This verse ends with a quotation within a quotation that is within another quotation. The man of God began speaking in verse 27. Then in verse 30, this prophet begins quoting the words of God; and finally in verse 36, God quotes what Eli’s descendants will say. In many languages it will be better to turn this direct quotation into an indirect quotation, as Good News Translation has done.

Only descendants of Zadok (see verse 35) will serve as priests in the temple in Jerusalem (see Ezek 44.15-16). All other descendants of Levi will be assigned to do menial work in the temple (see Ezek 44.10-14). The priests who come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread are those priests not descended from Zadok. At the time of Josiah’s reform, more than three and a half centuries after the time of Eli, these non-Zadokite priests were commanded to come to Jerusalem when the shrines in the cities of Judah where they served were destroyed (see 2 Kgs 23.8-9). The more common way of expressing the idea of the verb implore is “beg” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). But because it is an extremely strong term implying a physical gesture like kneeling, translators have seen the necessity of adding something else for emphasis: Revised English Bible says “bow humbly and…,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “on his knees.” And New American Bible shows the extent of submissiveness by using the verb “grovel.” This is the same Hebrew verb translated “to worship” in 1.3.

A piece of silver or a loaf of bread: as indicated in the Good News Translation rendering, these specific items represent “money and food.” In many languages it will be advisable to use the more general terms. The conjunction or between the two items may also be misleading. The Hebrew text has the common conjunction that is probably better translated “and” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, among other versions).

I pray you: these three words translate a single Hebrew particle of entreaty. This particle, which is often left untranslated, frequently expresses a weak appeal or petition to look with favor on a request. It may also express a sense of urgency and is often translated “please” or “pray.”

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 .