Defeated: literally “to strike,” “to hit.” This verb may also mean “to strike down” in the sense of “to kill” or “to wound.” In this context it will be rendered defeated or “killed,” depending on whether the following noun is translated “garrison” or “commander.”
Garrison: on the translation of this term, see the comments on 10.5. In this context quite a few modern versions, like Good News Translation, take the word to refer to the individual in charge of the Philistine contingent at Geba rather than to the group as a whole (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Osty-Trinquet, and Anchor Bible). Either solution is possible, and whichever is adopted, the alternative should probably be given in a footnote.
Geba: it is uncertain whether Geba is another name for the town of Gibeah (New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible read “Gibeah” here), or whether the two names refer to two separate locations. It is common in the ancient versions and in Hebrew manuscripts for these two names to be confused with one another. Geba is identified in the Old Testament as a town in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18.24).
Since 1838 Geba has been located by archaeologists as a site about nine kilometers (about five and a half miles) northeast of Jerusalem, directly opposite Michmash on the other side of the pass of Michmash. Since about 1930 most archaeologists have located the city of “Gibeah” at a site only five kilometers (three miles) north of Jerusalem. More recent studies, however, suggest that Geba and “Gibeah” are different names for the same town (see verses 15-16). Possibly “Gibeah” is the older Israelite name, while Geba is the name used in Judah. See the comments on 14.16.
Trumpet: this trumpet, made of a ram’s horn, sounded only two or three notes and was used to signal people in times of war (see the comment on 2 Sam 2.28; also Judges 3.27; 6.34; Jer 4.5; 6.1, 17). It is not probable that Saul himself traveled throughout the land, so some modern versions say that Saul “sent messengers” (Good News Translation) or that he “had the trumpet blown” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).
It is unusual in 1 and 2 Samuel for Israelites to refer to themselves as “Hebrews” (see the comments on 4.6). Some interpreters therefore consider the words spoken about the Hebrews to be the words of the Philistines and not the words of Saul. Various corrections and reordering of words have been proposed for this verse. The Septuagint ends with the words “And Saul sounds the trumpet through all the land, saying, ‘The servants have despised us.’ ”
A comparison of modern translations reflects the uncertainty regarding the text of this verse. Compare “and the news spread among the Philistines that the Hebrews were in revolt. Saul sounded the trumpet all through the land” (Revised English Bible, and similarly New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet, Anchor Bible, and Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel).
Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text and suggests that the word Hebrews refers to persons who had given up their freedom through a semivoluntary slavery (see 14.21). If this understanding of the word Hebrews is accepted, then a more meaningful translation will be something like the following: “Let those Hebrews who have surrendered to the enemy hear that the revolt has begun!” Or a footnote may be provided giving the same information, if such a translation is considered too bold. If the direct quotation is to be made indirect, Good News Translation provides a possible model.
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 .