This concluding verse is introduced by the common Hebrew conjunction, which seems to indicate the passage of a certain amount of time after the rescue of Jonathan. In any case it is probably best translated as a temporal connector. New American Bible, like Good News Translation, has “After that.”

Went up: see the comments on verse 36. Together with the words from pursuing, the meaning is that Saul “gave up pursuit” (New American Bible) or “decided not to pursue” (New Jerusalem Bible) the Philistines for the time being (see verse 52). The Philistines in turn went back home.

To their own place: that is, back to the southwest area of Palestine along the Mediterranean coast.

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 .

Did valiantly: means that Saul “fought bravely” (New American Bible), that is, he showed great courage in battle.

Smote may mean either “killed” or “defeated.” But in this context the latter seems more likely.

The Amalekites, first mentioned in Gen 14.7, were a nomadic tribe descended from Esau. They roamed the desert south of Judah, and there was strong animosity between them and the people of Israel. For Saul’s defeat of the Amalekites, see 15.1-9. The Hebrew here says “Amalek” (so New American Bible, Fox), but the context clearly shows the reference is to the Amalekites, as nearly all translations clearly indicate (see the additional comments on 15.2). It is not clear why Good News Translation says “even the people of Amalek.”

The hands of: on the metaphorical use of hands, see 4.8.

Who plundered them: that is, who had previously attacked the Israelites and taken their belongings. New Jerusalem Bible correctly focuses on the fact that this was something in the past: “who used to pillage them.”

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 .

Contemporary English Version restructures verses 49-51 to make it sound more natural in English. The name of Saul’s wife is shifted forward from verse 50. Then, instead of speaking of the sons of Saul and his two daughters, it says that “They had three sons” and “They also had two daughters.” Naturalness in the receptor language will determine which model is followed in this matter.

The sons of Saul: this list probably names the sons in order of birth. The list of Saul’s sons who were killed with him on Mount Gilboa includes a son named “Abinadab” (31.2) but does not mention Ishvi, who is perhaps to be identified with “Ishbosheth” in 2 Sam 2.8-13; 3.8-15 and 4.5-12. This same son is also called “Eshbaal” (1 Chr 8.33; 9.39). Malchishua is mentioned again in 31.2.

The correct name of Saul’s second son is debated because of differences in the ancient manuscripts. Revised English Bible spells the name “Ishyo,” which in Hebrew means “Man of Yahweh.” Ishyo will be the theologically correct name that corresponds to “Ishbaal” (“man of Baal”), called “Ishbosheth,” (“man of shame”). Despite the problems, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the spelling found in the Masoretic Text. It will probably be wise to add a footnote to inform the readers that Ishvi is the same person as Ishbaal (or Eshbaal) and Ishbosheth.

Saul’s two daughters, Merab and Michal, are prominent in 18.17-29.

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 .

Ahino-am the daughter of Ahima-az: Saul’s wife Ahino-am is mentioned only here in the Old Testament. Another women of the same name became one of David’s wives (25.43). Ahima-az is mentioned only here, but since two other men have this name in the Old Testament, Ahima-az is certainly the father of Ahino-am, not the mother.

Abner was Saul’s cousin. Their fathers, Ner and Kish (verse 51), were brothers. Abner is therefore a part of Saul’s family as well as the leader of his military forces.

Concerning Ner, Saul’s uncle, see the comments on 10.14.

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 .

According to 9.1 Kish was the son of Abiel. Kish and Ner were therefore brothers whose father was Abiel (though see the comments on 10.14). For this reason Good News Translation indicates that both of these men “were sons of Abiel.” The text does not indicate which was the older of the two.

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 .

This verse stands alone as a paragraph in many translations, summarizing the continual war between Israel and the Philistines during Saul’s rule. The Philistines were already mentioned in the summary statement in verse 47, but this verse highlights the fact that they were a special case among the enemies of Israel.

There was hard fighting: this may sound too impersonal in some languages. The translation should probably indicate that Saul was intensely involved in this fighting.

All the days of Saul is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Revised English Bible says “throughout Saul’s lifetime.”

Valiant man: literally “son of worth [or, son of power].” The same noun is found in the expression “did valiantly” in verse 48. And a similar idiom is translated “men of valor” in 10.26.

He attached him to himself: a literal translation may result in an unnatural expression in some languages. The meaning is clearly expressed in Good News Translation. In some cases it may be appropriate to say that “he drafted them into his army” or that “he persuaded them to join his soldiers.”

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 LORD sent me to anoint you king: a reference to the events of 9.15–10.1. In Hebrew the word order is “Me Yahweh sent to anoint you.” This word order, which is not the usual verb-subject-object order of Hebrew, emphasizes the first pronoun. The word order in Good News Translation (“I am the one whom the LORD sent”) captures the force of the Hebrew. One may also say “It is I whom Yahweh sent” (Anchor Bible).

Anoint: see the comments on 2.10.

Now therefore: literally “and now.” But this does seem to make a logical connection between the fact of Samuel’s anointing Saul as king and the request to listen to the word of the LORD that he is about to explain.

Hearken here means more than simply listening. It involves obedience to the words spoken. So it may be translated “pay careful attention to” or “obey” (Klein). Compare 8.7 and 12.14.

The words of the LORD: literally “the voice of the words of the LORD.”

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 .

LORD of hosts: see the comments on 1.3. Good News Translation shifts this title to the end of the previous verse rather than following the form of the Hebrew here.

What Amalek did to Israel: Amalek was a grandson of Esau (see Gen 36.12, 15-16). His descendants, the Amalekites (see the comment on 14.48), had attacked the Israelites at Rephidim in the Sinai wilderness (Exo 17.8-13; Deut 25.17-19). In the Old Testament the terms “Amalek,” “Amalekite,” and “Amalekites” are all used to refer to these nomadic people. Since it was not the ancestor Amalek himself who attacked the Israelites, translators will often need to indicate that the reference is to the people who descended from him, that is, the Amalekites. See also 28.18.

The embedded quotation of Revised Standard Version follows the form of the Hebrew, but it may be better in many languages to present this information in indirect speech, as Good News Translation does here and in the following verse.

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 .