That they were in straits: literally “that [it was] narrow to them.” The corresponding Hebrew has no verb, but the noun straits has the same root as the verb that is elsewhere translated “oppressed” (Num 10.9), “harass” (Num 25.17). Some good idiomatic renderings in English are “that they were in trouble” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “that their plight was desperate” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The parenthetical information in Revised Standard Version may be shifted to the beginning of the verse in order to avoid the use of parentheses. And the passive construction the people were hard pressed may be rendered active by saying “the enemy was fighting hard against the Israelite troops.” Good News Translation has made explicit that the Israelites were attacked.

The people, that is, the army (so Revised English Bible; and see the comment on verse 4 above).

The consonants for the word translated holes are generally understood to mean “thorn bushes.” New American Bible and Anchor Bible say “in thickets,” Klein says “in briar patches,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “among thorns.” But because the context seems to favor understanding this as “holes” rather than “thorn bushes,” some interpreters suggest that one letter should be altered to read “holes.” And nearly all translations render this as holes in this context. The lexicons by Holladay, and Koehler and Baumgartner, however, propose that these same consonants may also mean “holes.” Since strong evidence exists to show that this Hebrew word may mean either “holes” or “thickets,” there is no need to suggest a change in the Hebrew text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text.

In rocks may be better translated in English as “among [the] rocks” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible) or “in crevices” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Tombs: the Hebrew word is translated “pits” (Revised English Bible, New International Version, New Century Version), “caverns” (New American Bible), “vaults” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “tunnels.” The same word refers to the cellar of a temple in Judges 9.46, 49, where Revised Standard Version translates it “stronghold.” The word refers to an underground hole in general, though the corresponding word in Arabic refers to the area in the bottom of a grave. In this context the best translation is probably “pits.”

Cisterns of various sizes and shapes were dug out of natural rock to store water from the winter rains for the dry season (May through September). They were often lined with lime plaster to make them watertight. In some languages this may have to be translated “places where people kept water” or something similar.

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 .

As previously, the people refers to the “soldiers” or “the force” (New Jerusalem Bible) that was with Saul. In view of the command given to these people, it is not unreasonable to call them “his officers” (Contemporary English Version).

Number: in Hebrew this verb is followed by a particle of entreaty, similar to “Please” in English, which most versions do not translate here, possibly because a royal command requires no entreaty form in most languages. The imperative verb has no object, but the context makes it clear that it is the troops that are to be counted in order to determine who was missing. While the command is in the form of a direct quotation, it is equally legitimate to translate as indirect speech: “Saul told his officers to count the soldiers to find out who had left the ranks.”

Behold: attention is here focused on the fact that it was Jonathan and his helper who were missing.

Armor-bearer: as in verse 7.

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 .

This verse stands alone as a paragraph in many translations, summarizing the continual war between Israel and the Philistines during Saul’s rule. The Philistines were already mentioned in the summary statement in verse 47, but this verse highlights the fact that they were a special case among the enemies of Israel.

There was hard fighting: this may sound too impersonal in some languages. The translation should probably indicate that Saul was intensely involved in this fighting.

All the days of Saul is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Revised English Bible says “throughout Saul’s lifetime.”

Valiant man: literally “son of worth [or, son of power].” The same noun is found in the expression “did valiantly” in verse 48. And a similar idiom is translated “men of valor” in 10.26.

He attached him to himself: a literal translation may result in an unnatural expression in some languages. The meaning is clearly expressed in Good News Translation. In some cases it may be appropriate to say that “he drafted them into his army” or that “he persuaded them to join his soldiers.”

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 .

Some scholars claim that Samuel’s words have a verse rhythm, and for this reason some translations use poetic format for Samuel’s words (so New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant). Use of poetic form here may be confusing in some languages, so translators will need to decide whether to use poetry or prose (as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation).

Your sword has made women childless: translators should avoid giving the impression that the sword somehow acted on its own initiative. The clear implication is that Agag used his sword to kill people. If a literal rendering of this expression does not make this clear, it should probably be translated “you have made women childless with your sword” or “you have killed many people with your sword, leaving their mothers childless.”

So shall your mother be childless: the meaning in this context is not that Agag’s mother will not be able to bear more children, but rather that her son will be killed, leaving her without children. It may be necessary in some languages to say “you will be killed, leaving your mother childless.”

This verse may need to be restructured along the following lines: “your mother will become childless just as you have made other mothers childless by using your sword.” Or, if the meaning is not otherwise clear, “you will die by the sword just as you killed other people by using your sword.”

Hewed … in pieces: this renders a Hebrew word used only here in the Old Testament. The exact meaning is not known. Some render it “cut [or, hewed] in pieces” (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and Revised English Bible). Others use a more general word such as “cut down” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New American Bible) or “butchered” (New Jerusalem Bible). Many interpreters think that this cutting up of Agag into pieces was a ritual act or sacrifice associated with holy war.

Agag: see verse 8.

Before the LORD: in this context these words most likely mean “in front of the altar” (Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) or “in front of the sanctuary” (Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). See 10.25 for a similar meaning.

