One of the young men: this person would presumably be included among the “servants” in verses 15 and 17. Contemporary English Version, however, calls him an “official.” It is difficult to decide in this context which meaning is intended.

Behold: see the comments on verse 15.

Jesse the Bethlehemite: see verse 1.

David was skilful in playing the lyre, although the lyre is not specifically mentioned in this verse. New American Bible says “[he is] a skillful harpist.” See the comments at verse 16.

A man of valor: literally “a hero [or, warrior] of power [or, bravery].” See the comments on 10.26 regarding the word rendered valor and on “valiant man” in 14.52. Here New Jerusalem Bible says “a stalwart fellow.”

A man of war: see the same expression in 17.33 and 2 Sam 17.8. Revised English Bible renders this expression “a good fighter,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “a warrior.” Revised Standard Version translates this same expression in 2 Sam 17.8 “expert in war.”

Prudent in speech: the word prudent translates a verb form meaning “to be perceptive.” Revised English Bible expresses the sense clearly, “wise in speech.” See also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “sensible in speech.” The translation “an able speaker” (Good News Translation and New American Bible) seems to suggest that David was a good public speaker, but that may not be quite the sense of the Hebrew.

A man of good presence: literally “a man of form [or dignity, or fine appearance].” This Hebrew noun is rendered “handsome” in Good News Translation and Revised English Bible and “good-looking” in New Jerusalem Bible. A modern English idiom with the same meaning is “he presents himself well.”

That the LORD is with him indicates that God protects David and assures that he will be victorious (see also the similar expressions in 18.12, 14, 28; 20.13).

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 .

Therefore translates the common Hebrew conjunction waw. Here it connects verse 19 with verse 18 as the logical conclusion. In English the meaning is correctly expressed by “So,” “Therefore,” or “Accordingly.”

Grammatically the subject of the verb said is third person singular, presumably Saul. But the message is a transmitted one using messengers. Some languages may have to say “they said.” And in other cases the whole quotation will be made indirect, “requesting that Jesse send his son David, the one who usually watches over the sheep.”

Who is with the sheep: the Hebrew leaves implicit David’s reason for being with the sheep, although it is clear in verse 11. The reason may be made explicit here, as in Good News Translation and La Bible du Semeur.

Contemporary English Version provides a slightly different model, with “Tell your son David to leave your sheep and come here to me.”

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 .

Took an ass laden with bread: literally “took an ass of bread,” that is, the Hebrew has no verb form corresponding to the word laden. The Septuagint says that Jesse took a gomor of bread. In the Septuagint the word gomor in Greek translates both the Hebrew word omer and the Hebrew word homer. Some have therefore suggested that a scribe committed an error, confusing either the word omer or the word homer and the similar Hebrew word translated ass, chamor. An omer was a dry measure, equivalent to a little more than two quarts or about five loaves of bread. A homer was a dry measure equal to about 394 liters, or about eleven bushels. This conjecture is the basis for the New English Bible translation: “Jesse took a homer of bread.” Compare also Revised English Bible, “Jesse took a batch of bread.”

Another suggestion is that a scribe mistakenly read the original text, which said “five [loaves] of bread,” as “a donkey of bread.” The Hebrew word for “five,” chamesh, is similar in spelling to the word “donkey.” This conjecture is the basis for the translation “Jesse took five loaves of bread” (New American Bible and similarly New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet, and Nueva Biblia Española, all of which say that Jesse took five loaves of bread, but do not mention a donkey).

Another suggestion is that the original is preserved in one form of the Septuagint, which says “took an ass, ladened it with an omer of bread” (so Anchor Bible). According to this solution the words “loaded it with an omer” probably were accidentally omitted by a scribe.

It is difficult to know which reading is correct. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh reads “Jesse took an ass [laden with] bread” and states in a note that the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. Certainly the Masoretic Text seems to be lacking something. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament correctly notes that an omer is too small an amount to take to Saul, and a homer is too large for a man to carry. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and suggests that the words “loaded with” are to be understood. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends a translation similar to that found in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, although it will not be necessary to enclose the words “laden with” in brackets. Compare Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, all of which are in agreement with the Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommendation.

A skin of wine: see the comments on 1.24.

A kid is a young goat. See the comments on the plural of this word at 10.3.

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 .

Entered his service: literally “stood before him.” In this context some will prefer to translate “began to serve him” or “started working for him” (Contemporary English Version). See verse 22 and comments on verse 16 above.

