The people … the people: Bible en français courant correctly says “the soldiers … the army” (so also Contemporary English Version).

Shall Jonathan die: the question asked by the troops of Israel is immediately answered by the same people who were asking the question. They are thus emphatic in their opposition to the death sentence for Jonathan, who had led them in great victories. In Hebrew the response, rendered Far from it, is a single adverb and is the same as used in 2.30 and 12.23.

As the LORD lives … fall to the ground: the same oath occurs in verse 11.

As the LORD lives: see also comments on verse 39.

There shall not one hair … fall to the ground means that not even the smallest injury shall be inflicted on Jonathan (the same expression occurs in 1 Kgs 1.52). Fox gives a literal translation of the Hebrew: “if a (single) hair of his head should fall to the ground…!” While this shows the form of the oath in Hebrew, it fails to communicate the meaning clearly. In some languages a less literal rendering like the following will be more meaningful: “or even lay a hand on him” (Contemporary English Version), or “allow any harm at all to come to him.”

The verb ransomed is the same verb used in Exo 13.13, 15; 34.20 of rescuing an animal or a son that belonged to God by sacrificing another animal in its place. People could also be ransomed by payment of money to the priests (see Num 3.46-51 and 18.15-16). How the people ransomed Jonathan is not stated. They may have offered an animal sacrifice, an Israelite, or a prisoner of war as a substitution for Jonathan. Some possible renderings for the verb in this context are “rescued” (Anchor Bible, Moffatt, New Living Translation), “delivered” (Revised English Bible), and “saved [Jonathan’s life]” (Knox). The idea of a ransom, however, should be kept in translation if possible. Perhaps a word that expresses this concept exists in the receptor language. If not, something such as “made a substitute payment” may be said.

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 .