The land of Zuph: the exact location is unknown, but it was probably in the territory of Ephraim (see 1.1). They had by now been traveling for about three days (see verse 20 below).

Who was with him: Good News Translation omits these words as redundant, and it may be wise to do the same in other languages. Some languages may have a term for “companion” that will be useful here.

Lest my father cease to care about the asses: literally “lest my father stop from the she-asses [or, donkeys].” Hebrew does not have a verb in this clause after the verb cease, and various words may be supplied according to the sense: “forget about” (New American Bible) or “stop worrying over” (New Jerusalem Bible).

In those languages that prefer indirect speech to a direct quotation like the one in the text here, the following model may be helpful:

• When they came to the region called Zuph, Saul told his servant that he wanted to go back home because he thought his father might be more worried about them than he was about the donkeys.

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 .