The woman of Tekoa: literally “the Tekoaite woman.” It may be considered unnecessary in some languages to repeat the words of Tekoa, since this information has just been given in verse 2.

Came to the king: most Hebrew manuscripts have “spoke to the king” (followed by King James Version, New American Standard Bible, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} evaluation to this reading. But Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament acknowledges that even the reading of the majority of manuscripts may be translated “addressed the king.” And this may possibly have the meaning “came into the presence of the king.”

Fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance: see the comments on 9.6 and compare also 1 Sam 20.41. Both here and in 1 Sam 20.41, the word face is literally “nose.”

Help, O king: languages will differ with regard to the order of this short statement. Some will naturally put the address to the king before the plea for help. But others will find it easier to follow the order of Revised Standard Version and of the Hebrew original. And in some cases the plea for help will require a grammatical object as in Good News Translation, “Help me….” Others may have to say “I beg you to help me.” And instead of saying O king, a more natural equivalent such as “Your Majesty” may also be required.

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 .