Took … and brought: see the comments on serial verbs in “Translating the Books of Samuel,” pages 20 and following. In some languages it will be better to use a single verb, as in “Samuel brought Saul and his servant” (Revised English Bible).

The hall refers to a large dining room. The same word is used for rooms connected to the temple in Jerusalem (see Jer 35.2, 4, where Revised Standard Version renders this word “chamber”).

Samuel gave Saul and his servant a place at the head. Good News Translation expresses this as “at the head of the table,” which in English signifies the place of honor. In some languages it may be better to say something like “he gave them the place of honor among those who had been invited” (so Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Thirty persons: the Septuagint has “seventy persons,” but this is not followed by any major English translation and is not recommended to other translators.

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 .