The words stand still should not be taken to mean that the people were hindering communication by moving about. The verb seems to be used as a technical term implying appearance before a judge. Anchor Bible renders it “Present yourselves.” Others say “take your stand” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible).

Plead with: this Hebrew verb may be rendered plead with in some contexts. But in this context the sense seems to be “accuse you” (Good News Translation), “confront you with evidence” (New International Version), or “put the case against you” (Revised English Bible). New Revised Standard Version says “so that I may enter into judgment with you.”

The Septuagint adds the words “and I will proclaim to you” before the words concerning all the saving deeds. This longer text is the basis for the translation found in New Revised Standard Version, “so that I may enter into judgment with you before the LORD, and I will declare to you all the saving deeds of the LORD” (also Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible).

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text, which is followed by Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible.

The Hebrew noun translated saving deeds has a wide range of meanings. Sometimes it refers to the abstract quality of justice or righteousness. Here, as in some other contexts (for example, Judges 5.11), it has the more dynamic meaning of “deliverance,” “victories” (Revised English Bible), “saving acts” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “righteous acts” (New International Version).

Performed for you and for your fathers: a literal translation of the Hebrew may suggest to the reader that the Israelite people were speCritique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testamentors who watched God do something that did not involve them. Good News Translation correctly shows that the saving deeds were actions by God to save the Israelite people.

As in verse 6 fathers refers to “ancestors.”

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 .