Subdued: this Hebrew verb may also be rendered “humbled” in some contexts; it is, in fact, the translation here in An American Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, and Fox. The sense here is clearly that the Israelites inflicted a military defeat on the Philistines. The passive form of the Hebrew will need to be made active in some languages. The agent of the verb may be stated as “the Israelites” (compare Josh 3.30; 8.28; 11.33, where the same passive form is used).

The words did not again enter the territory of Israel mark a turning point in the history of Israel. Until this time the Philistines had constantly troubled the people of Israel and invaded their land. Some may wish to translate “stopped raiding the land of Israel forever” or “never again attacked the people of Israel in their land.” New American Bible says “never again to enter the territory of Israel.” The translation in Good News Translation, stating that the Philistines never entered Israel’s territory as long as Samuel lived, is an attempt to harmonize this statement with later events, when the Philistines did indeed enter Israel’s territory again. Perhaps Good News Translation has understood the two parts of this verse to be parallel in thought. But the most natural reading of this verse is to understand it as an exaggerated claim that the Philistines never again invaded Israelite territory.

The hand of the LORD was against: the preposition means “on,” or “against.” This is a common Old Testament expression to speak of God’s punishment (for example, Exo 9.3; Deut 2.15; 2 Sam 24.17). On the metaphorical use of hand, see 4.8. Here it is possible to translate “the LORD was severe with them” (New American Bible).

All the days of Samuel: the Hebrew contains no verb. Many translations will use a verbal construction as Good News Translation does, or an idiomatic expression as New International Version does, “Throughout Samuel’s lifetime.” In some cases it will be more natural to shift the phrase to the beginning of the final sentence in this verse, saying something like “As long as Samuel lived, the LORD used his power against them.”

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 .