Gibe-ah of Saul: some translators may prefer to say “the town of Saul which is called Gibeah” or “Saul’s town, Gibeah.”

In the ears of the people is a literal translation of the Hebrew. In many European languages such an expression is not natural and is therefore put into more idiomatic language as in Good News Translation. Compare in the ears of the LORD in 8.21.

And all the people wept aloud: literally “and all the people lifted their voice and wept.” The same expression occurs in 24.17 and 2 Sam 13.36. Good News Translation emphasizes the emotion that accompanied the crying by adding “in despair.” The context indicates that the crying continued at least until Saul arrived. For this reason certain modern versions find it necessary to say here that the inhabitants of Gibeah “started crying” (Good News Translation; La Bible du Semeur is similar). The same is implied by the Revised English Bible rendering, “broke into lamentation and weeping.”

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 .