He was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly: these two expressions, joined by the conjunction and, do not refer to two separate facts. Rather they are different ways of talking about the same thing. So it may be advisable to find some other way to join them together. For example, one may say “he was so afraid that his heart beat wildly.” Or, as in Revised English Bible, “Saul was afraid, indeed struck to the heart by terror.” Regarding the verb trembled, see the comments on 13.7.

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 .