¹ tn The MT has a masculine form of the verb here יַעֲשֶׂה (ya’aseh, “he used to do”); the subject in that case would presumably be Elkanah. But this leads to an abrupt change of subject in the following part of the verse, where the subject is the rival wife who caused Hannah anxiety. In light of v. 6 one expects the statement of v. 7 to refer to the ongoing actions of the rival wife: “she used to behave in this way year after year.” Some scholars have proposed retaining the masculine form but changing the vocalization of the verb so as to read a Niphal rather than a Qal (i.e., יֵעֲשֶׂה, ye’aseh, “so it used to be done”). But the problem here is lack of precedent for such a use of the Niphal of this verb. It seems best in light of the context to understand the reference to be to Hannah’s rival Peninnah and to read here, with the Syriac Peshitta, a feminine form of the verb (“she used to do”). In the translation the referent (Peninnah) has been specified for clarity.

² tn Heb “she”; the referent (Hannah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Peninnah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tc The LXX adds “and stood before the Lord,” but this is probably a textual expansion due to the terseness of the statement in the Hebrew text.

⁵ tn Or perhaps, “on his throne.” See Joüon 2:506-7 §137.f.

⁶ tn The disjunctive clause is contrastive here. The words “with them” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁷ tn Heb “what is good in your eyes.”

⁸ tn Heb “establish his word.” This apparently refers to the promise inherent in Eli’s priestly blessing (see v. 17).

⁹ sn The ephah was a standard dry measure in OT times; it was the equivalent of one-tenth of the OT measure known as a homer. The ephah was equal to approximately one-half to two-thirds of a bushel.

¹⁰ tn The Hebrew term translated “container” may denote either a clay storage jar (cf. CEV “a clay jar full of wine”) or a leather container (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV “a skin of wine”; NCV “a leather bag filled with (full of TEV) wine.”

¹¹ tc Heb “and the boy was a boy.” If the MT is correct the meaning apparently is that the boy was quite young at the time of these events. On the other hand, some scholars have suspected a textual problem, emending the text to read either “and the boy was with them” (so LXX) or “and the boy was with her” (a conjectural emendation). In spite of the difficulty it seems best to stay with the MT here.

¹² tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.

¹³ tn Heb “to your father’s” (also in vv. 28, 30).

¹⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eli) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁵ tn Heb “and the word of Samuel was.” The present translation understands Samuel to be the speaker of the divine word (“Samuel” is a subjective genitive in this case), although the statement could mean that he was the recipient of the divine word (“Samuel” is an objective genitive in this case) who in turn reported it to Israel.

¹⁶ tn Heb “and Israel went out to meet the Philistines for battle.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “the stone, the help.” The second noun is in apposition to the first one and apparently is the name by which the stone was known. Contrast the expression used in 5:1 and 7:12, where the first word lacks the definite article, unlike 4:1.

¹⁸ tc The LXX adds “they entered the temple of Dagon and saw.”

¹⁹ tn Heb “the hand of the Lord was against the city.”

²⁰ tn Heb “and he struck the men of the city from small and to great.”

²¹ tn See the note on this term in v. 6. Cf. KJV “and they had emerods in their secret parts.”

²² tn Heb “approached for battle against Israel.”

²³ tn Heb “before.”

²⁴ tn Heb “Listen to the voice of the people, to all which they say to you.”

²⁵ tn Heb “listen to their voice.”

²⁶ tc The translation follows many medieval Hebrew mss, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate in reading לֹא (lo’, “not”) rather than the MT לוֹ (lo; “to him”). Some witnesses combine the variants, resulting in a conflated text. For example, a few medieval Hebrew mss have לֹא לוֹ (lo lo’; “to him, ‘No.’”). A few others have לֹא לִי (li lo’; “to me, ‘No.’”).

²⁷ tn Heb “the regulation of the kingship.” This probably refers to the regulations pertaining to kingship given to Moses (see Deut 17:14-20).

²⁸ tn Heb “anointed [one].”

²⁹ tn Heb “that you have not found anything in my hand.”

³⁰ sn Jerub-Baal (יְרֻבַּעַל) is also known as Gideon (see Judg 6:32). The Book of Judges uses both names for him.

³¹ tc The MT has “Bedan” (בְּדָן) here (cf. KJV, NASB, CEV). But a deliverer by this name is not elsewhere mentioned in the OT. The translation follows the LXX and the Syriac Peshitta in reading “Barak.”

³² tc In the ancient versions there is some confusion with regard to these names, both with regard to the particular names selected for mention and with regard to the order in which they are listed. For example, the LXX has “Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel.” But the Targum has “Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, and Samuel,” while the Syriac Peshitta has “Deborah, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.”

³³ tn Heb “for we have added to all our sins an evil [thing] by asking for ourselves a king.”

³⁴ tn Heb “said.”

³⁵ tn Or “I forced myself” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV, CEV); NAB “So in my anxiety I offered”; NIV “I felt compelled.”

³⁶ tn Heb “You have acted deceptively.” In this context the verb refers to violating an agreement, in this case the dietary and sacrificial regulations of the Mosaic law. The verb form is second masculine plural; apparently Saul here addresses those who are eating the animals.

³⁷ tn Heb “and there was no one answering from all the army.”

³⁸ tn Heb “they brought them.”

³⁹ tn Heb “anointed.”

⁴⁰ tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

⁴¹ tn Heb “look.”

⁴² tn Heb “listening.”

⁴³ tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).

⁴⁴ tn Or “from [being].”

⁴⁵ tn Heb “the mouth of the Lord.”

⁴⁶ tn Heb “and your words.”

⁴⁷ tn Heb “and I listened to their voice.”

⁴⁸ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴⁹ tn That is, Samuel.

⁵⁰ tn Heb “said.”

⁵¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

⁵² tc In the MT the verb is singular (“he said”), but the translation follows many medieval Hebrew mss and ancient versions in reading the plural (“they said”).

⁵³ tn Heb “answered and said.”

⁵⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

⁵⁵ tn Heb “mighty man of valor and a man of war.”

⁵⁶ tn Heb “discerning of word.”

⁵⁷ tn Heb “a man of form.”

⁵⁸ tn Heb “and you must do loyalty.”

⁵⁹ tn Heb “for into a covenant of the Lord you have brought your servant with you.”

⁶⁰ tn Heb “and if there is in me guilt.”

⁶¹ tn Heb “from you and onward.”

⁶² tn Heb “by the Lord.”

⁶³ tn Heb “cut off.”

⁶⁴ tn Heb “all his house” (so ASV, NRSV); NAB, NLT “his whole family.”

⁶⁵ tn Heb “he is a son of worthlessness.”

⁶⁶ tc The LXX and a couple of Old Latin mss include here the following words: “and you shall go to the place that I have appointed you. Don’t place an evil thing in your heart, for you are good before me.”

⁶⁷ tn Heb “when you get up early in the morning and you have light, go.”

⁶⁸ tn Heb “people.”

⁶⁹ tn Heb “said to stone him.”

⁷⁰ tn Heb “for bitter was the soul of all the people, each one.”

⁷¹ tc This clause is difficult in the MT. The present translation accepts the text as found in the MT and understands this clause to be elliptical, with an understood verb such as “look” or “consider.” On the other hand, the LXX seems to reflect a slightly different Hebrew text, reading “after” where the MT has “my brothers.” The Greek translation yields the following translation: “You should not do this after the Lord has delivered us.” Although the Greek reading should be taken seriously, it seems better to follow the MT here.

⁷² tn Heb “blessing.”