So: the common conjunction is properly translated to show the logical relationship between previous events and what follows. New American Bible translates “Accordingly.”

Showed themselves means simply “let themselves be seen” (New Jerusalem Bible) or, avoiding the passive, “allowed the Philistines to see them.” Some languages may even have to say “came out of hiding.”

Look renders the Hebrew interjection often translated “behold.” In this case it is a device used by some Philistines to draw the attention of others to the fact that Jonathan and his armorbearer were approaching.

Hebrews: see the comments on 4.6 and 13.3.

Coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves: the word translated holes here is the same word used of holes where animals live. Perhaps this explains why Moffatt translates “look at the mice creeping out of their hiding-holes.” But this is probably a case of overdramatizing the text and is not recommended.

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 .