Brought … near: literally “caused to approach.” A literal rendering of Revised Standard Version may seem to place too much of a burden on Samuel—he did not literally bring the tribes into his presence. The same is true of the beginning of the following verse.

Was taken by lot: literally “was taken [or, chosen].” The Hebrew does not state explicitly that the method of selection was by casting lots. Casting of lots, however, was considered to be a way to discover God’s will (see Josh 7.16-18 and Acts 1.26). The Hebrew verb is passive, without mention of the agent. That the people are to “present themselves before the LORD” (verse 19) clearly implies that God is the agent who “takes,” or “chooses,” as Good News Translation makes explicit. This also avoids the passive construction, which may be impossible or unnatural in certain languages.

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 .