Racal: this city is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament, and its location is unknown. In place of Racal the Septuagint reads “Carmel,” a city located about eleven kilometers (or about seven miles) south of Hebron (see Josh 15.55; 1 Sam 25.2). The Septuagint is the basis for the reading “Carmel” in New Jerusalem Bible, Anchor Bible, and Osty-Trinquet. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. So translators are advised to base their renderings on the name Racal as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

The cities of the Jerahmeelites: the clan of Jerahmeel belonged to the tribe of Judah (see 1 Chr 2.9, 25-27). The Kenites were mentioned earlier in 15.6. They apparently lived in the southeast part of Palestine, near the border with Moab. The Septuagint and a Hebrew manuscript from Qumran read “the Kenizzites” (see Num 32.12; Josh 14.6) instead of the Kenites. Regarding the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites, see also 27.10.

The sense is not that David sent spoil to all of the people in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites, but rather that he sent it to the leaders in these cities (see the comments on verse 27). New Century Version says “He also sent some to the leaders of the cities of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites.”

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 .