Doeg the Edomite: for reasons of English style Good News Translation omits the repetition of the qualifier the Edomite (but see the comments on verse 9). The same is true in verse 22 below. His being an Edomite may have been mentioned to remind the reader that he was a foreigner, perhaps without the normal Israelite attitude of respect for the priests, and certainly a traditional enemy of Israel.

The imperative verb turn as well as turned later in this verse represents the same root as in the previous verse and may also be understood in the sense of “make the rounds” (New American Bible). But since the priests were all gathered together in that one place, a translation such as “You, Doeg, go and strike down the priests” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) seems more appropriate.

The Hebrew verb rendered fall upon means “to attack” someone. In 1 Kgs 2.25 Revised Standard Version renders this same verb “he struck [him] down.” Good News Translation combines the actions of attacking and killing in one verb, “he killed them.”

Eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod: regarding the ephod, see the comment on 2.18. By inserting the word “priests” here, Good News Translation attempts to make clear that these were all priests. Unfortunately, however, Good News Translation may give the wrong impression that there were some priests who were not qualified and therefore were not killed. The correct sense is “he killed eighty-five priests, that is, eighty-five people who were qualified to carry the ephod.” Revised Standard Version and most other translations say “wore,” but Good News Translation says “carry,” which is the normal sense of the Hebrew verb. Regarding the translation of this verb in this context, see the discussion at 2.28.

The killing of these priests further fulfills the prophecy spoken by the “man of God” to Eli in 2.27-36.

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 .