Golden tumors: see verse 4. On tumors, see 5.6.

A guilt offering: see the comments on verse 3 above.

Ashdod … Gaza … Ashkelon … Gath … Ekron: see the comments on 5.8. Good News Translation adds the qualifier “cities” before the names of these five Philistine cities.

The wording of Revised Standard Version reflects the Hebrew, although there is no verb “to be” at the beginning. However, in many cases it will be wise to restructure this verse to some extent, since it stands along with verse 18 as a kind of summary statement about the restitution given. So instead of beginning These are the golden tumors, it may be wise to follow the restructuring of Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

He will take: see the comments on verse 11.

Perfumers, that is, someone who mixes or blends ointments to be used for anointing or for wearing as perfume. New American Bible renders this term “ointment-makers,” and Fox says “ointment-mixers.” The same term occurs in Neh 3.8 and in Exo 30.25, 34.

In many languages the nouns perfumers and cooks and bakers will be more naturally rendered as verb phrases. So the whole verse may read “he will take your daughters and force them to make perfume and cook food and bake bread.” While it is not specifically stated as it was in the previous verse, the king is again seen to be the one to benefit from this work. Good News Translation makes this implied information explicit by adding “for him” and “his,” so that this verse conforms to the overall pattern of this passage.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The outskirts of the city: the word translated outskirts is elsewhere rendered by the more common word “end” (Gen 23.9; Ruth 3.7) or “edge” (Exo 13.20). It refers to the place where there are no more houses.

And when he has passed on: according to Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version, these words are still part of the instructions that Samuel is giving to Saul. Others, however, understand these words to be the author’s comment, which interrupts Samuel’s words (so Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, Fox, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), and this seems to be the more probable sense of the Hebrew construction. The Septuagint omits these words and is followed by some translations (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Klein, and Anchor Bible).

Going down: as they had earlier “gone up” to the city to enter it (verse 11), they must now “go down” to leave.

The word of God: these words should not be translated in such a way that readers or hearers will understand a reference to the Bible as we know it today. These words, in fact, do not refer to any written Scripture. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “and I will make known to you the will of God.” See also New Century Version, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. I have a message from God for you.”

If translators wish to avoid the direct quotations of this verse, the following model may be helpful:

• When they arrived at the end of town, Samuel told Saul to instruct his servant to keep on going and not to stop. So the servant continued walking while Samuel stopped Saul for a time so that he could tell him the message from God.

It is not generally considered appropriate to have a section heading at the beginning of chapter 10, since it would break up the continuity of the section that begins at 9.26b. See the comments at that point.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Moreover: is literally “Also,” introducing a further consideration in addition to the fact that God will not abandon his people. Samuel will also continue to pray for them.

As for me: represents the emphatic personal pronoun “I.”

Far be it from me: see the comments on this expression in 2.30.

Pray for you: see verse 19. In this context the verb “to pray” means “to intercede [on your behalf with God].”

I will instruct you in the good and the right way: these words should probably be understood as introducing the specific instructions of verse 24. Notice that Revised English Bible places a colon at the end of verse 23, showing the relationship more clearly: “I shall show you what is right and good: 24 to revere the LORD….” Good News Translation introduces this last part of the verse with the word “Instead.” But this translation seems to miss the point. Samuel is not saying that his teaching will be a replacement for prayer. Rather, he will continue to pray for them and he will teach them.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Behold: most modern versions leave this particle untranslated in this context. But it seems to be used to focus attention on the proposal that follows. Contemporary English Version begins this verse with “This is what we will do.” See the comments on page 18 and following.

Cross over: that is, cross over the valley. See the comments on verse 1.

The men: that is, the Philistine soldiers. Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew literally. New Revised Standard Version says “those men.”

Show ourselves: that is, “allow the Philistines to know where we are,” or simply “let them see us” (New International Version as well as Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

If indirect discourse is preferred over the first direct quotation of this verse, the model is relatively simple: “Then Saul asked Jonathan to tell him what he had done.”

Jonathan’s explanation follows very closely the wording of the actual event recorded in verse 27, although it is briefer. The Hebrew construction expresses a slight note of emphasis that is missing in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh attempts to capture this by inserting “only,” that is, “I only tasted a bit of honey.” Fox says “I tasted, yes, tasted … a little honey.”

Here I am: as in 3.4-16 and 12.3, this indicates the speaker’s availability. But in this context he is accepting a very negative fate.

I will die: that is, “I am prepared to accept the consequences of my actions.” Nearly all versions render the last words of this verse in the form of a statement: I will die. New International Version, however, says “And now must I die?” (so also New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The conversation between Samuel and Saul has apparently been in secret, away from the people. Now Saul asks Samuel to return with him to worship the LORD.

Now therefore: literally “And now.” Revised English Bible, like Good News Translation, begins this verse “But now,” indicating that Saul has something of a change of mind at this point.

I pray renders a Hebrew particle of entreaty or exhortation. In this context it may be legitimately translated “please” (New Jerusalem Bible) or even “I implore you” (Revised English Bible). But it should probably not be omitted. See the comments on 2.36.

Pardon my sin: The verb here translated pardon is more literally “lift.” It is rendered “forgive” in a similar context in Exo 32.32. It is also translated “forgive” in this verse by a number of English translations.

Worship: see the comments on 1.3.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .