Went from there: that is, from the cave near the town called Adullam. This information is left implicit in some versions, including New Century Version, which says simply “went to Mizpeh.”

Mizpeh of Moab: Mizpeh was a city in the territory of Moab, east of the Dead Sea. The exact location of this city is unknown. To make clear that Mizpeh is not the name of the king of Moab, it may be wise to say “the city of Mizpeh.” Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible spell the place name “Mizpah,” which is a variant of the same name.

Pray let … stay: the verb let stay is followed by the particle of entreaty (see the comments on 2.36). Here it is represented in Good News Translation by the polite request form beginning with “Please” (so also Contemporary English Version). La Bible du Semeur attempts to convey the same meaning with “I beg you.”

Stay: Revised Standard Version follows the ancient Syriac andVulgate versions here rather than the Hebrew, which reads “come out.” It is not clear whether Good News Translation follows the Masoretic Text, or whether for purposes of translation it has made explicit that David asks permission for his parents to “stay” in Moab. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and claims that the verb “go out” here means “go out in order to be with someone.” In this case, the verb “stay” or “remain” will be the proper translation.

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 .