complete verse (1 Samuel 30:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 30:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “He also gave (some things) to his friends from the city of Bethel, Ramoth in Negev plus Jattir.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way David sent gifts to Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jattir,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The ones to whom he sent (were) the ones-who-rule the following towns/cities: Betel, Ramot Negev, Jatir,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Here is a list of the cities and towns to whose leaders David sent gifts: Bethel, Ramoth in the southern part of Judah, Jattir,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 30:27

This verse and those that follow list the cities in which the elders of Judah lived who were mentioned in verse 26. The sense is “the loot [or, spoil] was for those elders of Judah who lived in Bethel, in Ramoth, … in Jattir….” Good News Translation incorrectly says that David sent the spoil “to the people” in these cities rather than “to the elders.” Compare New Century Version, “David sent some things from the Amalekites to the leaders in Bethel, Ramoth in the southern part of Judah, Jattir….” Similarly La Bible du Semeur says “to the persons in charge in Bethel….”

Bethel: some interpreters think that the name Bethel is an error in the Hebrew text, since the town of Bethel was not located in Judah. Various corrections have been suggested. One proposal is “Bethuel” (so Revised English Bible, Osty-Trinquet, La Bible Pléiade, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), a town in which some members of the tribe of Simeon lived (see Josh 19.4; 1 Chr 4.30). Others (Anchor Bible), following the Septuagint, have proposed “Beth-zur,” a town a relatively short distance north of Hebron (see Josh 15.58). Though there is no direct manuscript support for the name “Bethuel,” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends this name, giving it a {D} rating.

Ramoth of the Negeb: regarding the Negeb see verse 1 above. Ramoth is perhaps to be identified with Baalath-beer, a city in the tribe of Simeon (see Josh 19.8).

Jattir was located about nineteen kilometers (or twelve miles) south-southwest of Hebron (see Josh 15.48; 21.14).

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 .