Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:1

Some languages may require some sort of transition word at the beginning of this new episode in the story of David and Saul. But in many cases the presence of a section heading will be sufficient.

Departed from there, that is, from the Philistine city of Gath, because he was afraid of the king of Gath (see 21.10-12). The verb departed translates a Hebrew verb meaning “to walk” or “to go away.” In this context, however, it is appropriate to translate the Hebrew with a verb such as “fled” (Good News Translation).

Escaped: see the comments on 19.10. In this context the verb has been rendered “took refuge” (La Bible du Semeur).

The cave of Adullam was located about twenty kilometers (or twelve and one-half miles) southwest of Bethlehem, David’s birthplace, and about sixteen kilometers (or ten miles) southeast of Gath. As indicated in the Good News Translation translation, this was a “cave near the town of Adullam” and not a cave belonging to a person called Adullam. The titles of Psa 57 and 142 link those psalms with this time at Adullam.

The Hebrew text has the word cave, but since verse 4 refers to a “stronghold,” some interpreters make a slight change in the Hebrew word cave to read “stronghold” in this verse also. Translations based on this suggested correction of the Hebrew include Anchor Bible. See also the comments on verses 4 and 5.

His brothers and all his father’s house: David had seven brothers (see 17.12). His father’s house definitely includes his father and mother (see verse 3), and probably also other members of the extended family. New Century Version attempts to communicate this broader meaning by translating “and other relatives.” Contemporary English Version‘s “the rest of his family” is another possible model.

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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:2

In distress: that is, “in trouble” (Contemporary English Version) or in affliction. The reason for their distress is not stated. And it is probably best to use as general a term as possible in this context. Some may say “all those who were in any kind of trouble.”

In debt: that is, “who owed money to other people.” It is quite possible that they owed their warlord Saul some kind of payment for his protection, but it is probably unwise to translate in such a precise manner, since the text does not definitely imply this.

Discontented translates two Hebrew words, “bitter of soul.” This expression is used elsewhere in the Old Testament in reference to persons who are bitter because they have suffered some kind of loss or because they are without something that they want or need. The same expression occurs in 1.10 and 2 Sam 17.8. The translation “dissatisfied” (Good News Translation) may be a little weak. The force of the Hebrew is more accurately expressed as “all those who had a grievance” (New Jerusalem Bible, similarly Revised English Bible), “who were embittered” (New American Bible), “every man of bitter feelings” (Fox), or “everyone who was desperate” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Became captain over them: the word translated captain is a rather general term for a “leader,” which is how New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates this term. It is elsewhere rendered “commander” (12.9; 14.50) and “princes” in the plural (18.30). Revised English Bible here translates “became their chief.” The same idea may also be stated as “began to lead the group.”

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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:3

Went from there: that is, from the cave near the town called Adullam. This information is left implicit in some versions, including New Century Version, which says simply “went to Mizpeh.”

Mizpeh of Moab: Mizpeh was a city in the territory of Moab, east of the Dead Sea. The exact location of this city is unknown. To make clear that Mizpeh is not the name of the king of Moab, it may be wise to say “the city of Mizpeh.” Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible spell the place name “Mizpah,” which is a variant of the same name.

Pray let … stay: the verb let stay is followed by the particle of entreaty (see the comments on 2.36). Here it is represented in Good News Translation by the polite request form beginning with “Please” (so also Contemporary English Version). La Bible du Semeur attempts to convey the same meaning with “I beg you.”

Stay: Revised Standard Version follows the ancient Syriac andVulgate versions here rather than the Hebrew, which reads “come out.” It is not clear whether Good News Translation follows the Masoretic Text, or whether for purposes of translation it has made explicit that David asks permission for his parents to “stay” in Moab. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and claims that the verb “go out” here means “go out in order to be with someone.” In this case, the verb “stay” or “remain” will be the proper 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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:4

He left them: the Hebrew is literally “he led them.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text and recommends the translation “he led them to the king.” Others change the vowels of this verb to create the verb “to leave”; this is the reading of the Hebrew Targum and the ancient Syriac version. Most modern versions say “he left,” but compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “So he led them to the king of Moab, and they stayed with him” (similarly Fox).

The stronghold: that is, a fortified place. Though Good News Translation translates this Hebrew word “cave,” this is a different word from that in verse 1. The word in this verse is the same word used later of Jerusalem in 2 Sam 5.7, 9. It is not clear whether this stronghold is located in Moab or whether it refers to the cave in Adullam, in the territory of Judah (see verse 1, and also 2 Sam 23.13-14).

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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:5

It is not stated in the Hebrew text whether or not Gad was already with David in the stronghold or whether he had made a trip to the stronghold to speak to David. The words “came to David” in Good News Translation are added to the text on the reasonable assumption that Gad was not among the four hundred men already with David.

The prophet Gad is mentioned here for the first time in 1 Samuel and reappears in 2 Sam 24.11, where he is called “David’s seer.”

The stronghold: the same word as that in verse 4. For reasons of English style, Good News Translation says “Don’t stay here.” If the stronghold refers to the cave in Adullam, then Gad’s advice seems strange, since Adullam was in the territory of Judah. But there is no legitimate reason to omit this part of the recommendation given by Gad.

