In front of: translators may have difficulty determining what is intended by the front of Michmash and Geba. Some other renderings are “towards” (Revised English Bible) or “toward” (New International Version, New American Bible, New Century Version); “facing” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, La Bible du Semeur). The most reasonable approach is perhaps to translate “near,” as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh: “One crag was located on the north, near Michmash, and the other on the south, near Geba.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Contemporary English Version combine verses 4 and 5, since they deal with the same geographical information and there is some repetition. Other languages may find it appropriate to do the same. Contemporary English Version reads “Jonathan decided to get to the Philistine camp by going through the pass that led between Shiny Cliff and Michmash to the north and Thornbush Cliff and Geba to the south.”

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 .