They will greet you: literally “they will ask [or, wish] for you peace [or, prosperity].” The same idiom occurs in 17.22; 25.5; and 30.21.

Two loaves of bread: literally “two of bread.” The Septuagint and a manuscript from Qumran say “two wave offerings of bread,” and this is the translation found in New American Bible. According to Lev 23.17, the first ritual that the Israelites were to perform on the day of Pentecost was to bring two loaves of bread from their houses and to wave them before the LORD. Only the priests were to eat these offerings (Lev 23.20; Num 18.11).

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends the Hebrew text that is presumed to be the basis of the Septuagint, giving it a {B} rating. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that a scribe was scandalized by reading that Saul was offered food which only the priests were allowed to eat, and that this scribe therefore omitted the word “wave offering.” Here, as in 9.24 (which see), Saul was being treated as a priest.

Even if the traditional Hebrew text is followed, in many languages it will be necessary to add a noun between the words two and bread. Many translations add the word loaves, that is, two loaves of bread (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). It will be better yet to follow the recommendation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament and say “two wave offerings of bread” (New American Bible and Anchor Bible). However, it is generally accepted today that the traditional translation “wave offering” is incorrect, and that the Hebrew term is better translated “lift offering” or “elevation offering” (as, for example, Num 18.11 in New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Some languages may have to express this idea as “a gift that the priest waves” or “an offering that is lifted up.”

Which you shall accept from their hand: the idea expressed by the words from their hand may be left implicit in many languages. It is certainly awkward in English to use the plural pronoun their with the singular noun hand. So most modern English versions avoid this combination. Even New Revised Standard Version says “which you shall accept from them.” Others say simply “which you shall accept” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Like other verbs in this passage, the Hebrew verb translated you shall accept may be understood as a simple statement of what Saul will do (so Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation translates it as a command, “which you are to accept.” Here the statement of what Saul will do is in effect an implied command, so Good News Translation is an acceptable model.

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 .