Ahimelech the Hittite is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament. Ahimelech probably belonged to the group of Hittites who lived in southern Palestine prior to the time of Abraham. Another unrelated group of people, also called Hittites, came from northern Syria and are referred to in 1 Kgs 10.29 and 2 Kgs 7.6.

Zeruiah was the mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, three of David’s warriors. Perhaps the reason these three brothers are always identified by their mother’s name rather than their father’s name (as, for example, in 2 Sam 2.13, 18; 3.39; 8.16; 14.1) is that, according to 1 Chr 2.16, Zeruiah was David’s sister. A literal translation of the words son of Zeruiah will probably suggest incorrectly to most readers that Zeruiah was the father rather than the mother.

Who will go down with me…? The Hebrew verb is singular in form. The rendering of Good News Translation makes it clear that David was looking for one person to accompany him. Bible en français courant, Contemporary English Version, La Bible du Semeur, and Knox also translate in such a way as to make it clear that David wanted only one person to accompany him into Saul’s camp. Contemporary English Version, for example, has “Which one of you will go…?” The specific mention of movement downward may or may not be natural in the receptor language. In many cases the verb “to go” will be perfectly adequate.

The response of Abishai begins with the emphatic personal pronoun, which is not reflected in most translations. Anchor Bible, however, attempts to show the emphatic character of this pronoun by translating “ ‘I!’ said Abishai. ‘I shall go down with you.’ ”

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 .