Saul is called my lord and the LORD’s anointed. On the LORD’s anointed, see the comments on 2.10. In English the repeated use of the words the LORD and the lord with different reference may be confusing, especially to one who is hearing the text read. Translators in other languages may also normally use the same word for the LORD God and a human master or chief. In such cases it may be better to rephrase in order to avoid confusion, as Revised English Bible has done: “God forbid that I should harm my master, the LORD’s anointed.” Another possible way of saying this is “May God help me not to do anything to harm the one that he has anointed to be king, that one who is also my own master.”

This thing seems to refer to the attack on Saul suggested by David’s men and not to the cutting off of the edge of his robe. But some modern versions take it in very general terms as referring to “any harm” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version translates quite explicitly, but rather dynamically, changing the first person singular pronoun to first person plural: “We’re not going to attack Saul.”

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 .