Outskirts: that is, “edge” or “extremity.” Good News Translation‘s rendering “not far from” is quite legitimate. See the comments on 9.27.
Gibe-ah: see the comments on 10.5. But note that in this context several versions translate “Geba” (Contemporary English Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Moffatt).
Instead of under the pomegranate tree, it will be more natural in some languages to say “in the shade of the pomegranate tree.”
The pomegranate tree: Hebrew has the definite article, “the pomegranate tree” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible), and the translation should indicate that a specific tree is referred to. The plants on which pomegranates grow are shrublike, but some may grow as tall as thirty feet (or about ten meters). So in many languages they would have to be considered trees. They have bright green leaves and bright scarlet blossoms. The juice from the fruit was made into a sweet wine (see Song 8.2).
It is possible that the Hebrew word rimmon, translated pomegranate, should be understood as a place name. See “En-rimmon” (Josh 19.7), “Rimmon” (Josh 19.13), “Gath-rimmon” (Josh 19.45), and “Rimmon-perez” (Num 33.19). According to Judges 20.45-47, the rock of Rimmon was located near Gibeah, and six hundred of the Israelite army stayed there for four months. It is possible that rimmon here in verse 2 refers to the rock of Rimmon, near the outskirts of Gibe-ah. This understanding is expressed in Fox‘s translation, “beneath the Pomegranate (Rock) that is in the Migron.” In a footnote on this verse, Fox states, “If related to Heb. n-g-r, ‘gushing,’ it [the Migron] possibly refers to the Wadi es-Swenit, not too far from Gibeah; the ‘Pomegranate’ would then be the cave referred to in Judges 20:45-47.” Though this interpretation of the Hebrew may well be correct, it cannot be recommended as representing widespread agreement among interpreters.
Migron is located near Geba and Michmash (see Isa 10.28, though some think that this Migron in Isaiah refers to a different town, located north of Michmash). As the word Migron is spelled in the Masoretic Text, it clearly refers to a place; and the preliminary report of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text. It is, however, possible to use different vowels and understand this word to mean “at the threshing floor” instead of at Migron (see 1 Kgs 22.10). Compare Anchor Bible: “Saul was on the outskirts of Geba sitting under a pomegranate tree, which was on the threshing floor” (so also New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible).
It is also possible that the word Migron refers, not to a town, but to the bed of the canyon running between Michmash and Geba. The name may come from a verb meaning “to gush forth” and may refer to the floods that came through this wadi, modern Wadi es-Swenit, in the rainy season. While this interpretation is possible, it is not reflected in any modern translations, although as noted above, Fox suggests this possible interpretation in a footnote. Translators are advised to translate the text reflected in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.
About six hundred men: the same number given in 13.15.
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 .