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וַ⁠תְּהִ֤י הַ⁠מִּלְחָמָה֙ אֲרֻכָּ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּ⁠בֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד

(Some words not found in UHB: and=it_became the,war long between house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) and=between house_of Dāvid and,David grew and,strong and,the_house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) grew and,weak )

In this context, the term house refers to the family line of a king, which might include several descendants who were his successors as king. Your language may use this term in the same way, or it may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also use plain language, as the UST does. Alternate translation: [the royal house of Saul … the royal house of David] or [the dynasty of Saul … the dynasty of David]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

וְ⁠דָוִד֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ וְ⁠חָזֵ֔ק וּ⁠בֵ֥ית שָׁא֖וּל הֹלְכִ֥ים וְ⁠דַלִּֽים

and,David grew and,strong and,the_house_of (Some words not found in UHB: and=it_became the,war long between house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) and=between house_of Dāvid and,David grew and,strong and,the_house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) grew and,weak )

The phrases going and strong and going and weak express single ideas. The word going indicates that the strength and weakness grew greater over time. If it would be more natural in your language, you could express these meanings in a different way. Alternate translation: [And David kept getting stronger, but the house of Saul kept getting weaker]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

וְ⁠דָוִד֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ וְ⁠חָזֵ֔ק וּ⁠בֵ֥ית שָׁא֖וּל הֹלְכִ֥ים וְ⁠דַלִּֽים

and,David grew and,strong and,the_house_of (Some words not found in UHB: and=it_became the,war long between house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) and=between house_of Dāvid and,David grew and,strong and,the_house_of Shāʼūl/(Saul) grew and,weak )

The author is using David to represent David and all those who supported him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [And David and his supporters kept getting stronger]