The king refers, of course, to Saul. And this may be made clear as in Good News Translation if there is any reason to suspect that readers may think that some other king is intended.

The Hebrew does not tell whom the king sent with a message. New Revised Standard Version, like Good News Translation, says simply “The king sent for the priest….” In some languages it may be more natural to say something like “The king sent a message to Ahimelech … telling them that the king wanted to see them. And all of them came to the king.” Others may say “sent someone to summon….”

Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub: since Ahimelech was just identified in verse 9 as the son of Ahitub, Good News Translation does not repeat that information here. Translators will need to decide on the best style in the receptor language. Similarly, if the information that he is the priest is stated in verse 9 as suggested, it may be unnecessary to repeat it here.

All his father’s house: priests traced their lineage and legitimacy to serve as priests through the father. The translations in many modern versions do not preserve this cultural aspect. Good News Translation, for example, says “all his relatives,” and Revised English Bible says “his whole family.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh provides a better model: “and [sent] for all the priests belonging to his father’s house at Nob.” But where the word house is in danger of being misunderstood, translators may say “and [sent] for all the priests coming from his father’s family at Nob.”

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 .