Said: since what follows is a question, it may be more natural in a number of languages to use the verb “asked” as in Good News Translation. Though David’s words are in the form of a question in Hebrew, the force of the words is that of a reproach, as in Judges 16.15. It may be better to follow the example of Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, “How can you dare to kill the king, whom the Lord has appointed!” See also Bible en français courant, “And you weren’t afraid to kill the king that the LORD had chosen! cried out David.” The same Hebrew interrogative word translated How in this verse is an expression of sorrow in verse 19 below.

How is it…? In many languages the question word “Why” will be a better translation than How in this context. David was not asking how the Amalekite managed to overcome fear, but why he was not afraid to take the life of a person chosen by Yahweh.

You were not afraid: instead of this type of negative expression, some languages will have a verb like the English “dare” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, as well as Good News Translation) or “be so bold as to….”

Put forth your hand: these words suggest taking physical action of some kind, but in many cases it will be unwise to translate it literally. Coupled with the verb destroy which follows, the expression as a whole means “to kill” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible as well as Good News Translation).

The LORD’s anointed: this expression is used more than ten times in the books of Samuel to refer to the king of Israel. Some languages may have to translate it “the person chosen by the LORD to be the king of his people.” See the comments on 1 Sam 2.10.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .