As in verse 9 above, Good News Translation changes the embedded direct quotation into an indirect quotation. Contemporary English Version has “if they tell us to come up the hill.”

We will go up: in this context (see verse 13) one may say “we will climb up” (New Century Version).

For: the Hebrew conjunction may also be translated “because” (New American Bible as well as Good News Translation). The clause that follows explains the reason why the two men would have the courage to follow through on their plan.

On the metaphorical use of hand as “power” or “control,” see 4.8.

The sign: that is, the sign that God has assured Jonathan and his armorbearer of victory. The sign itself will be the response of the Philistines, telling them to Come up.

The Hebrew text contains a play on words here and in verse 12 that probably cannot be preserved in translation. The name “Jonathan” means “the LORD has given.”

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 .