This verse contains two quotations within the account of the Amalekite messenger. Such quotations within other quotations are often more natural if they are made indirect as in Good News Translation.

If the direct quotations are maintained, in many languages the verb said introducing the first will be more naturally translated “asked,” since what follows is a question.

Amalekite: see the comments on “Amalekites” in verse 1. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “I am an Amalekite soldier.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .