The title of Psalm 52 links it with this incident recounted in 21.7-9 and again related by Doeg here.

The pronoun he refers to Ahimelech, and this may need to be made explicit in some languages. The object pronoun, him, which occurs three times in this verse, points to David. If the reference is unclear, one or more of these pronouns may also have to be translated by using the name.

While Doeg claims that Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for David, the account in chapter 21 provides no record of this. But in verse 15 Ahimelech seems to acknowledge that this indeed happened. But see the discussion at that point.

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 king refers, of course, to Saul. And this may be made clear as in Good News Translation if there is any reason to suspect that readers may think that some other king is intended.

The Hebrew does not tell whom the king sent with a message. New Revised Standard Version, like Good News Translation, says simply “The king sent for the priest….” In some languages it may be more natural to say something like “The king sent a message to Ahimelech … telling them that the king wanted to see them. And all of them came to the king.” Others may say “sent someone to summon….”

Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub: since Ahimelech was just identified in verse 9 as the son of Ahitub, Good News Translation does not repeat that information here. Translators will need to decide on the best style in the receptor language. Similarly, if the information that he is the priest is stated in verse 9 as suggested, it may be unnecessary to repeat it here.

All his father’s house: priests traced their lineage and legitimacy to serve as priests through the father. The translations in many modern versions do not preserve this cultural aspect. Good News Translation, for example, says “all his relatives,” and Revised English Bible says “his whole family.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh provides a better model: “and [sent] for all the priests belonging to his father’s house at Nob.” But where the word house is in danger of being misunderstood, translators may say “and [sent] for all the priests coming from his father’s family at Nob.”

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 .

Hear now: the imperative verb is here followed by the particle of entreaty, which is often translated “pray.” Saul is urgently but politely requesting Ahimelech’s attention to what he is about to say.

Son of Ahitub: the reference is to Ahimelech, who was identified in verse 9 as the son of Ahitub. In some languages it will be much more appropriate at this point to use the name in translation.

Here I am: this represents the same words as found in the story of the call of Samuel (chapter 3) as well as in 12.3.

My lord: this is the same word that is used in other contexts for God. But in this case it is a term of respect used in response to the king. Some modern equivalents in English are “sir” (Good News Translation) and “master” (New Century 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 .

Saul said to him: the verb “asked” will be more appropriate in some languages, especially because the question as posed in Revised Standard Version is long and quite complex. However, Good News Translation divides the question into two and turns the final clause into an exclamation.

The son of Jesse: see verse 7.

The word bread is taken in the general sense of “food” by Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Contemporary English Version. But since Ahimelech in fact gave David five loaves of bread in 21.1-10, it is probably better translated as bread in this passage.

To lie in wait: see the comments on verse 8. As in verse 8 above, the Septuagint says “as an enemy” instead of to lie in wait.

As at this day means simply “as he is now doing.”

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 .

Ahimelech’s response to Saul is in the form of a complex rhetorical question. Since this is not a true question, that is, one seeking information, Good News Translation rewords the question as a series of statements. The purpose of these questions is to affirm that David has indeed been loyal to Saul.

Among all your servants: that is, among all your officers. See the comments on the word “servant” at 8.14.

The term translated son-in-law refers to a relative by marriage, but in this context it indicates the already-known fact that David was married to Saul’s daughter (18.27). In some languages the most natural translation may be “Isn’t he married to your daughter?” or, avoiding the rhetorical question, “He is married to your very own daughter!”

Captain over your bodyguard: as the notes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation show, there is a textual problem here. The Masoretic Text has a verb that means “to turn aside.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the consonants of the word “turn aside” were originally an unusual spelling for the word captain. Then, as scribes misunderstood the meaning of the noun, they changed the vowel and created the verb “to turn aside.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament argues that one vowel in the Hebrew should be changed, restoring the noun captain, without the need to follow other ancient translations or change the Hebrew preposition following the noun. Some versions, however, continue to alter the Hebrew text. New Revised Standard Version, for example, is based on a change of the Hebrew text and says “He is the king’s son-in-law, and is quick to do your bidding.” It is not clear what text Revised English Bible (“appointed to your staff”) follows.

Honored in your house: the word house refers, of course, not to the building in which Saul lived, but to all those who served him in his house. Possible models are “your own people admire him greatly,” “everyone in your house respects him” (New Century Version), or “treated with honor in your palace” (Nueva Biblia Española).

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 initial words in this verse are translated as a rhetorical question by Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation transforms the question into a statement indicating that this was not the first time that Ahimelech had consulted God for David (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has precisely the opposite meaning, “This is the first time that I inquired of God for him; I have done no wrong….”

Is today the first time…? is literally “Today I began.” It is sometimes difficult to know whether some Hebrew words should be understood as marking their sentences as statements or questions. Here either is possible. Good News Translation (also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) apparently understands the words to be a rhetorical question, with the implied answer “No.” So Good News Translation then turns the rhetorical question into a statement saying that this is not the first time (so also Nueva Biblia Española). Though the translation in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is certainly possible, most modern translations agree with the interpretation found in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Ahimelech first refers to both himself and Saul using the third person (the king and his servant). He then refers to himself in the third person and to Saul in the second person (your servant). It should be clear that Ahimelech is referring to himself; at the same time the respectful form of address should be maintained.

No! is literally “far be it from me.” See the comments on this expression at 2.30. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which states that this was the first time Ahimelech had consulted God for David, translates these words “I have done no wrong.” However, most translations that understand Ahimelech to have consulted God on other occasions for David say something like “Indeed it was not!” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “No indeed!” (New American Bible). The translation of these words will depend in part on the way the first part of this sentence is understood and translated.

Impute anything to his servant: literally “put [or, place] on his servant a word.” The English word impute is sometimes used as a technical theological term in discussions of the apostle Paul’s theology. Here, however, the Hebrew verb means simply that the king should not consider Ahimelech to be guilty of any wrongdoing. New Jerusalem Bible rewords this by saying “The king has no grounds for bringing any charge against his servant.”

Nothing of all this, much or little: the matter to which Ahimelech refers is David’s plot against Saul. La Bible du Semeur fills out the meaning, translating “I have never had any idea of plotting against 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 .

You shall surely die: literally “to die you shall die” (as in 14.44). The emphatic nature of this Hebrew expression is not expressed by a literal translation in most languages. So it is better to say something like Revised Standard Version, indicating certainty. Fox has “You shall die, yes, die, Ahimelekh.”

All your father’s house: that is, “all your father’s relatives.” But this of course also means all of Ahimelech’s relatives (but it would not include his relatives on his mother’s side). So the Good News Translation rendering may be more natural. Others may prefer “and your whole family” (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 .