I repent: at various times in the Old Testament, when people do not behave as God had wanted them to, he changes his attitude toward them (for example, Gen 6.6-7; Jer 18.7-10). This may seem to be in direct conflict with verse 29 of this chapter, but the same Hebrew word is used in both cases, and translators should not attempt to hide the similarities that exist between the two verses.

Turned back from following me uses the image of physical turning away from to express the idea of refusal to obey. The same idea is then expressed negatively as has not performed my commandments. The presence of the conjunction and between these two should not be taken to mean that they are two totally different matters. Rather they are two ways of talking about the same thing. Some may say “turned away from me by not doing what I commanded.”

Samuel was angry: the Hebrew verb means “to be hot” and often refers to anger. Some interpreters think that the context favors a milder sense than anger here. This is reflected in translations that say that Samuel “was upset” (Fox, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur), “was distressed” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “was appalled” (New Jerusalem Bible). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “emotion overtook Samuel.” Whatever the precise emotion, Samuel was apparently angry or upset, not with Saul, but with God, because God had changed his mind concerning Saul. See also 2 Sam 6.8, where it is stated that David became angry with God. That Samuel cried to the LORD means that he prayed or “pleaded” (see also 7.5, 8-9; and 12.19, 23).

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 .