David said: it will be more natural in some languages to say that David “replied” or “answered.” In David’s understanding, the credit for the victory over the Amalekites belongs to God and not to him or to the four hundred men with him. That being the case, even the two hundred who remained at the brook of Besor deserve to receive a full share of the loot.

My brothers, with what the LORD has given us: the Septuagint, which lacks the words my brothers, is the basis for the Revised English Bible translation: “ ‘That,’ said David, ‘you must not do, considering what the LORD has given us.’ ” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} evaluation to the Masoretic Text, suggesting that the Greek translator misread the Hebrew text.

Into our hand: see the comments on 4.8.

The band refers, of course, to the group of Amalekite raiders (as in verses 8 and 15).

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 .