The pronoun they refers to the inhabitants of Ziph. If there is any doubt that the reader will understand this, the pronoun may be replaced by a noun phrase as Contemporary English Version has done (“The people from Ziph”). It may also be more natural to translate the verb went by saying that they “returned” (Good News Translation) or “went back” to Ziph, since that is where they had come from.

Arose: see verse 4.

Maon: the town of Maon was located about thirteen and one-half kilometers (or eight and one-half miles) south of Hebron in southern Judah, on the western edge of the Wilderness of Judah. The area around it was called the wilderness of Maon.

The Arabah: that is, the rift valley of the Jordan River area, especially the dry land south of the Dead Sea. In Deut 1.1 and Josh 8.14, this term is translated “Jordan Valley” by Good News Translation. But in this context Good News Translation has simply “a desolate valley.” New Jerusalem Bible and Fox have “in the plain.” Translators must decide whether to use a transliterated word, as in Revised Standard Version, or to attempt a translation of the meaning of the term. Meaningful translation is preferred. Compare 2 Sam 2.29 and 4.7, where this word is also found.

South of Jeshimon: see the comments on verse 19.

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 .