Since a question follows, some languages will prefer to translate the verb said as “asked.” And the rhetorical question may have to be rendered as an emphatic statement, “I cannot possibly do that!”

If Saul hears it: that is, if Saul hears that Samuel is going to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king to replace Saul.

A heifer, that is, a female cow that had not yet had a calf. Such an animal could be used for peace offering sacrifices (see Lev 3.1) but could not be used for other sacrifices (see Lev 1.3; 4.3). Good News Translation does not indicate that this “calf” was a female, but such information should be preserved in the receptor language if this can be done naturally.

The end of this verse contains a quotation within a quotation. In some languages it will be better to follow the model of Good News Translation and change this into an indirect quotation.

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 .