The sword of Goliath … whom you killed: see 17.51. Just as the Philistines will later place Saul’s armor in a temple of one of their gods (31.10), so the Israelites kept Goliath’s sword in a sacred place.

The valley of Elah: see the comments on 17.2.

Behold: here the focusing particle draws attention to the fact that Goliath’s sword was in fact close at hand.

Ephod: see the comment on 2.18.

If you will take that, take it: this wording may sound awkward if translated literally. It may be better expressed “If you want it, take it” (New International Version) or “If you care to take it, do so” (New Jerusalem Bible). A more explicit wording may be appropriate in some languages: “if you want this sword, then you may take it.”

There is none like that: David is not merely saying that Goliath’s sword is different from all other swords. Rather, his statement implies that this is the greatest of swords (see the descriptions of Saul’s weapons in 17.5-7). New American Bible says “There is none to match it.” Similar to Good News Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “There isn’t a better sword than that,” and Bible en français courant says “I won’t find a better one than that.”

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 .