Made answer: literally “answered and said,” but in most cases it will be more natural to say simply “answered” as in Revised English Bible and New American Bible.

Here is the spear, O king: in the Masoretic Text David addresses Saul directly as “O king.” However, a note in the margin of the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and a manuscript from Qumran all say “Here is the king’s spear” (so also Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible). The difference is slight and either may be followed. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “Here is Your Majesty’s spear.”

On the word for young men, compare 2.17; 16.18; 21.2. The reference to youth is unnecessary, since the term is used for any of the men under the authority of the king. Compare Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “Let a soldier come and get it.”

Instead of saying Let one of the young men come over, it will be more natural in certain languages to say “Send one of your men over.”

On the verb fetch see the comments on 16.11.

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 .