The logical transition marker, So, is not essential in this context, but if it is natural in the receptor language, it is certainly acceptable. New American Bible has “therefore” in the first part of this verse.

That Samuel took a suckling lamb for the sacrifice indicates that he was observing the law of Moses (see Lev 22.27). The term suckling lamb (literally “a lamb of milk”) refers to a young lamb that is still taking milk from its mother. New American Bible speaks of “an unweaned lamb.” If there exists a well-known technical term for a lamb of this type, it may be used here. Otherwise it will be sufficient to say simply “a young lamb” as in Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version, or “a baby lamb” as in New Century Version.

Whole burnt offering: see the comments at 6.14. In this kind of offering the entire animal is burned on the altar (see Lev 1.1-17). The word whole does not mean that the animal was burned without being cut up into smaller pieces. Rather, after being cut up, the entire animal was burned.

Cried to the LORD: this is the same verb as used in the request of the people of Israel in verse 8 and should probably be translated in the same way in the receptor language.

The order of the Hebrew text involves sacrifice followed by prayer. Contemporary English Version reverses this order, indicating that Samuel prayed first and then offered the sacrifice. But it is doubtful that this should be followed by other translators.

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 .