If it seems better to change the direct quotation of Gad’s words into indirect discourse, the following model may be helpful: “Then the prophet Gad warned David not to remain in the hideout but told him to leave it and to go to the land of Judah.”

The forest of Hereth is mentioned here only in the Old Testament, and its location is uncertain. But it is not unreasonable to assume that it was in Judah. Perhaps it was near the modern village of Kharas, which is near the ancient town of Keilah mentioned in 23.1.

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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:6

Now translates the common Hebrew conjunction. Here this conjunction serves to introduce a new episode in the story concerning Saul’s attempts to capture David. There is no specific indication of how much time has passed between the events of verses 5 and 6. Good News Translation therefore uses the general words “One day.” New Revised Standard Version does not even translate this conjunction, but rather begins abruptly with the words “Saul heard.” But it is probably a good idea in most languages to find some way of indicating the passage of a certain amount of time between the events described in verse 5 and those of verse 6. Contemporary English Version actually adds a section heading between these two verses (“Saul Kills the Priests of the LORD”).

For reasons of English style and logic, the information about the discovery of David is shifted to the end of this verse in Good News Translation. By so doing, the writer of the story moves quickly from the locating of David to Saul’s action against his perceived enemies in the following verses.

The passive expression that David was discovered may be made active by saying “that some of his men had seen David” or something similar.

Gibe-ah: see the comments on 10.5.

The preposition under will be more naturally rendered “in the shade of” in certain languages.

Tamarisk tree: this kind of tree seldom loses its greenness and is a good shade tree. Very possibly this tree was regarded as a sacred tree (see also 31.13; Gen 21.33). Hebrew contains a definite article, that is, the tamarisk tree, apparently referring to a specific tree.

On the height: this translates the Hebrew word ramah, which means “hill-top” (so Revised English Bible). Some would change the first letter of ramah to b, creating the word for “high place” (so Klein, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). “High place” is the traditional rendering of a Hebrew word that refers to shrines or cultic worship places (see the comments on 9.12). But there seems to be no valid reason for altering the Hebrew text at this point. Translators should translate “on top of the hill.”

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

Servants: or “officials” (New International Version). See the comments on 8.14.

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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:7

Apparently Saul had confiscated fields and vineyards from the Israelite people and had given them to his officers, just as Samuel had predicted that a king would do (see 8.14).

Servants: see verse 6. These members of Saul’s court were from the tribe of Benjamin, as was Saul (9.1-2). David, however, was from the tribe of Judah, so they should not expect David to do what Saul had done for them.

The son of Jesse: that is, David.

Commanders of thousands and … hundreds: these expressions refer to different size military units. Revised English Bible says “officers over units of a thousand and a hundred.” However, since Revised English Bible may be misunderstood to mean a unit of 1100 soldiers, New American Bible is perhaps better: “an officer over a thousand or a hundred men.”

It is important for readers to understand the following implicit information in this verse: (1) Saul, like his officers, was from the tribe of Benjamin; (2) David was from a different tribe; (3) David would more likely give favored treatment to people from his own tribe of Judah rather than to those from the tribe of Benjamin, as Saul had done.

To make this information explicit, one may say “Hear now, you fellow members of the tribe of Benjamin.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides a very good model: “Do you really think that this Judean will give to you who are from the tribe of Benjamin….”

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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:8

There may be some confusion about the wording of the question that begins in verse 7 and ends at the beginning of this verse. In most languages it will be better to make a separate sentence of the last part of the previous verse. The beginning of this verse will then be translated either as a question (Good News Translation) or as an emphatic statement: “But you’re all plotting against me!” (Contemporary English Version).

Discloses to me: literally “uncovers my ears [concerning …]” (see the comments on 9.15). It will be more natural in many cases to say “no one tells me” or “nobody informs me.”

My son … the son of Jesse: the references are to Jonathan and David. At the end of this verse, David is referred to as my servant. Translators should make sure that all of these references are understood by their readers. In some cases this may mean supplying the names.

Makes a league with: literally “about my son cutting [a covenant] with.” The Hebrew is elliptical here, omitting the word “covenant” after the verb “to cut.” See the comments on “make a treaty with” in 11.1-2.

Stirred up: literally “cause to arise.” This may be translated “helped [to] rebel” (Contemporary English Version), “encouraged” (New Century Version), or “incited” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible).

To lie in wait, as at this day: see the same words in verse 13 below. To lie in wait renders a participle of a Hebrew verb meaning “to lie in wait to ambush someone.” The same verb occurs in 15.5. Some possible model translations of this expression are “is waiting to attack me” and “to ambush me” (New Century Version, Contemporary English Version).

The Septuagint says “against me as an enemy” instead of against me, to lie in wait. The two Hebrew words “to lie in wait” and “enemy” differ only in the middle consonant and could easily be confused, since they are similar in shape. The Septuagint is followed by New American Bible (“to be an enemy against me”), New Jerusalem Bible (“to become my enemy”), and Osty-Trinquet.

As at this day is a literal translation. More idiomatic English renderings include “right now” (Good News Translation), “today” (New Revised Standard Version), and “now” (Revised English Bible). Saul is upset not just that David is looking for a chance to kill him, but also that he has already started his plans against Saul and no one had told him. New American Bible makes this clear: “None of you shows sympathy for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant to be an enemy against me, as is the case today.”

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 .