Drew water: this probably implies the existence of a well, but it can possibly mean that the water was taken from a spring or other source.
Poured it out before the LORD: see also 2 Sam 23.16. The words before the LORD may indicate that this ritual was part of an offering or sacrifice made “to the LORD,” as Good News Translation makes explicit. It is also possible, though less likely, that the people were simply denying themselves water to drink, just as they denied themselves food by fasting.
Fasted: fasting is practiced in many cultures today, and often a well-known word exists to translate the Hebrew term. Fasting consisted of a voluntary and temporary abstinence from eating food for religious reasons such as repentance, mourning, and prayer (fasting is mentioned also in 31.13; 2 Sam 1.12; 12.16, 21, 22). But in some contexts it is important to note that there is a significant difference in meaning between the Muslim concept of fasting during daylight hours only and the biblical practice. In this context, however, there may be no problem, since the fasting was for a single day. In languages where there is no special term for fasting, translators may have to resort to something like “abstained from food to honor God” or “caused themselves to go hungry for the sake of God.”
Samuel judged … at Mizpah: two questions must be answered in order to translate these words: (1) what is the meaning of the verb translated judged (see also verses 15-16), and (2) was Samuel’s action limited to this one day, or is this a statement of his repeated behavior?
(1) As stated in the comments on 4.18, Israelite judges did more than settle legal disputes. They gave leadership and direction to the people. In many societies today, the term “chief” better describes the role of those who “judged.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh will be a good model for some languages: “And Samuel acted as chieftain.” Bible en français courant is similar: “It was there at Mizpah that Samuel became the chief of the people of Israel.” Other models include New International Version (“And Samuel was leader of Israel”) and Moffatt (“Samuel managed the affairs of Israel”). See also 4.18.
(2) The final sentence of verse 6 is probably a summary statement rather than a statement of Samuel’s activity on this one occasion only. For that reason Good News Translation places the sentence within parentheses to show that the statement is not limited to this one time only. Contemporary English Version takes a different approach to this problem. It understands the verb judged in the larger sense of leading the people of Israel rather than merely deciding in their quarrels. And it also shifts this information forward in the verse so that it begins with this sentence: “The Israelites met together at Mizpah with Samuel as their leader.”
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 .