Translators will immediately notice a very different order of ideas between Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. While Revised Standard Version mentions Abiathar at the very beginning of the verse, Good News Translation places him almost as an afterthought at the end of the verse. In fact, in the Hebrew his name is mentioned closer to the middle of the verse. The Hebrew is very confusing, and much of the interpretation hinges on the meaning of the verb translated came up in Revised Standard Version. This verb may have the meaning “to offer a sacrifice,” since the priest had to “go up” to the altar to do so. This is the meaning found in New Century Version, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente. Bible en français courant, for example, says “… they set down the box and the priest Abiathar offered sacrifices until all those who had come from the city had finished passing.” However, because of the verb form here, this meaning is somewhat less likely than “to be present,” which is the idea expressed in Good News Translation.

Some interpreters have suggested that the verb translated came up should be slightly changed to read “beside.” This change is reflected in Revised English Bible: “they set it down beside Abiathar until all the army had passed out of the city” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {C} rating to the Hebrew text, which should be followed here.

The original readers and hearers of this passage knew immediately that Zadok and Abiathar were priests. But since most modern readers do not share this information, it will be best to supply it directly in translation as Good News Translation has done. This information is actually given in the Hebrew text at verse 27 below.

Lo: this reflects the same word in Hebrew that is more often translated “behold.” It is used to draw special attention to something. In this case its purpose is apparently to draw attention to the presence of Zadok.

Many scholars think that the part of the verse that refers to the Levites was not a part of the original but added by a later editor. This is reflected in New American Bible by enclosing this part of the verse in square brackets. Nevertheless, translators are advised to translate the text as it now stands.

The ark of the covenant of God: this longer expression and the shorter one, the ark of God, later in the verse refer to the same object mentioned in chapter 6 (verses 2-17) and in 1 Sam 3.3. Compare those passages.

Set down: the verb used here is literally “poured out,” but the probable meaning is that they put it down. Almost all modern versions adopt this meaning.

Until: Good News Translation helps the reader by filling in what is implied: those who carried the Covenant Box and then put it down “didn’t pick it up again until all the people had left the city.”

In view of all the problems of this verse, the following simplified model is suggested to translators:

• The priests Zadok and Abiathar were there also. And there were some of the men of the tribe of Levi carrying the Covenant Box. They put the box down and did not pick it up again until everyone had left the city.

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 .