So: the common conjunction is rightly taken as a logical connector by many modern versions, although it is also possible to take it as a temporal connector. New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible have “Then,” and some omit it altogether (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible).

Burnt offering and peace offerings: see the comments on 10.8. In this context Saul is asking for the material to be offered and not for the finished sacrifices. In many languages it will be important to make this clear. Knox, for example, indicates that Saul “bade them bring the victims for the burnt-sacrifice and the welcome-offering.”

Offered the burnt offering: that is, “sacrificed the animal for the burnt offering.” Saul offered the burnt offering himself instead of waiting for Samuel to come and make the offering, as he had said that he would (10.8). God will later punish Saul because he offered the sacrifices himself (see verses 13-14).

In order to avoid the direct quotation in this verse, some languages will say “so Saul instructed them to bring the animals for the burnt sacrifices and the fellowship offerings to him.”

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 .

As soon as he had finished: literally “And it happened at his completing.” The whole context shows that Samuel’s arrival occurred almost immediately after Saul had finished offering the sacrifice.

Burnt offering: see verse 9.

Behold: as noted frequently regarding this Hebrew interjection, it is often left untranslated. Here it functions to focus attention on Samuel’s arrival just at the time when Saul had finished the sacrifice. Anchor Bible attempts to capture the force with an exclamation point: “But as soon as he…, Samuel arrived!” In some languages it may be possible to say something like “As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, look what happened: Samuel arrived!”

Went out: some languages may use different words for going out of the house and going out of the village. Here, as in 9.14 where Samuel was coming out of the city, the meaning is most likely that Saul went out of the city to meet Samuel. The Hebrew verb translated went out here is the same as that translated “coming out” in 9.14.

Salute him: the Hebrew verb often means “to bless,” but in this context it simply means “to greet” or “to welcome.” It certainly has no military connotations, as the Revised Standard Version (and New Revised Standard Version) rendering may lead some readers to believe. See also 25.14.

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 .

It will be more natural in some languages to say that Samuel “asked” (New American Bible) rather than to say that he said. Similarly the second occurrence of the verb said may be more naturally translated “answered” (New Century Version) or “replied” (New International Version).

The people were scattering from me: see the comments on verse 8 above.

Within the days appointed: see the comments on verse 8.

Mustered: see verse 5 above and comments on 11.8.

Michmash: see verse 2.

Revised Standard Version follows the complex Hebrew sentence structure beginning with three clauses in this verse and continuing with the rest of the sentence in verse 12. But it will be better in many languages to make one or two separate sentences of the elements in this verse. See Good News Translation.

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 .

I said: in the present context this Hebrew verb may be translated as “I thought” (Revised English Bible) or “I said to myself” (New American Bible).

Gilgal: see verse 4.

Entreated the favor of the LORD: the Hebrew verb expresses the thought of putting God in a gentle mood. Some other possible ways of saying this are “have not yet appeased the Eternal” (Moffatt) and “have not yet sought the LORD’s blessing” (New American Bible).

I forced myself: the meaning of the Hebrew verb is not certain. It may be translated “I took the risk” or “I restrained myself.” Most understand it here to mean “I forced myself” (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The sense seems to be that, because of the threat of an attack by the Philistines, Saul felt he could not wait any longer for Samuel to come and make the sacrifice (see verse 8 and 10.8). Instead he felt compelled to offer the sacrifice himself. Compare Revised English Bible: “so I felt compelled to make the whole-offering myself.” One may also say “So I felt I had to offer a sacrifice myself instead of waiting for you to come and do so.” Knox underlines the fact that Saul felt that he had no alternative to his course of action by adding at the end of the sentence “there was no other way.”

The favor of the LORD: literally “the face of Yahweh.”

Burnt offering is a translation of the same word found in verses 9 and 10. Although Good News Translation has used the general term “sacrifice,” the translation should use the same term here that was used for “burnt offering” earlier in this chapter.

Since the words of the direct quotation were very likely unspoken thoughts, some translators will prefer to rephrase them as indirect speech. A possible model for this may be as follows:

• I was afraid the Philistines were going to attack me here in Gilgal. And since I had done nothing to win the LORD’s favor, I decided that I had to offer a sacrifice.

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 .

You have done foolishly: David speaks these same words about himself in 2 Sam 24.10. In English there is a great deal of difference in meaning between “you have acted foolishly” and “That was stupid!” (Contemporary English Version) or “You fool!” While the latter may sound quite strong, it is perhaps not too far from the meaning intended here.

You have not kept the commandment of the LORD: while this is stated negatively in the original, some languages may prefer to communicate the same meaning using a positive statement, “you have disobeyed [the command from] the LORD” or “you have disregarded the LORD’s rule.”

