Who had come: that is, to Gibeah (verse 4). Certain modern versions add the implied information that these messengers had come “from Jabesh” (La Bible du Semeur, Good News Translation).

By the time the sun is hot: this simple way of telling time is translated in many common language versions as “before noon” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). See verse 11 below.

If the two levels of direct quotation in this verse are awkward in the receptor language, one or both of these levels may be made indirect. Good News Translation turns the second level quotation into an indirect statement but retains the direct quote of what the people of Gibeah said to the messengers from Jabesh. If translators wish to do away with the direct quotation altogether, the following model may prove helpful:

• They instructed the messengers from Jabesh to tell the people of their city that they would be rescued before noon the next day.

When the messengers came: that is, when they had returned to Jabesh.

They were glad: in modern English this may seem to be a rather weak reaction to the good news brought by the messengers. The translation “they rejoiced” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) is at least equally valid. Compare also the renderings of New International Version (“they were elated”) and New Century Version (“they were very happy”).

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 .