There was again war: the same expression as seen in verses 15, 18, and 19, which marks another episode in this section.

A man of great stature: the traditional Hebrew text actually has something that appears to mean “a man of Midian,” but no known translation follows this. Revised Standard Version and most other English versions adapt the reading suggested in the margin of the Masoretic Text here, which is similar to what is found in the parallel at 1 Chr 20.4. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls have “a man of quarrel,” which means “a quarrelsome person.” Good News Translation seems to translate both meanings when it says “a giant who loved to fight.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project does not deal with this textual problem, and translators are advised to follow the text reflected in Revised Standard Version.

Twenty-four in number: this summary statement may not work well in languages that have totally different terms for fingers and toes. They may have to say “twelve fingers and twelve toes.” But in languages where the same word is used, it may be perfectly natural to summarize in this way.

Descended from the giants: see the comments at verse 16. In verse 16 an adjective is used in Hebrew, whereas here the Hebrew uses a verb, but the meaning is the same.

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 .