Gilead should be identified as a territory rather than a town, since this is information that was clearly understood by the original readers and hearers.

This verse deals almost exclusively with geographical place names and contains three separate textual problems:

1. To Kadesh in the land of the Hittites: instead of this, the Masoretic Text reads “to the land of Tahtim-hodshi” (King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Jewish Publication Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Fox). And, attempting to translate the same text, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible speaks of “the low countries at Hodshi.” New American Bible has “the district below Mount Hermon,” and Contemporary English Version has a similar meaning, “to Kadesh in Syria.” But this is based on a conjecture, and translators are not advised to follow it. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends with a {C} rating the text as reconstructed by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, which is also followed by many other modern versions, including Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and New Jerusalem Bible. Kadesh should be identified as a city or town located within the territory of the Hittite people.

2. To Dan, and from Dan: this Revised Standard Version translation is based on a conjecture with no direct manuscript support, but it is followed by many modern versions, including New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel, and Good News Translation. The Masoretic Text, which is recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament with a {B} rating, reads “to Dan-jaan” (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Jewish Publication Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Fox). Though Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends that the Masoretic Text be followed, it also acknowledges that the name “Jaan” is probably an error and should read “Iyyon,” which is a town north of Dan mentioned in 1 Kgs 15.20. This latter is the basis for the translations “to Dan and Iyyon” (Revised English Bible) and, similarly, “to Dan, Ijon…” (Contemporary English Version).

3. They went around to Sidon: the Masoretic Text has an adverb here that means “all around,” and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to this text. Some translations, however, follow the Septuagint, which has a verb meaning “they turned about” or “they turned.” Most likely the reading of the Septuagint simply represents an attempt to make sense of the Hebrew and does not provide evidence that a verb originally existed in the Hebrew. The meaning of “around to Sidon” seems to be that they turned west toward Sidon. Possible translations of this meaning include “they skirted Sidon” (Anchor Bible) and “and around to Sidon” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Several versions have them going “toward Sidon” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nueva Biblia Española, and Contemporary English Version). It seems logical that the census takers would have avoided going directly to Tyre and Sidon, since these were non-Israelite cities, and they were supposed to be counting the people of Israel. But the following verse says clearly that they did come to the city of Tyre. And it is possible that there were Israelites living in these two Phoenician cities who needed to be included in the census. The sense seems to be that they had turned north and now they were turning west toward Sidon; that is, they were “going around the circuit,” not that they “went around” or bypassed the city of Sidon. So it is perhaps best to translate “they went on through the city of Sidon” or “continuing the circuit, they arrived in Sidon” (em>Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

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 .