All Israel in this context means all of the Israelite soldiers with Saul. Some languages may need to say “Saul and all the rest of the Israelites.” Compare “the men of Israel” in verse 2, which has the same meaning.

These words of the Philistine: Good News Translation replaces this phrase with the demonstrative pronoun “this.” Translators should use a style that is natural in the receptor language.

Dismayed and greatly afraid: depending on the context, the verb rendered dismayed may mean “in fear [or, terror],” “in confusion,” or “weak.” Many translations follow the interpretation found in Revised Standard Version, saying, for example, “they were all shaken and deeply afraid” (Revised English Bible) or “were dismayed and terror-stricken” (New American Bible). These two verbs are nearly synonymous here, and some translations combine the two into one as in Good News Translation and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible (“they were crushed with terror”).

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 .

Jesse’s three oldest sons were introduced earlier in 16.1, 6-13, though the text there does not explicitly state which was the firstborn.

A literal translation of the form of this verse into English results in a heavy style. To repeat, for example, the words to the battle is unnatural in English. Good News Translation has restructured this verse according to English style, and translators should aim for an equally natural equivalent.

The oldest son, Eliab, appears again in verse 28 below.

Next to him should not be taken to mean that Abinadab was standing beside Eliab during the battle. Rather it indicates that Abinadab was the next son born in Jesse’s family. In some languages the most natural way to say this will be to say that he was the “second son.” The Hebrew says literally “his second.”

Shammah: a variant form of this name in 1 Chronicles (see 1 Chr 2.13, for example) is “Shimea.” But in order to avoid confusing the reader, the same form should be used in all cases where the reference is to the same person.

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 .

David was not simply the youngest of these four brothers but of all eight brothers (see 16.11). Some may have to say that “David was the youngest of all Jesse’s sons.”

Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, as well as most other versions, continue in verse 15 the sentence begun in the middle of this verse. But it is possible, and in some cases more natural, to restructure these two verses so that the material about David comes after the statement about Jesse’s three oldest sons. This verse would then read “Jesse’s three oldest sons stayed with Saul. But David, who was the youngest son….” Contemporary English Version does something similar to this and actually begins a new paragraph in the middle of this verse, since the subject shifts to David.

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 .

But David went back and forth: Good News Translation (and similarly Revised English Bible) has changed the structure of this sentence that began in verse 14 and therefore does not translate the Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of verse 15. But translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context it expresses a contrast between what the three oldest sons did and what David did. The Hebrew does not say how frequently David returned to Bethlehem.

The text is not clear regarding the other place from which David went back and forth. The reference may be to the royal palace (see 16.21-23) or to the battlefield (see verses 1-2 above). But the more likely meaning seems to be the general area of the battle—which Contemporary English Version refers to as “Saul’s camp.” New Jerusalem Bible expresses the meaning in terms that may be helpful as a model: “David alternated between serving Saul and looking after his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

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 .

While David was going back and forth between Saul’s camp and taking care of his father’s sheep, Goliath was issuing his daily challenges. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente connects verse 16 to the preceding verse by saying “In the meantime, the Philistine warrior….”

Forty days is often a round number in the Old Testament (see the comments on 4.18). Readers in many cultures today will understand the number forty to indicate a precise number of days, that is, no more and no less than forty. All translations consulted, however, translate this number literally rather than saying something like, “for many days” or “for about forty days.”

Goliath is not mentioned by name but is referred to here as the Philistine. By stating his name Good News Translation assures that the reader will understand that the reference is to Goliath. But at the same time, perhaps some slight loss of meaning occurs when the enemy is identified by name instead of by nationality, since the Philistines were bitter enemies of the Israelites. However, in languages that do not have definite or indefinite articles, the use of the name may be justified. A good solution may be to use both the name and the nationality: “Goliath, [the] Philistine.”

The assertion that Goliath took his stand means that he came out of the Philistine camp every morning and evening and stood alone while issuing his challenge to the Israelites troops. See also Bible en français courant, “presented himself over against the Israelite army.”

Morning and evening: in Hebrew these are verb forms, that is, “to rise early” and “to do something late.” These verbal forms function as adverbs, indicating when Goliath took his stand.

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 .

And Jesse said to David his son: the common Hebrew conjunction loosely connects this verse with preceding events. Good News Translation and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente use an indefinite temporal connection, “one day.” Since David has already been introduced earlier in this chapter as one of Jesse’s sons, it may be unnatural in some languages to repeat the words his son. The Hebrew has the particle of entreaty here at the beginning of Jesse’s words to David. Fox expresses this as “Pray take to your brothers….”

An ephah is a measurement for dry substances and is equivalent to a “bath,” which was used for measuring liquids. An ephah is approximately equivalent to three-eighths to two-thirds of a U.S. bushel. In the metric system this is expressed as “ten kilos” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje) and “twenty kilos” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). The note in Osty-Trinquet states that this is the equivalent of a little more than 35 liters. Where precise measurements are not feasible, one may say “this sack [or, bag] of roasted grain” (so Bible en français courant, Contemporary English Version,Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) or “this measure of roasted grains” (La Bible du Semeur), although the latter hardly seems natural.

Parched grain: probably wheat or barley. The same food, which was quite common in the Middle East, was offered to Ruth by Boaz (Ruth 2.14). See also 25.18 and 2 Sam 17.28, where the same Hebrew word is found.

Ten loaves: the loaves are specifically loaves of bread. In many languages it will be fitting to include this information in translation.

To the camp of your brothers may be more naturally expressed as “to your brothers in the place where they are camped” or, as Contemporary English Version has it, “to your brothers at the army camp.”

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 .

Ten cheeses: literally “ten slices [or, pieces] of milk.” This is called “cream-cheeses” in Revised English Bible. The translation of both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation sounds as if it may have been ten different kinds of cheese. But this is certainly not the intended meaning. Contemporary English Version sounds much more natural in English (“ten large chunks of cheese”), since the exact amount is not certain. So perhaps the best alternative in English is Klein’s “ten slices of cheese” or Anchor Bible‘s “ten cuts of cheese.” In some languages people speak of a “round” of cheese or a “ball” of cheese.

The commander of their thousand: the number thousand is probably not intended as a precise term. In Num 1.16 this term is translated in Revised Standard Version as “clans.” Various terms in English express the correct meaning: “their commanding officer” (Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible), “the field officer” (New American Bible), and “the commander of their regiment” (Moffatt), although New American Bible leaves implicit the idea contained in the pronoun their.

Bring some token from them, that is, bring something back from them to show that they received the food and to show that they are well. Some have suggested that this means that David should bring home their pay, but this seems much less likely than the generally accepted meaning of anything that would prove that David’s brothers were well.

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 most likely begins the words of the writer to the reader, as in Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. On the other hand, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible include these words as a part of the quotation of what Jesse said beginning in verse 17. It seems strange, though, that Jesse would be telling David where Saul was camped, since David has been making regular trips back and forth from the camp to Bethlehem (see verse 15). So translators are advised to stop the quotation at the end of verse 18, as in Revised Standard Version.

Whether a part of a direct quotation or not, the referent of the pronoun they should be made clear in many languages. If this verse is taken as a comment of the writer as recommended, translators may wish to say “David’s brothers.” It may also be prudent to say “all the other men of Israel” instead of all the men of Israel, since Jesse’s sons and King Saul were also men of Israel.

Regarding the valley of Elah, see the comments on verse 2 above.

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 .