So: once again the Hebrew text has only the common conjunction, but the action described in the following sentence is unquestionably the result of the idea expressed in the previous verse.
The people sent: frequently in 1 Samuel the people refers specifically to “the army” (Revised English Bible). This is the same word in Hebrew as translated “troops” by Revised Standard Version in the previous verse. If a technical term such as “the troops” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) exists in the receptor language, it may be used in those contexts where the Hebrew word for “people” is used to refer to “soldiers.” In Hebrew there is no object for the verb sent. An object such as “messengers” (Good News Translation) or “men” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) may be supplied to complete the sense.
The ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts: the Septuagint says “the ark of the Lord of hosts” and is followed by New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Osty-Trinquet. See also comments on verse 3.
The LORD of hosts: see the comments on 1.3.
The cherubim: these creatures were symbols of God’s majesty and were associated with his presence. Depictions of cherubim in Western art usually show them as round-faced infants with wings, but this does not at all correspond to their descriptions in the Old Testament or to their appearance in the art of Assyria and other countries of the ancient Near East. These creatures were winged beings that were depicted as part human and part animal. The descriptions of such creatures are not uniform throughout the Old Testament, but see the descriptions in Exo 25.17-22 and Ezek 1.5-13; 10. The name cherubim has traditionally been transliterated (so King James Version, Reina-Valera revisada), and many modern translations continue this approach (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Bible en français courant). It will be more meaningful in most languages, however, to say something like “winged creatures” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) and include a more detailed explanation in a word list entry. One of the primary functions of the cherubim is that of protecting divine property such as the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3.24) and the Covenant Box (Exo 25). For this reason some translators have sought to convey something of the meaning by saying “guardians of God’s things” or “protecting beings.” But a glossary entry will be essential in any case.
Because of the complications of translating the verb enthroned and the noun cherubim, translators may be tempted to express the relative clause who is enthroned on the cherubim as a separate sentence. But this should be avoided if at all possible, since to use a separate sentence would be to change the focus of the passage. This expression occurs rather frequently in other Old Testament passages (2 Sam 6.2; 2 Kgs 19.15; 1 Chr 13.6; Psa 80.1; 99.1; Isa 37.16).
The text states only that Hophni and Phinehas were there. It is not said here that these two sons of Eli actually “came along” with the ark, as Good News Translation declares. But since the reader will learn in verse 11 that Hophni and Phinehas are killed in battle, translators may make explicit here in verse 4 that they went with the ark. Good News Translation does not, however, express the idea that Hophni and Phinehas were in charge of the ark. Compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh: “there Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were in charge of the Ark of the Covenant of God.” A better translation may be “And Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, who were in charge of the ark, came along with it.”
The ark of the covenant of God: the Septuagint says only “the ark” and is followed by New Jerusalem Bible and Osty-Trinquet. Receptor-language style may be the determining factor in deciding whether to use the longer or shorter form here.
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 .