They: the reference is to Saul and his servant, who has been traveling with him (see verse 14 below). If there is any danger that the meaning will be misunderstood, translators may wish to follow the Good News Translation model.

Gibe-ah: see the comment on verse 5. The Masoretic Text says “And they came there to Gibeah [or, the hill].” The Septuagint, however, says “When they [Saul and his servant] were going from there to the hill.” The Septuagint is the basis for the translations found in New Revised Standard Version (“When they were going from there to Gibeah”) and New American Bible. According to the Septuagint Saul does not arrive home in Gibeah until the end of verse 13 (see the comments on verse 13 below). If translators follow the Masoretic Text in verse 13, as Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends, then they should also follow the Masoretic Text here in verse 10.

A band of prophets: see the comments on verse 5.

The spirit of God: see the comments on verse 6.

Prophesied: see the comments on verse 5.

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 .