David had earlier spared Saul’s life for the same reason (see 24.6).

The LORD forbid: literally “Far be it from me by Yahweh.” See 24.6, where the same idiom occurs.

Put forth my hand: literally “send my hand.” See the comments at verse 9 above. The same expression is used again in verse 23.

The LORD’s anointed: see the comments on 2.10.

The jar: this was a small rounded jar for carrying water or oil. Other renderings of this term are “cruse” (Anchor Bible, Fox), “jug” (New American Bible), and “pitcher” (New Jerusalem Bible). Some translations say “water jar” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but this should not be taken to imply that there was no water in the jar. The meaning is rather “jar of water” (Revised Standard Version), “jug of water” (An American Translation), or “pitcher of water” (New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .