This verse records the fulfillment of Samuel’s words in the previous verse, using much of the same vocabulary. But the idea of the people’s awareness of their wrongdoing is worded differently.

Feared: see the comments on verse 14. This Hebrew verb is often rendered “to fear” in English, even though in certain contexts it expresses more the idea of “to consider with awe or reverence.” Most versions of this verse agree with the understanding found in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Notice, however, that New Jerusalem Bible says “and all the people held Yahweh and Samuel in great awe.” The following verse, however, seems to support the translation “feared.”

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 introduction of Ahijah here in the chapter prepares the reader for the events of verses 18-19. Good News Translation restructures by beginning a new sentence in verse 3 and by placing the first part of this verse within parentheses, indicating its parenthetical nature.

A literal translation of the names in this verse, following the order of the Hebrew, may be confusing. Four generations are named, and the relationships of the persons named are as follows: Ahijah, the priest, was the great-grandson of Eli. Ahijah’s father was Ahitub. Ahitub and Ichabod (see 4.21) were brothers, and their father was Phinehas. Eli was the father of Phinehas.

Ephod: in this context the term seems to refer to an object used to learn the will of God rather than to an article of priestly clothing. The accompanying verb wearing (Revised Standard Version and New American Bible) is therefore perhaps better rendered “carrying” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation). See the comments on 2.18 and 28.

The people, that is, “the soldiers” (New American Bible).

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 Saul has just been speaking to God and is now speaking to the leaders of the people of Israel, Good News Translation correctly indicates this change. In effect, you leaders of the people is taken out of the direct quotation and made a part of the introduction to it.

Leaders: the Hebrew word means “corner,” “cornerstone,” “corner tower.” Fox says “cornerstones” but places the word in quotation marks to show a nonliteral meaning is intended. The term is used here in a figurative sense as the leaders are compared to the cornerstone of a building, as also in Judges 20.2 and Isa 19.13. As is often true in 1 Samuel, the people here refers to Saul’s army. Compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “Come forward, all chief officers of the troops.”

How this sin has arisen today: this seems to refer to some specific, known sin with the question being precisely how it happened. But this is not the case. Rather Saul is aware that there is some sin that is causing God to remain silent. But he does not know what the sin is. The meaning to be translated is therefore “where the sin lies this day” (Revised English Bible) or “what sin has kept God from answering” (Contemporary English Version). Another slightly different way of understanding this is to take the word translated sin as meaning “guilt.” The question would then be “how this guilt was incurred today” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

If direct speech is to be avoided, translators may wish to say something like:

• Saul called the army officers together in order to try to find out what sin had occurred that day to prevent God from answering him.

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 .

Obeyed the voice of the LORD: see the comments on verse 19.

Gone on the mission: see verse 18.

I have brought: it may be necessary in some languages to make explicit where Saul brought Agag. Good News Translation and many English translations say “brought back.” It is possible to be more explicit and state “I have brought to Gilgal” (see verses 12, 21 and 33). Since Agag was brought by force to Gilgal, translators may wish to use a verb that expresses this force. Compare Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente (“And I have taken their king Agag prisoner”) and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh (“I captured King Agag of Amalek”).

Agag: as in verse 8.

Utterly destroyed: see the comments on verse 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 .

One of the young men: this person would presumably be included among the “servants” in verses 15 and 17. Contemporary English Version, however, calls him an “official.” It is difficult to decide in this context which meaning is intended.

Behold: see the comments on verse 15.

Jesse the Bethlehemite: see verse 1.

David was skilful in playing the lyre, although the lyre is not specifically mentioned in this verse. New American Bible says “[he is] a skillful harpist.” See the comments at verse 16.

A man of valor: literally “a hero [or, warrior] of power [or, bravery].” See the comments on 10.26 regarding the word rendered valor and on “valiant man” in 14.52. Here New Jerusalem Bible says “a stalwart fellow.”

A man of war: see the same expression in 17.33 and 2 Sam 17.8. Revised English Bible renders this expression “a good fighter,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “a warrior.” Revised Standard Version translates this same expression in 2 Sam 17.8 “expert in war.”

Prudent in speech: the word prudent translates a verb form meaning “to be perceptive.” Revised English Bible expresses the sense clearly, “wise in speech.” See also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “sensible in speech.” The translation “an able speaker” (Good News Translation and New American Bible) seems to suggest that David was a good public speaker, but that may not be quite the sense of the Hebrew.

A man of good presence: literally “a man of form [or dignity, or fine appearance].” This Hebrew noun is rendered “handsome” in Good News Translation and Revised English Bible and “good-looking” in New Jerusalem Bible. A modern English idiom with the same meaning is “he presents himself well.”

That the LORD is with him indicates that God protects David and assures that he will be victorious (see also the similar expressions in 18.12, 14, 28; 20.13).

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 two questions follow, Good News Translation changes the verb said to “asked” in order to conform to common English usage. But in some languages the questions may be turned into statements. For example, the question What have I done now? is really a way of saying “I haven’t done anything wrong.” And in some cases it will be better translated this way.

Was it not but a word? In some languages it may be best to express this as a statement rather than as a question. See Revised English Bible, “I only asked a question.” If the question format is retained, the meaning to be conveyed is “Don’t I even have the right to speak any more?” (La Bible du Semeur).

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 .

That David went out and was successful must be understood in the context as referring to military exploits. Bible en français courant is a good model: “Every time that Saul sent him on a military expedition, David had success.” See also New Century Version, “Saul sent David to fight in different battles. And David was very successful.” See also comments on verse 14.

So that translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which here relates David’s success and his appointment over other soldiers. It is therefore not incorrect to translate as in New Revised Standard Version, “as a result….”

The people and … Saul’s servants: the people refers to the lower-ranking “troops,” while the servants were higher-ranking officers. On the latter see the comments on 8.14.

The structure of the last part of this verse may have to be radically altered in some languages to make the military officers and foot soldiers the subject of the sentence: “the troops and even all the officers were very happy about this.”

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 .