That they were in straits: literally “that [it was] narrow to them.” The corresponding Hebrew has no verb, but the noun straits has the same root as the verb that is elsewhere translated “oppressed” (Num 10.9), “harass” (Num 25.17). Some good idiomatic renderings in English are “that they were in trouble” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “that their plight was desperate” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The parenthetical information in Revised Standard Version may be shifted to the beginning of the verse in order to avoid the use of parentheses. And the passive construction the people were hard pressed may be rendered active by saying “the enemy was fighting hard against the Israelite troops.” Good News Translation has made explicit that the Israelites were attacked.

The people, that is, the army (so Revised English Bible; and see the comment on verse 4 above).

The consonants for the word translated holes are generally understood to mean “thorn bushes.” New American Bible and Anchor Bible say “in thickets,” Klein says “in briar patches,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “among thorns.” But because the context seems to favor understanding this as “holes” rather than “thorn bushes,” some interpreters suggest that one letter should be altered to read “holes.” And nearly all translations render this as holes in this context. The lexicons by Holladay, and Koehler and Baumgartner, however, propose that these same consonants may also mean “holes.” Since strong evidence exists to show that this Hebrew word may mean either “holes” or “thickets,” there is no need to suggest a change in the Hebrew text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text.

In rocks may be better translated in English as “among [the] rocks” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible) or “in crevices” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Tombs: the Hebrew word is translated “pits” (Revised English Bible, New International Version, New Century Version), “caverns” (New American Bible), “vaults” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “tunnels.” The same word refers to the cellar of a temple in Judges 9.46, 49, where Revised Standard Version translates it “stronghold.” The word refers to an underground hole in general, though the corresponding word in Arabic refers to the area in the bottom of a grave. In this context the best translation is probably “pits.”

Cisterns of various sizes and shapes were dug out of natural rock to store water from the winter rains for the dry season (May through September). They were often lined with lime plaster to make them watertight. In some languages this may have to be translated “places where people kept water” or something similar.

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 .