A little beyond the summit: when David met Hushai in the previous chapter, he was said to have come “to the summit” (15.32). The expression here indicates that he had gone a short distance beyond that point when he met Ziba, who was presumably coming from the opposite direction. Although it is not possible to be certain in which direction David was traveling, he was probably moving from west to east.
Revised Standard Version does not reflect the fact that the Hebrew text at this point contains the focusing particle translated in King James Version and New American Standard Bible as “behold.” This is reflected in Good News Translation by the use of the adverb “suddenly.” This element of surprise may be included in the verb form used in some languages.
Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth: see chapter 9, where Ziba is first introduced. And note especially the problems involved in the form of the name Mephibosheth. The solution that was adopted in chapter 9 should also be used here. The word rendered servant is different from that used of Ziba in 9.2, which is also rendered “servant.” The term here sometimes means “a young man,” but in this context “servant” is an appropriate translation.
A couple of asses: on the type of animal mentioned here, see 1 Sam 8.16. The word translated a couple is actually the word for a yoke or “a pair” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible). It may be also translated by the number “two” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Contemporary English Version, and New Century Version). According to Revised Standard Version these animals were saddled. The Hebrew verb means “to tie up,” “to twist,” or “to bind.” It sometimes means “to saddle” an animal, and that is a common translation in this context (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, and most translations). New English Bible and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, however, say here and in 17.23 that the donkeys were “harnessed.” At that time saddles usually consisted of pieces of cloth or leather thrown over the animal’s back. The context here suggests that the animals had cloth or leather wrapped around their bodies, to which heavy loads could be fastened.
Bunches of raisins: these were dried grapes pressed together into a compact mass (the same term occurs in 1 Sam 25.18 and 30.12). The single Hebrew word rendered bunches of raisins has also been translated “cakes of raisins” (New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “clusters of raisins” (Revised English Bible, Goldman, Anderson).
New American Bible, following some manuscripts of the ancient Greek version, has “an ephah of cakes of pressed raisins” in place of a hundred bunches of raisins in both cases in this verse, but this is not recommended to translators.
A hundred of summer fruits: while the exact kind of fruit is not specified, these may have been fresh grapes and figs (compare Micah 7.1). Most interpreters, however, indicate that they were either “figs” or “pomegranates.” Modern versions usually prefer “figs” if the more general term is not used (Contemporary English Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The same noun occurs also in Amos 8.1; Jer 40.10, 12; and 48.32. Anchor Bible supplies the word “baskets [of summer fruit],” but since Ziba had only two donkeys on which to carry them, it is unlikely that “baskets” is correct.
A skin of wine: see those passages in 1 Samuel where this same expression is used (1.24; 10.3; and 16.20).
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 .