OET interlinear 2 SAM 3:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

לֵ⁠אמֹ֖ר לְ⁠מִי־אָ֑רֶץ לֵ⁠אמֹ֗ר כָּרְתָ֤⁠ה בְרִֽיתְ⁠ךָ֙ אִתִּ֔⁠י

to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_sent ʼAⱱnēr messengers to/towards Dāvid ,place_of_himself to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say make, covenant_of,your with,me and=see/lo/see! hand_of,my [will,be]_with_you to,bring_round to,you DOM all/each/any/every Yisrael )

The term saying introduces a direct quotation. In your translation, use a natural way of introducing direct quotations in your language. It may not be necessary to represent this term explicitly. Alternate translation: [saying, “To whom is the land? Cut your covenant with me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

לְ⁠מִי־אָ֑רֶץ

[belongs]_to,whom? land

Abner is using the question form for emphasis. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Abner could mean: (1) that he, not Ishbosheth, actually controls the land, so if David makes a covenant with him, he can deliver all of Israel to David. Alternate translation: [The land is under my control!]; (2) that since Yahweh promised David the kingship, Abner will help him become the king of all of Israel on that basis. Alternate translation: [You are the rightful king of the land!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

כָּרְתָ֤⁠ה בְרִֽיתְ⁠ךָ֙ אִתִּ֔⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_sent ʼAⱱnēr messengers to/towards Dāvid ,place_of_himself to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say make, covenant_of,your with,me and=see/lo/see! hand_of,my [will,be]_with_you to,bring_round to,you DOM all/each/any/every Yisrael )

Abner is using Cut your covenant as a common expression of his culture to mean “make your covenant.” If this phrase would not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Make a covenant with me]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠הִנֵּה֙

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_sent ʼAⱱnēr messengers to/towards Dāvid ,place_of_himself to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say make, covenant_of,your with,me and=see/lo/see! hand_of,my [will,be]_with_you to,bring_round to,you DOM all/each/any/every Yisrael )

See how you translated the similar expression in 1:12.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

יָדִ֣⁠י עִמָּ֔⁠ךְ

hand_of,my (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_sent ʼAⱱnēr messengers to/towards Dāvid ,place_of_himself to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say make, covenant_of,your with,me and=see/lo/see! hand_of,my [will,be]_with_you to,bring_round to,you DOM all/each/any/every Yisrael )

Abner is using his hand to represent himself in the act of accompanying and assisting David. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I will be with you]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יָדִ֣⁠י עִמָּ֔⁠ךְ

hand_of,my (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_sent ʼAⱱnēr messengers to/towards Dāvid ,place_of_himself to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say make, covenant_of,your with,me and=see/lo/see! hand_of,my [will,be]_with_you to,bring_round to,you DOM all/each/any/every Yisrael )

In telling David he will be with him, Abner is using a common expression of his culture to mean that he will help him. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I will support you]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְ⁠הָסֵ֥ב אֵלֶ֖י⁠ךָ אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

to,bring_round to,you DOM (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_sent ʼAⱱnēr messengers to/towards Dāvid ,place_of_himself to=say [belongs]_to,whom? land to=say make, covenant_of,your with,me and=see/lo/see! hand_of,my [will,be]_with_you to,bring_round to,you DOM all/each/any/every Yisrael )

Here, Abner is speaking as if he would physically make the Israelites turn in a different direction. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to make all the Israelites accept you as their king]