Behold: the focusing particle is used twice in this verse. It emphasizes the transfer of power from Samuel to the king, attesting that Samuel is no longer in charge. The second occurrence introduces proof of Samuel’s old age, the fact that he has grown sons active in the community.

Walks before you: both here and at the end of this verse, this expression means “to lead and to serve the people openly.” Some possible model translations are “it is the king who leads you now” (New Revised Standard Version) and “it is he [the king] who will direct you” (Bible en français courant).

The emphatic first person singular pronoun (simply I in Revised Standard Version) is highlighted in Good News Translation, New International Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and La Bible du Semeur by translating “As for me.”

The words my sons are with you express not so much the location of Samuel’s sons but rather the idea that his sons belong to the same generation of people as those to whom he speaks, and that the sons are capable of replacing him. New Jerusalem Bible provides a good model: “As for me, I am old and grey, and in any case you have my sons.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente also captures the idea that Samuel’s sons are able to replace him: “and my sons are adults.” And Contemporary English Version is similar with “my own sons are grown.”

From my youth until this day: in some languages the most natural rendering of the meaning here may be “all my life [until now].”

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 .