All the men of Israel: see the comments at verse 19.

The man refers to Goliath, and if there is any doubt about this, perhaps the name should be used in translation.

The conjunction and, which joins the idea of running away and the notion of great fear, may not be the best way to join these two parts of the sentence. These are not two separate events. Rather they are causally related; it was because of their great fear that the Israelite soldiers ran away. So it may be better to show this relationship by translating “they ran away because they were very much afraid” or “they fled in terror” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Were much afraid: the same two Hebrew words are translated as “greatly afraid” at the end of verse 11.

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 .

1Sam 17.:25

The men of Israel said: literally “and he said a man of Israel.” These words may be understood several different ways.

(1) It is possible that the subject of the verb “said” is “a man of Israel.” But does the writer intend the words “a man of Israel” to refer to only one Israelite soldier? Such is the understanding of Osty-Trinquet: “A man of Israel said.” It is also possible that the writer uses the singular in a collective sense, in which case the meaning is that these men spoke “to each other” (so Revised English Bible, Good News Translation). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh adds the words “among themselves” in square brackets.

(2) It is also possible, though less probable, that the subject of the verb “said” is indefinite and that the words “man of Israel” are the indirect object rather than the subject of the verb. Klein says “Someone had said, ‘Men of Israel, do you see this man who has come up?’ ” (so also Anchor Bible).

Come up: some versions say “come out,” but the Hebrew says “come up.” Having descended into the valley from the ranks of the Philistines, Goliath has begun to go up the other side toward the Israelite army (see the comments on verse 8).

Enrich with great riches: this is a rather emphatic expression repeating the same root. Such repetition, however, may not be natural in other languages. Some may say something like “rewarded … with great riches” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Give him his daughter: this expression clearly implies marriage, as Good News Translation and several other modern versions translate it. In some languages it will be translated by a causative form of the verb to marry: “he will cause him to marry his daughter.” If necessary, translators may say “one of his daughters,” since Saul had more than one. Others may translate more dynamically, something like “he will make him his son-in-law.”

In some languages the king may have to be translated “our king” or even “King Saul” (Good News Translation), since it may otherwise be understood as a reference to some Philistine king.

Make his father’s house free in Israel: that is, free his father’s family from paying taxes or from being required to serve the king of Israel. New Jerusalem Bible (and similarly New International Version and Good News Translation) says “will exempt his father’s family from all taxes in Israel,” and Revised English Bible says “and will exempt his family from service due in Israel.” Rather than choose between these two different interpretations, translators may follow the model of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Bible en français courant, which say more generally “and will grant preferential claims to his family.”

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 .