The structure of the initial sentence of Samuel’s explanation may need to be reordered in some languages. The sentence serves as an introduction to the more detailed list of royal rights that continues through verse 17. Some other ways of translating it are “Here is a list of things that your king will do,” “If you have a king, this is how he will treat you” (Contemporary English Version), or “the rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows:…” (New American Bible).
The word translated ways is the same as in verses 3 and 9. It is elsewhere translated “custom” (2.13), “rights,” (10.25), and “ordinance” (30.25). In this context the idea of “habit” or “custom” probably fits best.
He will take: these are keywords in verses 11-18, occurring six times (verses 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17). If possible the receptor language should preserve the repetition of this verb, which expresses a negative attitude toward the future king’s actions. The sense in each of these six statements is that the king will act without regard for the desires of the people. Good News Translation‘s “He will make soldiers of your sons” does not adequately capture the negative force of the Hebrew. It may be better expressed “he will take your sons and make them serve as soldiers.”
In this context chariots and horsemen must be understood as military terms (as also in 1 Kgs 9.22 and 1 Sam 13.5). For this reason Good News Translation and Bible en français courant speak of “war chariots” and “cavalry.” See also Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, which also say “cavalry.” The law of Deuteronomy (17.16) prohibited kings from having chariots and cavalry forces.
To run before his chariots: in some languages this may be misunderstood to mean that the young men would eventually be run down by the chariots and killed. Since this is not the case, translators should seek to clarify the meaning by translating something like “to serve as bodyguards running ahead of his chariots” or “to clear the way for his chariots.” See the fulfillment of these words during the time of David’s sons Absalom (2 Sam 15.1) and Adonijah (1 Kgs 1.5). These “runners” were royal guards who protected the doors of the palace and the room where the king’s treasures were kept. In 1 Kgs 14.27-28, Revised Standard Version calls them “the guard” (literally “the runners”).
The word chariots itself may present problems for translators in cultures where such vehicles are unknown. A chariot of the type depicted in the Old Testament is a light, open, two-wheeled vehicle pulled by one or more horses and used in battle. It is distinguished from the “cart,” or “wagon,” used in the transportation of the Covenant Box (6.7-12), which was a heavier vehicle with four wheels.
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 .