Behold: the woman is calling Saul’s attention to what she is about to say.

Your handmaid has hearkened to you: if translated literally this may give the impression that the woman is talking about someone else. She is, however, using this indirect reference in speaking of herself to show her respect for Saul. Since the same idea is repeated at the end of the verse using first person singular pronouns, it may sound redundant to repeat it. The idea of politeness should, however, be conveyed in some way. Good News Translation does so with “Please, sir….”

Taken my life in my hand: see the comment on this same idiom in 19.5.

Hearkened to what you have said: that is, “obeyed your instructions.” See the comments at 25.35.

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 .