Threshing floor: since the word floor in English may make the reader think of something made of wood, Good News Translation uses the more general word “place.” For a full explanation of this high, hard, and flat area where grain was beaten, see 1 Sam 23.1, and compare also Ruth 3.2.

The Hebrew text, followed by Revised Standard Version, first relates the fact that Uzzah touched the ark and then gives the reason for his doing so. This has been reversed in Good News Translation. In quite a few languages the order of Good News Translation will be preferred. The fact that the ox stumbled, thus causing Uzzah to put his hand on the ark, will come first.

In comparing the parallel passage in 1 Chr 13.9, it will be noted that the threshing floor is said to belong to “Chidon” instead of Nacon as here. One of the Dead Sea Scrolls actually has yet another name, “Nodan” (so Anderson and New American Bible). Some interpreters have suggested that the Hebrew word is not a name at all but is rather a participle from a verb meaning “to stand firm.” New English Bible and Revised English Bible are based on this interpretation that the word is a participle, and they translate “a certain threshing floor.” But this interpretation is not widely held and is not recommended to translators. Since there is no textual evidence to harmonize this detail of the two accounts, translators should probably maintain the distinction found in the traditional Hebrew texts and keep Nacon here. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} evaluation to the reading in the Masoretic Text.

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 .