This verse begins in Hebrew with the verb that is often translated as “And it came to pass” (see verse 9). Commentators generally consider verses 10 and 11 to be “out of place” at this point. They are very similar in content to 19.9-10. The two verses are enclosed in square brackets by Moffatt and New American Bible. Klein considers them to belong to a later revision of the Masoretic Text and prints them in a different typescript. Nevertheless the text must be translated as it stands in its final form.

An evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul: see the comments on 16.14. The Hebrew verb rendered rushed is translated “[the spirit of God] came mightily upon” in 10.10.

The verb raved is rendered “prophesied” in 10.5 and 10. See the comments on 10.5. New Century Version uses the same verb, “prophesied,” in this case. Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible have “he fell into a frenzy.”

Within his house: that is, “while he was indoors.”

David was playing the lyre: literally “David was playing with his hand.” The Hebrew verb implies playing a stringed instrument (see the same words in 19.9). The instrument is not named but may be supplied from 16.23 (see also the comments on 10.5). In languages where the specific name of the instrument is difficult and may distract the reader from the main point of the story, translators are justified in saying something more general like “while David was making music.”

Day by day: this emphasizes the fact that David’s playing the lyre was not something that happened only once, but it was a regular occurrence. In some languages this meaning may be underlined by the use of the habitual verb form.

Saul had his spear in his hand: the word for spear in this verse is the same as in 13.19, 22; 17.7, 45, and 47.

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 .