His staff: some languages may have a specific word for a stick used when herding animals. In other languages it will be helpful to indicate, as in Good News Translation, that this was his “shepherd’s stick.” This stick, along with the shepherd’s bag and his sling, were things that David was accustomed to. He used them every day when tending the sheep.

Brook: see the comments on this word in 15.5. Here New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, and New American Bible render the term “the wadi,” while New Jerusalem Bible says “the river bed.” The five stones picked up would have been made smooth as a result of being in the stream over a long period of time.

Shepherd’s bag or wallet: the word rendered wallet occurs only here in the Old Testament. The more familiar Hebrew word rendered shepherd’s bag may have been added to the text later to explain to the Hebrew reader the meaning of the rare word wallet. New Jerusalem Bible shows that these two words refer to the same object by placing the second in apposition: “in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch.” Revised English Bible is similar: “in a shepherd’s bag which served as his pouch.” A different interpretation of the relationship between these two words is found in New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which say “in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag.”

The sling that David used was probably in the form of a leather pouch with strings on each end. It was swung over the head and then the strings on one end were released, propelling the stone in the direction of the target. It will therefore be inaccurate to use a word that refers to a more modern “slingshot,” consisting of a forked stick to which pieces of rubber are attached. The words his sling was in his hand mean that he was ready for action.

The Philistine: see the comments on verse 16.

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 .