10Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 19:10:
Kupsabiny: “Saul threw the spear towards David wanting to kill/spear him by pinning him to the wall, but David dodged the spear and it hit the wall. Then, David fled at night to (his) home.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Saul, thinking to nail David to the wall, threw his spear, but David turned away and the spear got buried in the wall. That night David escaped and was spared.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Saul tried/attempted to-pin David to the wall by-means-of throwing-a-spear at him. But David was-able-to-elude/keep-away-from (it). Then David fled that night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Saul hurled his spear at David to try to fasten him to the wall. David dodged/jumped to one side, and the spear did not hit him. The spear stuck in the wall, but that night David escaped.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear: literally “And Saul sought to strike with his spear in David and in the wall.” This verse is similar to 18.11. Here it is not explicitly stated that Saul threw his spear at David, as in 18.11. Several translations create the image of Saul lunging at David with the spear rather than throwing it at him. Revised English Bible (similarly New Jerusalem Bible) says that David “dodged the king’s thrust so that Saul drove the spear into the wall.”
As the Revised Standard Version footnote on verse 11 indicates, the Hebrew text says that David fled and escaped “that night” (so New Revised Standard Version). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which connects the words “on that night” with the verb “escaped.” Other translations, however, follow the Septuagint and the Old Latin in linking the words “that night” with what follows in verse 11. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the words “and David escaped that night” do not mean that he escaped from Saul’s spear. Rather, the words “he escaped that night” summarize in advance the statements in verses 12, 17, and 18, that David escaped from the palace and the city.
Eluded: New Jerusalem Bible says that “he avoided Saul’s thrust.” In other languages it may be necessary to say “got out of the way” or “moved away from him” (New Century Version).
Fled and escaped: these two verbs may be expressed by one verb in some languages. Compare New American Bible, “David got away safe.” The verb rendered escaped in English often implies previous capture or imprisonment, but here the idea is more that of getting out of a difficult situation. The root verb is related to a word meaning to be smooth or slippery and can be rendered “he slipped away from” or “he ran away from,” although most English versions use the verb “escape,” as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation in this verse. Elsewhere, however, it is sometimes translated “flee.”
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 .
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