The Hebrew noun rendered box occurs in the Old Testament only in this chapter (here and in verses 11 and 15). The origin and meaning of the word is uncertain. The lexicons by Koehler-Baumgartner and by Holladay give the word “saddlebags” as the only meaning. The lexicon of Brown, Driver, and Briggs gives the definition “box” or “chest.” Other renderings include “bag” (Klein), “pouch” (Anchor Bible), “casket” (Revised English Bible), and “box” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and most other versions). There is no way to be certain about the exact meaning, but obviously some kind of container is intended. Whichever term is chosen in the receptor language should be used also in verses 11 and 15 below.

The figures of gold, which you are returning … as a guilt offering: the Hebrew word translated figures here is a very general term (not the same as the one rendered “models” in verses 3 and 4). But it clearly refers to the same objects, so it is acceptable to translate in the same way. Compare verses 3 and 4.

Let it go its way: the people are not to accompany or direct the cart. But in some languages it may sound very strange to speak of the cart going its own way without mentioning the cows pulling it. So some translators may prefer to say “let the cows take it wherever they will.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .