But translates the Hebrew conjunction plus the verb traditionally rendered “and it came to pass” (see page 19).

On the second day: that is, the day following the special meal for the New Moon Festival. At the regular evening meal on the next day, Saul took note that David’s place was still unoccupied. This aroused his suspicion, since David’s state of uncleanness would have ended the previous night.

The new moon: see the comments on verse 5.

Was empty: the context requires the sense “was still empty,” as Good News Translation makes explicit. Other ways of saying this are “his place remained not occupied” or “there was still no one in his seat.”

Here, as in earlier verses, for reasons of English style, Good News Translation omits the explicit information that Jonathan was Saul’s son. This information is given in 13.16, 22, and more recently in 19.1.

The son of Jesse: that is, David (see 16.10-13 and 17.12). Some readers may not understand that the son of Jesse refers to David. For this reason Good News Translation says “David.” Other possible solutions translating both the form and meaning are “David, the son of Jesse” or “Jesse’s son David.” Saul continues to avoid David’s name and refers to him only as “the son of Jesse” in verses 30 and 31 and again in chapter 22. So this seems to be intentional and perhaps shows Saul’s displeasure. Contemporary English Version attempts to reflect this by translating here “that son of Jesse.”

If indirect discourse is preferred, the last part of this verse may be translated “Saul asked Jonathan why David had not come to the meal that day or the day before.”

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 .