There is such a difference between the two utterances of Saul to the woman that some translators may feel the need for some kind of transition word or phrase between them. Contemporary English Version adds the word “Just [tell me],” while both Bible en français courant and La Bible du Semeur add “rather,” that is, “Don’t be afraid, rather tell me what you see.”

A god: this Hebrew word may also be rendered “gods.” Other translations include “a divine being” (New Revised Standard Version), “a ghostly form” (Revised English Bible), “a ghost” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “a supernatural being” (La Bible du Semeur). Like Good News Translation, a number of English versions have “spirit” (New International Version, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version). Compare Isa 8.19.

Up out of the earth: like all who die, Samuel was thought to be in the underworld, in a place called “Sheol.”

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 .

In languages that do not distinguish masculine and feminine pronouns, it may be necessary to substitute a noun at the beginning of this verse to make it clear that it is Saul who is speaking. Also, since a question follows, the verb said may be translated “asked.”

Wrapped in a robe: learning that the old man was wearing a robe was apparently enough for Saul to know that the old man was Samuel (see 15.27).

Bowed … to the ground, and did obeisance: see the comment on 20.41.

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 .

Samuel now speaks directly to Saul without the intervention of the medium. Being brought back from the world of the dead is considered a serious interference with the normal course of events. So Samuel asks why such a thing should be done. Saul responds that this course of action was his only hope, since God had abandoned him and would not answer him.

God … answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams: see verse 6. But note that in this case the second item mentioned in verse 6, the “Urim,” is omitted.

Therefore: or “that is why.” The transition word chosen should show clearly that this is the logical conclusion to the explanation of why Samuel was called back from the world of the dead. If it is more natural to do so in the receptor language, this element may be moved forward to the beginning of Saul’s response and worded “This is why I called you to tell me what to do:….”

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 question posed by Samuel repeats the crucial verb (turned from) of Saul’s explanation in the previous verse. The Hebrew text then reinforces this idea by adding and become your enemy. On the other hand the Septuagint says “he is with your neighbor” (see verse 17), which is followed by New American Bible. The Septuagint reading, however, seems based on a mistake in which two Hebrew consonants in this noun were reversed. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text as reflected in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

In some languages it will be more natural to reverse the two main elements in Samuel’s response to Saul. For example, one may say “If the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy, why then did you call for me?”

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 .

Samuel’s words to Saul fulfill the prophecy spoken in 15.28.

To you is the reading found in the Septuagint, and this is followed by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other versions. The Masoretic Text says “The LORD has done for him as he spoke by me.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends the Masoretic Text, giving it a {C} rating. Among those who follow the Masoretic Text (which include Hertzberg and apparently New International Version), some understand “for him” to mean that God has acted for himself. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “The LORD has done for Himself as He foretold through me.” But in light of 15.28, the reference is almost certainly to David. The recommended translation of the first part of this verse is “The LORD has done for David as he spoke by me.”

The words as he spoke by me (literally “as he spoke by my hand”) do not indicate clearly to whom the LORD spoke through the prophet. But it is quite clear in 15.28 that he spoke to Saul. It is therefore legitimate to translate “as he spoke to you through me.”

The verb torn and the noun neighbor reflect the wording of an earlier passage. Translators should therefore compare their rendering of these words in 15.28.

Out of your hand: that is, out of your control, or “away from you” (see the comments on 4.8).

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 did not obey … the LORD: the reference is to 15.3-9, where Saul was told to destroy the Amalekites completely, but Agag and the best animals were spared. Obey the voice of the LORD is a common idiom in Hebrew. But in other languages this may be translated “do what the LORD says” or something similar. See the comments on 15.19.

Amalek: that is, “the Amalekites” (see the comments on 15.2).

The Revised Standard Version rendering of the verb form in the expression has done this thing seems to suggest that the reference is to a past event, but the context indicates that Saul is actually in the middle of this thing, that is, actually participating in the event. The perfect tense of the Hebrew may therefore be seen as a kind of prophetic perfect, that is, speaking prophetically about a future event as if it had occurred in the past, indicating the certainty of the eventual outcome. But in some languages it will be better to translate as in Bible en français courant, “that is why the Lord is treating you in this way today.”

In some languages it may be more natural to restructure this verse by placing the reason after the statement of the result: “The LORD is doing this to you today because you disobeyed his order and did not completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions.”

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 .

Moreover: the Hebrew adverb so translated is ignored by Good News Translation and several other modern versions. But it denotes the addition of something more and should probably be included in translation. Other versions have rendered it “What is more” (New Jerusalem Bible); “Further” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Into the hand of the Philistines: that is, “to Philistine control [or, power].” See the comments on 4.8.

Shall be with me: that is, they will die and go to Sheol. This prophecy is fulfilled in 31.6. If there is any danger of misunderstanding, the meaning may be filled out as in Bible en français courant by translating “you and your sons will be with me in the world of the dead.” Contemporary English Version is similarly explicit on this point, though it restructures the verse to place the defeat of the army of Israel before speaking of Saul’s joining Samuel in Sheol: “Tomorrow the LORD will let the Philistines defeat Israel’s army, then you and your sons will join me down here in the world of the dead.”

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 fell at once: literally “Saul made haste and fell.” Fox translates very literally, “Shaʾul hurried and fell,” but this translation is strange-sounding English and fails to express the correct meaning. The first of the two verbs is the same as in the story of Abigail (25.18, 23, 34, 42). But Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation rightly translate it as an adverbial expression here. Several other modern versions render it “immediately” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). The same verb is translated “quickly” in verse 24 below.

He had eaten nothing: literally “he had not eaten bread.” Bread is used here to signify food in general.

The second half of this verse, concerning Saul’s lack of physical strength, contains the same adverb that is translated Moreover at the beginning of verse 19. Although it is omitted by some versions, it may be translated in much the same way as in the previous verse: “besides” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh); “in addition” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible); “moreover” (New American Bible).

All day and all night: that is, “all that day and night” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “since the day before” (Bible en français courant, Contemporary English Version).

In certain languages it may sound more natural to reverse the order of certain elements in this verse:

• What Samuel said frightened Saul very much. So he immediately fell to the ground and lay there stretched out. Furthermore, since he had not taken any food at all that day and night, he was very weak.

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 .