And when he had taken him down: New Century Version says “So the Egyptian led David to the Amalekites.”

Behold: the focusing particle here focuses on the discovery of the enemy camp. See general comments in “Translating the Books of Samuel,” page 18 and following.

They were spread … eating and drinking: the pronoun they refers to the Amalekite raiders.

The word translated dancing may be understood in the more general sense of celebration, since the basic meaning of the verb seems to be “to celebrate a festival.” A number of modern versions translate this broader meaning: “celebrating” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version); “making merry” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh); “in a festive mood” (New American Bible). In this context it may be more appropriate to translate eating and drinking as “having a banquet” (Nueva Biblia Española), since this is not simply the everyday practice of eating and drinking but rather of doing so in the context of a celebration.

Because of all the great spoil …: the writer provides the reason for the Amalekites’ celebration. The raiders were very happy because their success in battle had resulted in large amounts of plunder taken from their enemies.

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 .