Saul, the first king of Israel, will do just what Samuel here warned the people that a king would do (see 22.7). He will take: see the comments on verse 11.

The best may be difficult to translate in certain languages. This English superlative reflects the plural form of the Hebrew adjective meaning “good,” preceded by the definite article. In some languages the superlative idea may be expressed by something like “what is good surpassing all other parts.”

The fields mentioned here were most likely those in which grain (such as wheat and barley) was grown.

Vineyards are areas where grapevines are grown in order to produce grapes for the making of wine. They are generally on fertile ground that gets plenty of sun. The vines in question sometimes grow to be quite large, so that a person may “sit under his vine” (Micah 4.4).

Olive orchards are groups of trees that produce olives from which olive oil is made. These trees grow slowly but live for a very long time. Olive oil was used in a wide variety of ways in Old Testament times, including the anointing of kings.

The Hebrew noun rendered servants may refer to domestic servants, but this term also has a wide range of uses, indicating various types of subordination. In 1 and 2 Samuel this noun frequently refers to officers of a king or of a military commander. In this context it is rather unlikely that confiscated lands would be given to domestic servants. In such contexts Good News Translation usually translates with the term “officials” (see, for example, 18.22, 24, 26; 19.1; 21.11). Some other possible translations here are “courtiers” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “attendants” (New International 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 .