Verse 9 is an editorial comment explaining that what is now called a prophet used to be called a seer among the Israelites. Earlier, prophets were primarily wandering ecstatics, that is, persons whose minds and emotions were dominated by powers beyond their control (see 10.5, 10), whereas seers were visionaries, that is, people who saw what other people could not see. The information in verse 9 is needed because the word seer appears in verse 11. Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Bible en français courant restructure this passage by placing the information in verse 9 after verses 10-11. This permits the information in verses 10-11 to follow naturally after verse 8. Then the explanation of the word seer follows naturally after its use in verse 11. Such restructuring may be advisable in many other languages. But if the order of the Hebrew text is followed, it will be almost certainly necessary to place the whole of verse 9 in parentheses, as is done by most modern versions that avoid restructuring.

Formerly refers to the time of this incident, looking back in time from the later time when the writer was telling the story. Translators will need to be sure that the receptor language does not suggest that prior to the time of Saul prophets were called seers. A possible rendering may be “At the time of Saul in Israel.” Formerly is translated by various idiomatic expressions in English such as “in days gone by” (Revised English Bible) or “in olden days” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Inquire of God: the idea here is that of presenting a problem to God with the hope of finding an acceptable solution. The same expression is used by Moses to explain his function to his father-in-law (Exo 18.15). In the present context it may be translated “consult God” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “ask something from God” (New Century Version).

It may be very difficult for some translators to find an adequate equivalent for the word seer. An expression like “a person who sees” should probably be avoided, since the meaning is rather a person who sees beyond what ordinary people see. Such a person was thought to have deep spiritual insight. Contemporary English Version translates “the man who can see visions.” And some languages may require something like “the person who sees the affairs of God.” Compare the use of the same term in 2 Sam 24.11, 2 Kgs 17.13 and Amos 7.12. It is also used frequently in the books of Chronicles.

The direct quotation (“Come, let us go to the seer”) in some languages may sound more natural if the direct quotation is rendered as indirect speech. A possible model for this is “that person would tell his friends that he wanted to visit a seer.” Or, as Knox has it, “the Israelites used to speak of going to consult the seer.”

Well said: literally “Good your word.” The reference is to what the servant has said in verse 8. Some other ways of conveying this idea include “Your advice is good” (An American Translation) or simply “Good” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Moffatt).

The city: probably Ramah (see the comments on verse 6).

The man of God: see the comments on verse 6.

Young maidens coming out to draw water: the word translated young maidens is simply “girls” (New Revised Standard Version) or “young women” (New Century Version) in modern language. These girls were leaving the city where the “seer” was assumed to be. Their purpose in going out of the city was to get some water, probably from a spring or a well outside the city walls.

Is the seer here? The reference is to Samuel (see verse 19). The demonstrative adverb here refers to the city where Saul and his servant were headed and from which the young girls had just come. In some languages the context will require “there” (Knox), since they were apparently not quite yet inside the city. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates quite clearly “Is the seer in town?” The direct quotation may be made indirect by saying “asked them whether the man who sees visions was in the city.”

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 .