Then he would come back is literally “And his return.” Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use a verb to translate a Hebrew noun, as do most modern versions. In many languages translators will do well to follow Revised English Bible, which brings out the fact that this was something that Samuel did repeatedly: “but always he went back to Ramah.”

For his home was there: the initial conjunction may be translated “because.” This introduces the reason the city of Ramah was the starting and ending point of Samuel’s travels. This does not mean simply that he had a house in that city. Rather this was his “home town” or “the place where he had been born.”

Administered justice: Good News Translation translates this same verb as “settled disputes” and “ruled” in verses 6 and 15, but Good News Translation here takes it in the more limited sense of serving as judge. A better translation may be “he governed Israel” (Revised English Bible).

He built there, that is, in Ramah (see Good News Translation).

Altar: see the comments on 2.28, 33.

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 .