The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse introduces the response of the people of Israel following Samuel’s detailed explanation of what it would be like to have a king. Since they may have been expected to react differently, the conjunction But is used by Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and New Revised Standard Version. Several other versions have “However” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

Refused to listen: the people had, of course, already listened to the discourse from verse 11 through 18. But the point here is that they would not heed the clear warning of Samuel. In such a context some languages will say “refused the words of Samuel” or “rejected the advice of Samuel.”

To the voice of Samuel is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The expression means that they refused to take seriously what he said and refused to accept his negative advice.

The negative response, represented by the word No! in Revised Standard Version, is at the same time both a denial of what Samuel had said about the behavior of kings and a refusal to take seriously Samuel’s advice. New American Bible translates the negation “Not so!” The clear implication is that they did not believe that what Samuel was saying would really happen. The rendering of La Bible du Semeur (“It makes no difference”) gives a different impression and is not recommended.

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 .