Saul loved him greatly: literally “he loved him greatly.” Revised Standard Version supplies the proper noun in place of the pronoun. Since the subject of the verbs came, entered, and became is David, readers may incorrectly assume that David is also the subject of the verb loved. It will perhaps be necessary to use the name Saul (so also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible), since the pronoun “he” may be ambiguous in many languages.

Armor-bearer: see the comments on 14.7. It should be clear to readers that it was David who became the armor bearer of Saul and not the contrary.

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 Hebrew text does not have a direct object after the verb sent. A word such as “a message” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “a word” (Revised English Bible) may be added to complete the sense. See also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “Saul sent word to Jesse.”

The words Let … remain reflect a third person singular imperative followed by a particle indicating a polite request. This is similar to Let … command in verse 16 above. One possible translation in this context is “please agree to…,” or in some languages “I ask you to allow….”

Remain in my service: literally “stand before me.” See the comments on verse 16.

Found favor in my sight: literally “found favor in my eyes.” See the comments on 1.18. The rendering in Good News Translation, “I like David,” seems flat. New Jerusalem Bible says “since he has won my favour.” And New American Bible has “he meets with my approval.” Contemporary English Version translates “I really like David.” In certain languages it will be more natural to make Saul the subject of the sentence rather than David: “I appreciate David very much” (La Bible du Semeur).

Some languages will naturally reverse the order of the two elements in the quotation so that Saul states his approval of David before ordering that he be kept in the royal service.

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 evil spirit from God: see verse 14. The Masoretic Text says “the spirit of God” (so New International Version, Fox, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). But the end of this verse clearly states that this spirit was an evil spirit, and this may be stated at the beginning of the verse also.

The lyre: see verse 16; also 18.10.

And played it with his hand: Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible omit the words with his hand as unnecessary, since in English it is assumed that a lyre would not be played any way except with one’s hand.

Saul was refreshed: the basic meaning of the Hebrew verb is “to be spacious.” The sense is that Saul was “relieved” (New Revised Standard Version) or “would find relief” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). It may also be possible to translate “Saul would then be soothed” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “Saul calmed down and felt better” (La Bible du Semeur).

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 .

Now: this is the common Hebrew conjunction, which, at the beginning of this new section, may not need to be translated at all in some languages. But others may substitute a discourse marker showing that a new story is beginning.

Gathered: while certain English versions use the technical military term “mustered” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), the verb used here is a very general one for gathering together. But it is followed by the words “for battle,” which clearly indicate a military purpose.

Socoh and Azekah were located about thirty kilometers (about eighteen miles) southwest of Jerusalem. Socoh was one of three towns by this name in the Old Testament. To indicate which of these towns is intended, the writer adds which belongs to Judah, that is, this Socoh was located in the lowlands of Judah. The name Socoh comes from a root meaning “to hedge” or “to shut in.” Nueva Biblia Española translates this name as Vallado, that is, “Enclosure.”

Azekah: another town in the lowlands of Judah, about five kilometers (three miles) north of Socoh. The name means “hoed ground.” Nueva Biblia Española translates this name as Cavada, that is, “Dug out.”

Ephes-dammim was located about six kilometers (about four miles) northeast of Socoh. The meaning of this name is uncertain. But it refers to the same place that is called “Pas Dammim” in 1 Chr 11.13 (and, in some versions that are based on the Septuagint, in 2 Sam 23.9). Since the reference is to the same place, translators would be justified in using the same spelling here and in the other passages where this place is referred to.

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 men of Israel: the Hebrew is literally singular, “man of Israel.” But the sense is clearly plural, that is, “the troops of Israel” or “the soldiers of Israel.”

Gathered represents the same general verb as used of the Philistines in verse 1.

The valley of Elah: (see also verse 19 and 21.9) south of Socoh and Azekah. The name Elah means “Terebinth,” which is a kind of tree. The same Hebrew word is often translated “oak,” as for example in Gen 35.4 in Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible, but as “terebinth tree” by Revised English Bible. Though Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have transliterated the Hebrew name here in verse 2, it may be translated as in New Jerusalem Bible, “Valley of the Terebinth” (so also New American Bible, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and Osty-Trinquet). The name is translated also as “Valley of the Oak” (La Bible du Semeur, Fox).

The four English words, drew up in line, translate a single Hebrew verb referring to taking positions for military action. New Revised Standard Version says that they “formed ranks.” Klein (“got ready for battle”) is similar to Good News Translation. Compare 4.2.

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 .