Verses 9-10 are very similar in content to 18.10-11. If this is understood as a different though similar incident, translators may add the word “again” in the first sentence of this verse. But it seems likely that 18.10-11 and 19.9-10 are separate accounts of the same incident, so it may be better not to add the word “again.”

An evil spirit from the LORD: see the comment on 16.14.

With his spear in his hand: see the comments at 18.10.

David was playing the lyre: literally “David was playing (a stringed instrument) with [or, by] [his] hand” (see the same words in 18.10). Since the instrument is not named, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh places the name of the instrument within brackets: “David was playing [the lyre].” The name of the instrument may, however, be supplied without brackets from 16.23 (which see, and also comments on 10.5).

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 Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear: literally “And Saul sought to strike with his spear in David and in the wall.” This verse is similar to 18.11. Here it is not explicitly stated that Saul threw his spear at David, as in 18.11. Several translations create the image of Saul lunging at David with the spear rather than throwing it at him. Revised English Bible (similarly New Jerusalem Bible) says that David “dodged the king’s thrust so that Saul drove the spear into the wall.”

As the Revised Standard Version footnote on verse 11 indicates, the Hebrew text says that David fled and escaped “that night” (so New Revised Standard Version). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which connects the words “on that night” with the verb “escaped.” Other translations, however, follow the Septuagint and the Old Latin in linking the words “that night” with what follows in verse 11. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the words “and David escaped that night” do not mean that he escaped from Saul’s spear. Rather, the words “he escaped that night” summarize in advance the statements in verses 12, 17, and 18, that David escaped from the palace and the city.

Eluded: New Jerusalem Bible says that “he avoided Saul’s thrust.” In other languages it may be necessary to say “got out of the way” or “moved away from him” (New Century Version).

Fled and escaped: these two verbs may be expressed by one verb in some languages. Compare New American Bible, “David got away safe.” The verb rendered escaped in English often implies previous capture or imprisonment, but here the idea is more that of getting out of a difficult situation. The root verb is related to a word meaning to be smooth or slippery and can be rendered “he slipped away from” or “he ran away from,” although most English versions use the verb “escape,” as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation in this verse. Elsewhere, however, it is sometimes translated “flee.”

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 title of Psalm 59 links that psalm with this incident.

Regarding the placement of the words That night, see the comments on verse 10.

The word translated messengers usually means either “messengers” or “angels.” But here these men do not have a message for David or anyone else. Rather they go to the home of David for the purpose of spying on him. It is therefore reasonable to translate “spies” in this context. Contemporary English Version refers to them as “guards,” while New Jerusalem Bible calls them “agents.”

That he might kill him: literally “to kill him.” The verb form is an infinitive in Hebrew with no explicit agent. It is not likely that Saul himself intended to kill David, as Revised Standard Version seems to suggest.

Michal … told him: literally “Michal told David, saying.” As in verse 2, the two verbs may be better translated “warned” in this context.

Your life: literally “your nefesh” (traditionally rendered “soul”). Compare verse 5. The manner in which David can save his life is by escaping. Nouvelle version Segond révisée says “If you don’t escape tonight.”

You will be killed: the verb form is a participle in Hebrew, with no expressed agent. But in languages that do not have passive forms, it will be possible to say “they [indefinite] will kill you” or “someone will kill you.”

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 .

Perhaps the house wall was built into the wall of the city, so that by escaping from the house, David also escaped from the city (see Josh 2.15). A similar escape takes place in the New Testament in Acts 9.25, where Paul was helped to escape by his disciples. This incident is also referred to in 2 Cor 11.33.

Both verses 12 and 13 repeat the name Michal. Following acceptable English style, Good News Translation substitutes pronouns in both verses.

Fled away and escaped: literally “he walked, and he fled, and he escaped.” Regarding the second Hebrew verb, “he fled,” see the comments on verse 18.

Escaped: see the comments on verse 10.

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 .

An image: literally “teraphim.” See the comment on 15.23.

The bed: Contemporary English Version says “his [David’s] bed.” This is very likely the intended meaning of the definite article with the noun bed.

Pillow: this Hebrew word occurs only here and in verse 16 in the Old Testament, and its meaning is uncertain. New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and La Bible Pléiade say “a net [of goats’ hair],” and Fox has “some twined-goats’ hair.” Revised English Bible calls this “a goat’s-hair rug.” The sense seems to be that Michal used goats’ hair to look like human hair. Though New Century Version fails to translate this Hebrew word, the essential meaning seems to be retained by saying “She covered it with clothes and put goats’ hair at its head.”

The clothes: as in the case of the bed earlier in this verse, the use of the definite article with this word seems to suggest that these were “David’s clothes” (Contemporary English Version). In languages that do not have definite articles, it will be doubly important to state clearly that both the bed and the clothes used in this trickery were those of 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 .

Revised Standard Version preserves the direct quotation as in the Hebrew text. Good News Translation restructures and puts Michal’s words in the form of an indirect quotation.

Messengers is indefinite in Hebrew, and the reference is not necessarily to the same messengers as those mentioned in verse 11. Some translations, however, use the definite article here, indicating that these are the same individuals mentioned in verse 11. As in verse 11, these men were not so much interested in communicating a message as in performing a task. Their main interest in this case was to take David. So it may be inappropriate in some languages to call them messengers. The same will be true in the verses that follow.

A direct quotation of the statement of Michal at the end of this verse is not essential. These words may be turned into indirect discourse as in Good News Translation (so also Revised English Bible and Knox).

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 appears that certain events that occurred between verses 14 and 15 have been left implicit in Hebrew. Having been told that David was sick, the messengers returned to report that to Saul. Saul then orders them back to David’s house with instructions to bring David in his bed.

If readers will be confused by leaving this information implicit, it may be better to follow the model of New Century Version: “The men went and told Saul, but he sent them back to see David.” In any case, the verb sent should probably be rendered “sent back.”

Once again it will probably be more natural in some languages to make the direct quotation of this verse into indirect discourse. One possible model for the last part of this verse is to say:

• He [Saul] instructed them to bring David to him in the bed on which he lay so that he could kill 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 .

Behold: the focusing particle in this case serves to highlight the surprise of Saul’s agents on discovering that it was not David lying in the bed.

The image: literally “the teraphim” (see verse 13).

On the meaning of the word translated pillow, see verse 13. New Century Version translates the end of this verse “Its hair was goats’ hair.”

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 .