No commandment of the LORD to Saul has been previously mentioned in the story. Interpreters suggest various ways of understanding these words, but translators should not attempt to make explicit the content of the command. The Hebrew word translated commandment occurs only here in 1 and 2 Samuel. No distinction in meaning is intended between this noun and the Hebrew nouns “mouth” and “word,” also translated “commandment” by Revised Standard Version elsewhere in 1 Samuel.

For now … for ever: this clause expresses a condition contrary to fact, and the first part of the clause is left implicit in Hebrew. Good News Translation (also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Bible en français courant) makes the “if” part explicit by adding “If you had obeyed.” The sense is not that Saul himself would have ruled for ever if he had obeyed God. Rather God would have made sure that Saul’s descendants would have continued to rule. Revised English Bible says “If you had [kept the command of God] he would have established your dynasty over Israel for all time.”

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 .

Your kingdom shall not continue: meaning not only that Saul would not continue as king, but also that his descendants will not rule after his death. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “But now your dynasty will not endure.” As in the previous verse, certain words are left implicit in Hebrew, but they may be made explicit in translation. The full sense is “But since you did not obey, now your kingdom shall not continue.”

The man after his own heart is David (see chapter 16; also Acts 13.22). In Hebrew thought the heart is the place where one’s will, desire, and choice are exercised. This may be expressed as “a person whose desire is to serve the LORD” or “the kind of man he wants” (New Century Version).

Prince: that is, to be the ruler. See the comments on 9.16.

The past tense verbs in Revised Standard Version (has sought out and has appointed) suggest in English that God has already found David and already appointed him as king. More likely these verbs are “prophetic perfects,” that is, the past tense is used instead of the future. It is so certain that God will do this that it is spoken of as something already done. Compare also the future tense in Revised English Bible: “the LORD will seek out a man after his own heart, and appoint him prince over his people.”

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 .

In the first part of this verse, Revised Standard Version follows the Masoretic Text, while Good News Translation (also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible) follows the longer text of the Septuagint. It is possible that the Septuagint contains a later addition to the original text, but it is more likely that the Hebrew text is the result of an accidental omission by a scribe whose eyes jumped from the first “Gilgal” in this verse to the second. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Septuagint reading. Translators should therefore follow the textual decision of Good News Translation rather than that of Revised Standard Version.

Arose: see the comments on this verb in 9.3.

Gibe-ah of Benjamin: see the comment on 10.5.

The people here, as often in 1 and 2 Samuel, refers to the army or the “troops.” See the comments on verses 2 and 4 above.

The verb rendered numbered has a wide range of meanings, but in this context the verb means something like “counted” (New Revised Standard Version), “to call up for military duty,” “to inspect the troops” (Good News Translation), or “to pass the forces [or, soldiers] in review” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Bible en français courant, and New Jerusalem Bible). It represents the same Hebrew verb as translated “mustered” in 11.8.

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 .

The raiders went out in verses 17-18 to the north, west, and east. Since the locations of the places mentioned in verses 17-18 will not be known to most readers, it may be helpful to make the directions explicit in translation. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is a good model: “one company went north in direction toward Ophrah … another went west in direction toward Beth-horon, and a third toward the east to the ridge of hills from where one can see the Hyena Valley.”

Raiders: see also 14.15. This noun translates a participle in Hebrew. The root form of the verb means “to spoil,” “to wipe out,” “to bring ruin on.” La Bible Pléiade calls them “shock troops,” that is, troops especially trained for attacking the enemy, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “an attack squadron.” The singular form of the participle is found in 2 Sam 24.16, where Revised Standard Version translates it “[the angel] who was working destruction.”

Came out: this verb is usually rendered “to go out” or “to come out.” In this context, however, New Jerusalem Bible rightly says “sailed out,” expressing the swiftness of the attack. (The English idioms “sail out” or “sail into” refer to quick or vigorous action in attacking something or someone.)

The word translated companies is literally “heads.” But in this context it refers to groups of soldiers. Some model translations in English versions are “parties” (Revised English Bible), “bands” (New American Bible), and “detachments” (An American Translation, New International Version).

Ophrah was a city in the territory of Benjamin (see Josh 18.23), a short distance north of Michmash. Ophrah was located in Shual, a region located in southern Mount Ephraim. This place name Shual occurs in the Old Testament only here and means “fox” or “jackal.” Nueva Biblia Española translates the name as La Zorra, that is, “The Fox.” Fox says “one column facing toward the road to Ofra, toward the Region of the Jackal.”

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 .