The commanders of the Philistines are apparently the leaders of the different battalions and should not be confused with the five kings mentioned in verse 2. La Bible du Semeur, which identifies these leaders as the five “princes,” should therefore be avoided as a model.

Hebrews: in order to try to capture the pejorative nature of the term used by the Philistines, Contemporary English Version translates “these worthless Israelites.” See the comments on 4.6.

The question of the Philistine commanders may be understood in two different ways. Literally the Hebrew says only “What these Hebrews?” Some scholars understand this to be a question of identity: “Who are those Hebrews?” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Others, however, like Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, take it to be a question about the reason for the presence of Hebrew soldiers in the Philistine army.

Achish’s question in response to the commanders is rhetorical. Revised Standard Version has no question mark at the end of the question, but the wording is interrogative. This question may be translated as an emphatic statement in the receptor language. Achish is not asking the question to find out if it is really David, but rather is affirming that he has confidence in David, since David and his men have been with Achish for a considerable length of time.

Servant: see the comment on 21.11 for a discussion of the translation of this word as “official.” Since David has been living among the Philistines for quite some time (see 27.7) and has apparently been serving Achish the Philistine king, Achish regards David as his own servant and no longer as Saul’s servant (see 27.12). For this reason one may follow the model of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and say “This is David, who was [past tense] an aide of Saul, king of Israel.”

For days and years: there is some question about whether the Masoretic Text contains the original reading here, since the exact meaning of this expression is not clear. But in light of 27.7 the general meaning is clear. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “for a year or more.” New International Version similarly has “for over a year.” A literal translation will not be clear or natural in many languages. Following the Septuagint Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, La Bible Pléiade, La Bible du Semeur, and Osty-Trinquet say “a year or two.” Contemporary English Version, translating much more dynamically, has Achish say that David “left Saul and joined my army a long time ago.”

Since he deserted to me: a reference to the events of 27.1-4. This may have to be expressed in some languages as “since he abandoned Israel to serve me” or he “left Saul and joined my army” (Contemporary English Version).

I have found no fault in him: literally “I have not found in him anything.” It will probably be necessary to add a word such as fault to make clear that the king is talking about not finding anything negative about 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 .