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 .

Since the initial pronoun, He, may possibly be understood to refer to the shield-bearer mentioned in the previous verse, it may be wise to follow Good News Translation and Bible en français courant in substituting the name “Goliath” at this point. Revised English Bible accomplishes the same purpose by using the noun “champion” instead of the name.

The ranks of Israel: the word ranks translates a technical military term for “battle lines.” See the comments on 4.2. New Jerusalem Bible says “Taking a position in front of the Israelite lines.” Good News Translation does not translate the word ranks here, since the question “What are you doing there, lined up for battle?” indicates that the Israelite troops stood in orderly battle formation.

Draw up for battle: see the comments on this verb at 4.2 and verse 2 of this chapter.

The questions that Goliath asks are not requests for information. Goliath’s questions were intended to insult the Israelite soldiers. New Jerusalem Bible captures this tone with the question “Am I not a Philistine and are you not Saul’s lackeys?”

Am I not a Philistine…? Hebrew has the definite article, that is, “Am I not the Philistine?” Goliath is not merely contrasting the Philistine soldiers with the Israelite soldiers, as both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation seem to suggest. Perhaps the article here expresses that Goliath is the best representative of the Philistine people. Osty-Trinquet says “Am I not, I myself, the Philistine?” Revised English Bible also captures this force of the definite article: “I am the Philistine champion and you are Saul’s men” (so also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This last model is also helpful because it transforms the question into a categorical statement.

Let him come down to me: Goliath had already descended into the valley that separated the Philistines and the Israelites (see verse 3). This information may be stated explicitly as “let him come down here in the valley to fight me.” See also verse 25.

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 .

Sticks: the reference is to David’s shepherd’s staff mentioned in verse 40.

A dog: in the Old Testament dogs were not seen as favorably as in certain cultures today. To refer to someone as a dog was a very serious insult (see also the references to dogs in 24.14 and 2 Sam 16.9). If a person calls himself or herself a dog, this is a way of showing self-humiliation. But Goliath’s question really means that he thinks David is insulting him. He thought that, when David came toward him with a stick in hand, he was not taking Goliath seriously. So he was deeply offended.

Cursed David by his gods: the pronoun his refers to Goliath. Though Good News Translation and Revised English Bible say “god” in the singular, the Hebrew should probably be rendered with a plural, as in Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Some other possible models for this part of the verse are “He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods” (Contemporary English Version) or “he used his gods’ names to curse David” (New Century Version). The English word curse often means “to use vulgar and offensive words.” In this context, however, the meaning is that Goliath called upon his gods, asking them to do harm to David.

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 .

Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction waw. But since it seems to mark contrast, it may be better to translate it “But” (Revised English Bible), “yet” (Fox), or “however” (Good News Translation).

Michal has been briefly mentioned in 14.49, where it is said that she is Saul’s younger daughter. In some languages it will be considered more precise and clearer to say “Saul’s other daughter” (New Century Version), since up to this point the writer has focused on Merab.

Loved: the form of the verb here should probably be rendered “had fallen in love with” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Fox, and see the comments on verse 28 below) or “fell in love with” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible).

The antecedent of the pronoun they is not stated. Good News Translation avoids the difficulty by rewording and stating “when Saul heard this.” Others may prefer to translate using a rather vague subject, “someone told Saul.”

The thing pleased him: literally “the word [or, thing] was right [or pleasing] in his eyes.” The same expression is found in the negative in 1 Kgs 9.12. It will, however, be more natural in many cases to make Saul the subject instead of the thing: “Saul was happy about this matter.”

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 .

Then: the common conjunction here introduces the climax in a series of events. For this reason a number of modern versions begin this verse with the word “Finally” (New International Version, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version).

He himself went: this emphatic form refers to Saul, and the emphasis should be retained in translation where possible. The verb went should not be translated in such a way as to indicate that Saul actually arrived at Ramah immediately. The context speaks of certain events taking place along the way. So it will be better to translate the verb as in Good News Translation, or “set out for [Ramah]” (Revised English Bible), or “took the road…” (Knox).

Well: as noted in the discussion at 13.6, the Hebrew word refers to a storage place for water, dug in the rocky ground. Some translations use the word “cistern” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Fox) or “storage-well” (New Jerusalem Bible), since a well usually refers to a hole dug into the ground to find water that is already underground, not stored by people.

Secu is an unidentified place either in or near Ramah—probably a village, but that is not certain. Some manuscripts of the Septuagint and the Vulgate say “on the bare hill” instead of Secu. These manuscripts are the basis for the New American Bible translation, “Arriving at the cistern of the threshing floor on the bare hilltop, he inquired…” (and similarly Klein). In Hebrew the word meaning great is similar in spelling to the word for “threshing floor,” and in Secu is similar to “on the bare hilltop.”

And he asked: literally “and he asked and said.”

In those languages where the direct quotations of this verse are considered less natural than indirect discourse, Good News Translation will serve as a good model for translators.

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 .