Since the story takes an unexpected turn, it is appropriate to begin this part by translating the common conjunction as But. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses the word “However” at this point.

Staff: the Hebrew noun refers to a staff (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible) or stick (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, New Living Translation), most likely made of wood. This may have been a stick used in walking, a weapon used in warfare, or even a symbol of his authority as the king’s son.

The honeycomb: this translates a word that occurs only here in the Old Testament. Though traditionally translated as honeycomb, the exact meaning is not certain.

As in the previous verse, the expression put his hand to his mouth means simply that “he ate.”

His eyes became bright: see also verse 29. This idiom means that he regained his strength. See the similar idiom in Psa 13.3; 19.8. New Jerusalem Bible renders this literally as “whereupon his eyes grew brighter.” If a literal translation will not express the correct meaning, it will be necessary to translate along the lines of Revised English Bible, “and [he] was refreshed,” or Contemporary English Version, “He felt stronger and more alert.”

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 .