¹ tn Heb “daughter of worthlessness.”

² tc Several medieval Hebrew mss and the Syriac Peshitta lack the words “and got something to eat.”

³ tn Heb “because from the Lord I asked him.” The name “Samuel” sounds like the Hebrew verb translated “asked.” The explanation of the meaning of the name “Samuel” that is provided in v. 20 is not a strict etymology. It seems to suggest that the first part of the name is derived from the Hebrew root שׁאל (sh’l, “to ask”), but the consonants do not support this. Nor is it likely that the name comes from the root שׁמא (shm’, “to hear”), for the same reason. It more probably derives from שֶׁם (shem, “name”), so that “Samuel” means “name of God.” Verse 20 therefore does not set forth a linguistic explanation of the meaning of the name, but rather draws a parallel between similar sounds. This figure of speech is known as paronomasia.

⁴ tn Heb “he,” apparently referring to Samuel (but cf. CEV “Elkanah”). A few medieval manuscripts and some ancient versions take the verb as plural (cf. TEV, NLT).

⁵ tc For “these” the LXX has “of the Lord” (κυρίου, kuriou), perhaps through the influence of the final phrase of v. 24 (“the people of the Lord”). Somewhat less likely is the view that the MT reading is due to a distorted dittography of the first word of v. 24. The Vulgate lacks the word.

⁶ tn Heb “no.”

⁷ tn The Hebrew text adds “so that” here, formally connecting this clause with the next.

⁸ tn Heb “responded.”

⁹ tn Heb “and I will enter into judgment with you” (NRSV similar); NAB “and I shall arraign you.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “all the just actions which he has done with you and with your fathers.”

¹¹ tn Heb “in your heart.”

¹² tn Heb “Look, I am with you, according to your heart.” See the note at 13:14.

¹³ tc The LXX reads “saw.” See v. 27.

¹⁴ tn Heb “to the voice of the words of the Lord” (so KJV).

¹⁵ tn Heb “what Amalek did to Israel, how he placed against him.”

¹⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Israel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁷ tn Heb “to Saul.”

¹⁸ tn The words “if that is the case” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

¹⁹ tn Following the imperative, the cohortative verbal form indicates purpose/result here.

²⁰ sn Sticks is a pejorative reference to David’s staff (v. 40); the same Hebrew word (מַקֵּל, maqqel) is used for both.

²¹ tc Many medieval Hebrew mss have “the earth” here, instead of the MT’s “the field.”

²² map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

²³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

²⁴ tn Heb “know and see.” The expression is a hendiadys. See also v. 23.

²⁵ tn Heb “his place where his foot is.”

²⁶ tc Heb “Thus God will do to the enemies of David and thus he will add.” Most of the Old Greek ms tradition has simply “David,” with no reference to his enemies. In OT imprecations such as the one found in v. 22 it is common for the speaker to direct malediction toward himself as an indication of the seriousness with which he regards the matter at hand. In other words, the speaker invites on himself dire consequences if he fails to fulfill the matter expressed in the oath. However, in the situation alluded to in v. 22 the threat actually does not come to fruition due to the effectiveness of Abigail’s appeal to David in behalf of her husband Nabal. Instead, David is placated through Abigail’s intervention. It therefore seems likely that the reference to “the enemies of David” in the MT of v. 22 is the result of a scribal attempt to deliver David from the implied consequences of this oath. The present translation follows the LXX rather than the MT here.

²⁷ tn Heb “one who urinates against a wall” (also in v. 34); KJV “any that pisseth against the wall.”

²⁸ tn Heb “your life was great this day in my eyes.”

²⁹ tn Heb “may my life be great in the eyes of the Lord.”

³⁰ tn Heb “just as he said by my hand.”