Sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall: since the seat by the wall is where the king sat at other times, Good News Translation restates this as “sat in his usual place by the wall.” At a slightly higher language level, Revised English Bible says that Saul “took his customary seat by the wall.” New Jerusalem Bible provides a helpful model, “sat in his usual place with his back to the wall.”

Exactly what Jonathan did is not clear. The Hebrew says that he “stood up” (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Does this mean that he stood while he ate? New Revised Standard Version also says that “Jonathan stood.”

The Septuagint says that Jonathan sat opposite him. This reading is followed by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, Fox, and New Jerusalem Bible (“sat facing him”) and is the reading recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, which gives a {C} rating to the Septuagint reading. The Hebrew word behind the Septuagint translation differs only slightly from the Hebrew word “stood up.” Probably the Masoretic Text contains a scribal error, since the Septuagint makes better sense in the context of telling where each person sat. Revised English Bible says “Jonathan too was present,” but this does not translate either the MT or the Septuagint and is not recommended.

Good News Translation reorders this verse in order to speak of the different people in the order in which they were seated. Abner is mentioned immediately after Saul because he was sitting next to him. Naturalness in the receptor language will determine which order is used in 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 .

Yet: the common Hebrew conjunction here marks contrast, since it is somewhat unexpected that Saul would not say anything publicly about David’s absence.

He thought: literally “he said” (see the comments on 18.11). But the meaning here is certainly that this was something that Saul said to himself, since the first part of the verse says plainly that Saul did not say anything.

Something has befallen him: the thought is that whatever has happened to David must be something that was unplanned by David. New American Bible says “He must have become unclean by accident.”

He is not clean: the New Moon Festival was a regular part of the religious celebrations for the Israelites (see verse 5), and the Law of Moses required that those who participated be ritually clean or undefiled (Lev 7.20-21). One could become unclean for various reasons, including contact with a dead body or by having a wet dream during the night (Deut 23.10; laws concerning uncleanness are in Lev 11–15). Since many readers will not know about the law found in Lev 7.20-21, it may be helpful to follow the model of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “some inconvenience must have happened to David, and he must not be in a state of purity as required [by the Law]; certainly he is absent for that reason.”

Saul’s thoughts may be better rendered as indirect discourse in certain languages. In cases where this would be more appropriate, translators may consider the following model:

• Saul did not say anything that day because he was thinking that something had happened to David to make him ritually unfit to eat the sacred meal.

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 translates the Hebrew conjunction plus the verb traditionally rendered “and it came to pass” (see page 19).

On the second day: that is, the day following the special meal for the New Moon Festival. At the regular evening meal on the next day, Saul took note that David’s place was still unoccupied. This aroused his suspicion, since David’s state of uncleanness would have ended the previous night.

The new moon: see the comments on verse 5.

Was empty: the context requires the sense “was still empty,” as Good News Translation makes explicit. Other ways of saying this are “his place remained not occupied” or “there was still no one in his seat.”

Here, as in earlier verses, for reasons of English style, Good News Translation omits the explicit information that Jonathan was Saul’s son. This information is given in 13.16, 22, and more recently in 19.1.

The son of Jesse: that is, David (see 16.10-13 and 17.12). Some readers may not understand that the son of Jesse refers to David. For this reason Good News Translation says “David.” Other possible solutions translating both the form and meaning are “David, the son of Jesse” or “Jesse’s son David.” Saul continues to avoid David’s name and refers to him only as “the son of Jesse” in verses 30 and 31 and again in chapter 22. So this seems to be intentional and perhaps shows Saul’s displeasure. Contemporary English Version attempts to reflect this by translating here “that son of Jesse.”

If indirect discourse is preferred, the last part of this verse may be translated “Saul asked Jonathan why David had not come to the meal that day or the day before.”

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 .

Jonathan answers Saul as David suggested in verse 6 above.

Earnestly asked leave: literally “to ask he asked,” an example of reinforcing verbs (see the comments on “reinforcing verbs” in the introduction, page 20). The Hebrew contains no word corresponding to leave, but the context makes it clear that Jonathan is reporting that David asked his permission to go to Bethlehem.

On the place name Bethlehem, see 16.4.

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 does not translate the Hebrew particle of entreaty here, but Good News Translation does with the word “Please.” The force of this particle may be retained even if the embedded quotation is translated as indirect discourse. This may be done by using a verb like “begged.”

The transition word translated for (Good News Translation “because”) introduces the reason for David’s wanting to go to Bethlehem. This logical connection is important for the understanding of the relationships between the different parts of this verse.

Family: see verse 6.

The use of the word city for Bethlehem may be inappropriate, since Bethlehem was a relatively small village. The classifier word “town” is more appropriate (New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version as well as Good News Translation).

My brother: David was the youngest son (16.11), so this must be an older brother. The Septuagint says “my brothers,” and is followed by some translations (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Osty-Trinquet).

Found favor in your eyes: see verse 3.

Jonathan addresses his father with respect in the third person, the king’s table. But it will be more natural in most languages to say “at your table, sir.” This wording or something similar will be more natural and at the same time include the idea of respect that the third person conveys in Hebrew.

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 .

Saul’s anger was kindled: on this expression to describe personal rage, see the comments at 17.28.

You son of a perverse, rebellious woman: this is a difficult expression in Hebrew. Perverse: the Hebrew verb in this form means “agitated” or “disturbed.” Rebellious is literally “rebellion.” New Jerusalem Bible clearly captures the negative connotations: “Son of a rebellious slut!” See also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente “[You] Bastard!” While these versions take this rebuke as a reflection on Jonathan’s mother, Contemporary English Version focuses on Jonathan himself and translates “You’re no son of mine, you traitor!” The Dead Sea Scrolls and one ancient version have “you’re just like a runaway slave girl.”

The question do I not know…? is a rhetorical question. It is a strong statement that Saul knows quite well that Jonathan is in league with David. So this question will be more naturally translated in many languages as a statement (so Good News Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Have chosen: the Septuagint says “are a partner [or, companion] of.” Revised English Bible, following the Septuagint, says “you have made a friend of the son of Jesse.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text, but the difference in sense between “to have chosen David” and “to have become a friend of David” is negligible for translation purposes.

The son of Jesse: see the comments on verse 27.

The shame of your mother’s nakedness: Revised English Bible says “to bring dishonour on your mother.” Contemporary English Version translates “your own mother should be ashamed that you were ever born.”

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 begins in Hebrew with the word ky, which most translators render as For. Fox, however, says “Indeed: all the days that the son of Yishai is alive on the earth.” (See the comments on 8.7.)

Lives upon the earth: there is no implied contrast here between living on the earth and living in heaven. This means simply as long as David “is alive.” Since the addition of upon the earth may be misleading, it may have to be omitted in some languages.

Neither you nor your kingdom shall be established: Jonathan normally was expected to succeed his father as king. But David poses a threat, since he, not Jonathan, has been designated as the one to replace Saul (see 15.26-28). There is a small textual problem here, but the meaning remains the same. The Septuagint says “your kingdom shall not be established.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament follows a manuscript from Qumran, giving it a {C} rating, and recommends the following text and translation: “you will not establish your kingdom.” Compare New American Bible, whose translation of this clause is based on the same Qumran manuscript: “you cannot make good your claim to the kingship!”

Send and fetch: see the comments on these two verbs used together in 16.11. Fetch him to me means “find him and bring him back to me.”

He shall surely die: literally “he [is] son of death.” The same Hebrew idiom is found in 26.16 and 2 Sam 12.5. This does not mean simply that David will eventually die. Rather it is Saul’s way of insisting that “he deserves to die!” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .

Answered: literally “answered … and said.” Some languages may say in this context “responded by asking.”

Saul his father: Good News Translation omits these words in accordance with English style, since this information is already known.

The second of these questions may be taken as a rhetorical one meaning “He has done nothing wrong!” And in some languages the order of the two questions may sound better if reversed: “He has done nothing wrong. Why, then, do you want to 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 .