For what the Philistines may say, Revised Standard Version preserves the embedded direct quotation form of the Hebrew, while Good News Translation changes this into an indirect quotation to avoid a quotation within the words of Jonathan in verses 8-10. Some languages may have their own style for expressing something that is hypothetical. It is never reported in the text as actually having been spoken by the Philistines.

The verb translated go up in this verse and Come up in verse 10 show that the Philistines were camped on top of a hill, probably in order to see any approaching enemy forces. This setting may need to be made clear from the outset, as Contemporary English Version has done by saying “If they agree to come down the hill….”

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 .