Note the difference in order at the beginning of this verse between Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. It must be determined for each language whether it is more natural to put Ishbosheth’s name before or after the statement about who his father was. It is clear that Saul is the better known name of the two. The Hebrew text, in fact, does not even have the name Ish-bosheth but only “the son of Saul.” There is even some textual evidence for “Mephibosheth,” but this is clearly a mistake. In view of these textual problems, the name is omitted altogether by New Jerusalem Bible and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. Fox similarly has “When … the son of Shaʾul.” American Standard Version (American Standard Version) puts the name in italics, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh places it in brackets.

His courage failed: literally “his hands fell [weakened]” or “his hands hung loose.” Fox reads “his hands grew-slack.” The Hebrew is an idiomatic expression used to describe a person who had lost confidence and hope. The same idiom in 17.2 is translated “discouraged” in Revised Standard Version. Many languages have unusual idioms to express a similar idea. For example, some may say something like “his heart was up [or, down]” or “he completely lost his spirit.”

All Israel: that is, “all the people of Israel” (as in Good News Translation), or “all the Israelites.”

Dismayed: the root word here has to do with physically trembling, but in this context a more figurative sense is probably intended. All the people of Israel were upset and disturbed as a result of the news of Abner’s death.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .