Abiathar the priest: see 22.20-23 and 23.6-9. Some may feel that it is unnecessarily distracting to speak at this point about the father of Abiathar. Since this information is given earlier, it can be omitted.

Ephod: see the comment on 2.18. The ephod involved here was not the article of clothing worn by the priest, but rather the object used in trying to find out the will of God. Bible en français courant speaks of the “sacred objects for consulting God.” Contemporary English Version avoids the use of the technical term by translating “let’s ask God what to do.” And in the following sentence the same version says “Abiathar got everything he needed to get answers from God….”

The direct quotation of David’s request may be transformed into indirect discourse if it is more natural to do so in the receptor language. For example, translators may say “David asked Abiathar the priest … to bring him the sacred things used in consulting God.”

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 .