Next to him: translators should be careful not to give the impression that this refers to physical nearness, as if the three men were standing in a row next to each other. The idea is that of rank or importance. In some languages this idea will be conveyed by saying “After him…” (Anchor Bible). But in other cases a clearer statement of rank as in Good News Translation will be more natural.

Son of Ahohi: the parallel in 1 Chronicles has “the Ahohite,” which seems to indicate clan affiliation rather than a relationship of father to son. But many interpreters think that the essential meaning is virtually the same, whether it refers to the grandfather Ahohi or to the clan he established. Bible en français courant speaks of the “grandson of a man of Ahoa.” The correct reading is probably “son of an Ahohite,” but this has the same essential meaning as “the Ahohite” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible).

With David when they defied the Philistines: these words translate the Masoretic Text, to which Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating. Some interpreters think that the Masoretic Text should be corrected to read here “he was with David at Pas-dammim where the Philistines…” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Nueva Biblia Española, Anchor Bible, and Anderson). This is in harmony with 1 Chr 11.13. New American Bible has a similar place name on the assumption that this is the same place as mentioned in 1 Sam 17.1, “Ephes-dammim.” However, it is probably better to translate the traditional Hebrew text as in Revised Standard Version at this point. The word defied may be rendered “confronted,” or “taunted” (New International Version). New Century Version, like Good News Translation, uses the verb “challenged.”

The pronoun they in this context seems to refer to David and Eleazar (Good News Translation).

Gathered there: if the text of the preceding words is not corrected to read “at Pas-dammim,” translators must decide what the adverb there refers to. New International Version says “gathered at Pas Dammim” instead of gathered there. It is better, however, to understand there as a reference to the unnamed place where David and Eleazar defied the Philistines.

The men of Israel withdrew: this seems to indicate that all the Israelites retreated, but what follows shows that there was one important exception, and that exception is, in fact, the hero of the story. Contemporary English Version adds what is implied, “except Eleazar.” This may be a good model for some other languages. Or some may prefer to say “all the other soldiers of Israel retreated….”

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 .