The first two lines in this verse are an example of parallelism, which is quite common in Hebrew poetry. But the second line includes the streets of, which has no parallel in the first line. The two place names, Gath and Ashkelon, are mentioned together in Josh 13.3 as cities of Philistine kings, who were the enemies of the people of Israel, and as such they would have been understood to be centers of enemy opposition (see also 1 Sam 6.17). Ashkelon was located on the Mediterranean coast. And, while the location of Gath is not certain, some scholars suggest that this may be a case of mentioning the closest and most distant Philistine cities in order to represent the totality of the enemy territory. The footnote in La Bible du Semeur expresses this understanding. If the idea that these cities were centers of the enemies of Israel is not included in the translation itself, a footnote should be added providing this information, as in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente. The footnote there reads “Gath and Ashkelon were two important Philistine cities. These enemies would be happy because of Saul’s death.” However, the following model, giving the information in the text itself, may be considered:

• Do not tell this news to our adversaries who live in Gath-town.
Do not talk about it in the streets of the enemy city, Ashkelon.

The verb translated publish in Revised Standard Version is rendered in Nouvelle version Segond révisée as “carry the good news,” but this verb in Hebrew does not necessarily imply that the news was good, since that would depend on the point of view of the writer. A Jewish writer would certainly not have seen the news as good. And the writer was definitely not a Philistine. So translators are advised to avoid the mistake of Nouvelle version Segond révisée.

The second pair of lines in this verse are also parallel. The Philistines are the same as the uncircumcised (see the comments on 1 Sam 14.6). And the verbs rejoice and exult are synonymous. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente provides one model to show that the Philistines and the uncircumcised are the same: “the Philistine daughters … the women of those people without God.”

Daughters of …: in a male-dominated society, it was most shameful and degrading to see the females among the enemies boasting and celebrating victory. It is perhaps for this reason that the word daughters is mentioned twice. In some Old Testament passages the word “daughters” is used to mean “cities” (Psa 48.11). But none of the versions consulted adopts this meaning here, and in light of the parallel with verse 24, the reference is surely to women and not to cities.

Lest: this is a somewhat archaic way of saying “for fear that” or “otherwise it may happen that….” The point is that, if the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan is spread to the enemy cities, the inhabitants will certainly celebrate and revel in it.

The uncircumcised: this expression focuses on a physical characteristic of non-Israelites, but it suggests hostility toward God as well as toward his people. While Good News Translation uses the word “pagan,” it may be necessary in many languages to say something like “people who don’t know God.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .