Aroer was located east of the Jordan River (see Num 32.34). It seems unlikely that a city so far from Judah would be included in this list. Some therefore think the town is probably “Ararah” (so Revised English Bible, Anchor Bible, and La Bible Pléiade), about nineteen kilometers (or twelve miles) southeast of Beer-sheba. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends the name “Arad,” giving it a {D} rating. Arad was a city in the southern part of the territory of Judah, about thirty-two kilometers (twenty miles) from Hebron (see Num 21.1; 33.40; Josh 12.14; Judges 1.16). “Arad” is the reading in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch.

Siphmoth is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament, and its location is unknown.

Eshtemoa was located about twelve kilometers (or about eight miles) south of Hebron (see Josh 15.50; 21.14).

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 .