Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction waw (see “Translating the Books of Samuel,” page 18). Here it is possible to leave it untranslated, since the beginning of a new paragraph fulfills the same function. But others may wish to supply a transition marker like “One day” (Revised English Bible).

The asses of Kish: the Hebrew noun refers specifically to female donkeys. Many translations say simply “donkeys” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “asses” (Revised Standard Version, New American Bible) without being as specific as the Hebrew. A number of translations do, however, say “she-asses” (Fox, Chouraqui, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur), and there seems to be no good reason not to do so.

The Hebrew has a definite article the with the noun asses (“donkeys” in New Revised Standard Version and most other versions), perhaps intending to suggest that all of Kish’s donkeys were lost (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible). More likely, however, the definite article is used here not to designate all of Kish’s asses, but rather to refer to the particular animals that are referred to in the story that follows. For this reason Good News Translation (also Revised English Bible and Anchor Bible) says that “some” were lost.

In American English the words the asses of Kish would perhaps strike some readers as humorous because of the possible double meaning of the word “ass.” While the translation of this word will not be a problem in most languages, translators do need to be sensitive, as Good News Translation has been here, to how words will sound when read aloud.

Hebrew repeats the information that Kish is Saul’s father. In contemporary English style it is redundant to repeat this information so soon, so Good News Translation omits these words. Likewise, although the Hebrew says Kish said to Saul his son, Good News Translation says simply “he said to Saul.”

In Hebrew the imperative take is accompanied by the particle of entreaty that is sometimes translated “please.” It may be appropriate to do so in this context in some languages, although few English versions do so. Fox attempts to express the softened request by saying “Pray take with you,” but use of the word “pray” in this context is rather archaic.

One of the servants: New Revised Standard Version translates “one of the boys,” which can be misleading in English. The Hebrew term used here is the usual word for servant and should probably be so translated throughout this passage.

Arise, go and look: frequently Hebrew uses the verb arise with a second verb in order to make an action vivid and to emphasize that it should be started (see the comments on the use of this verb in series with other verbs in “Translating the Books of Samuel,” page 20 and following). A literal translation may suggest incorrectly that Saul was seated. Many translations simply do not translate the verb arise (so Good News Translation and New International Version). All three of these Hebrew verbs are second person singular imperatives.

If it seems more natural to do so in the receptor language, the direct quotation of this verse may be rendered indirectly so that the verse will read as in Moffatt:

• Now some asses of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish told Saul his son to take one of the servants with him and go off in search of the asses.

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 .