A literal translation of this verse may be confusing for readers, especially when read in connection with verse 2. Verse 1 appears to suggest that all the Israelites were killed on Mount Gilboa, but the following verse states that Saul and his sons escaped and fled. And verse 7 indicates that there were still other men of Israel who remained alive. Translators may make this transition to verse 2 less abrupt in several ways: (1) The word “many” may be inserted into the text, that is, “many fell slain on Mount Gilboa” (New International Version; similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). (2) The implicit information that Saul and his sons fled may be made explicit in verse 1 (so Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). (3) The word order may be reversed to say that “Many Israelites were killed there, and the rest fled” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). Simply reversing the order of the verbs fled and fell slain will help to resolve this problem in many languages.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which here introduces a new subject. In some languages the beginning of a new paragraph and a new section will indicate the beginning of a new subject, so a transition word such as Now will not be necessary. Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente have “One day.” For Philistines see the comments on 1 Chr 1.12.

And the men of Israel fled before the Philistines: The men of Israel is literally “the man of Israel,” but the singular word “man” is used collectively. Since this is a military battle, more specific military terms may be used, such as “The army of Israel” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) or “The Israelite soldiers” (Nouvelle version Segond révisée, La Bible du Semeur).

And fell slain on Mount Gilboa: Slain translates a Hebrew adjective that comes from a verb meaning “to pierce.” It is used as a technical term in military contexts for those who are “pierced by the sword” or “fatally wounded.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says the Israelite soldiers were “pierced through.” Mount Gilboa was located northeast of Samaria some 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Lake Galilee and about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Jerusalem. Mount Gilboa is a ridge of limestone hills, and the average height of the hills is 500 meters (1,600 feet).

There are two different ways in which this verse may be understood:

• (1) The battle was fought on Mount Gilboa, and those who were not killed there fled elsewhere (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Following this interpretation, the Hebrew refers to two groups of men, some who were killed in the fighting on the mountain and others who fled. Since verse 2 shows that Saul and three of his sons were among those who fled, Good News Translation brings that information forward into verse 1.

• (2) The battle began in the plains. Then when the Israelites realized that the Philistines were winning the battle, they fled to Mount Gilboa, where many were killed. This second understanding is the basis for the New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh rendering: “The Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and [many] fell on Mount Gilboa.” Following this interpretation, the Israelite soldiers who fled were then the same men who were captured and killed.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .