Then Eli answered is literally “And Eli answered and said” (see the comments above on verse 15).

Go in peace: the Hebrew word peace means more than the absence of war. It carries the sense of “having a full life with God’s blessings.” The whole phrase is a customary blessing that one person wishes for another. Jethro uses it to bless his son-in-law Moses (Exo 4.18). It is also found in Judges 18.6 and several times elsewhere in the books of Samuel (1 Sam 20.42; 29.7; 2 Sam 3.21, 22, 23; 15.9). In addition to the literal rendering, it has also been translated “Go! I wish you well” (New Century Version), “Go and prosper” (Moffatt), and “You may go home now and stop worrying” (Contemporary English Version).

The God of Israel: this expression occurs frequently in 1 and 2 Samuel (2.30; 5.7, 8, 10, 11; 6.3, 5; 10.18; 2 Sam 7.27; 12.7; and elsewhere). Most translations follow the form of the Hebrew, but in some languages it may be necessary to say something like “the God whom Israel worships [or, serves].”

The form of the verb translated “may he grant” is usually understood to be an expression of a wish (nearly all translations), but the same form may be understood as a statement of fact, that is, “and the God of Israel will grant.” Contemporary English Version seems to adopt this interpretation when it translates “I’m sure the God of Israel will answer your prayer.”

Your petition which you have made to him may be rendered in a variety of ways, including “what you have asked of him” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), “your prayer to him,” or simply “your prayer” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .