Though the writer does not indicate when these Israelite towns were occupied, it probably happened several days later. All of this verse is an interruption of the flow of action and time between the preceding verses and those that follow. Moffatt correctly places all of verse 7 within parentheses in order to mark this break in the chronological sequence.

The other side of the valley (see 28.4; 29.1) refers to the north side of the Jezreel Valley (so Good News Translation, New Century Version, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), which was also called the Plain of Jezreel (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). The name of the valley may be made explicit, as well as the fact that the Jordan was a river. Some translate the word other side according to the specific context of a valley. New American Bible, for example, says “on the slope of the valley.”

Beyond the Jordan almost certainly refers to the east side of the Jordan River (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). However, the word rendered beyond may also be translated here as “in the region of.” Such an understanding may limit the cities to the western side of the Jordan River. Revised English Bible, for example, says “in the neighborhood of the valley and of the Jordan.” See also New American Bible, “those along the Jordan.”

The text says literally that these others saw what happened to their fellow Israelites. It is, however, unlikely that this is meant to be taken in its literal sense of witnessing the events themselves. The idea is rather that they became aware of what had occurred. Therefore some possible translations of the verb are “heard” (Good News Translation) and “learned” (Bible en français courant and Contemporary English Version).

Dwelt: the Hebrew verb is the common verb for “living” or “dwelling.” In this context a more specific verb for the settling of invading foreign troops may be used, such as “occupied” in English (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .