The words to all Israel really mean “to all those Israelites present” at the time. It may be more naturally translated “to all the army,” or simply “to them” (Good News Translation).

Jonathan my son: for reasons of English style, Good News Translation omits the words my son and also reverses the order of I and Jonathan. Translators should follow what is natural in their own language.

It is unclear whether the separation of Saul and Jonathan from the rest of the troops indicates that Saul was aware of Jonathan’s guilt and was trying to manipulate the situation. There is no clear evidence that he had any idea what Jonathan had done.

If indirect speech is preferred instead of a direct quotation, the following model may be helpful:

• Then Saul instructed his army to stand opposite him and his son Jonathan. And the soldiers agreed that Saul should do whatever he saw fit 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 .