Based on the fact that some people from the city of Ziph had come to Saul previously at Gibeah (23.19), Contemporary English Version begins this chapter with the words “Once again,” and La Bible du Semeur adds the word “again” later in the verse.

Concerning the rhetorical question of the Ziphites and its translation, see the comments on 23.19. Good News Translation restructures and eliminates the direct quotation. Also the Revised Standard Version rendering is in the form of a question. This reflects the Hebrew original, but the question is probably better translated as a statement (whether as direct or indirect discourse), since the speakers were clearly not asking for information but were telling Saul what he did not know.

The hill of Hachilah … east of Jeshimon: see the comments on 23.19.

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 .