Jabesh-gilead: better translated “Jabesh in Gilead” or “the city of Jabesh in the region of Gilead” (see the comments on 11.1). The inhabitants of this city had been rescued by Saul when King Nahash of Ammon had threatened them (11.1-11).

Heard: the Hebrew is literally “heard to him.” But almost all versions consider the addition of the pronoun to be a scribal error and follow the Septuagint, which omits it.

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 .