At the beginning of this verse, David continues speaking in the third person in reference to himself and in addressing the king. But in the second sentence David switches to using the first person (me) when referring to himself, and second person (you) when addressing Saul. In most languages the first and second person will have to be used from the beginning (verse 18).

Stirred you up against me: while many English versions use the verb “incited,” the meaning may be better expressed in some language by using a causative verb such as “caused you to be angry with me” (New Century Version) or “made me your enemy.”

May he accept an offering: literally “may he smell an offering [or, sacrifice].” The rising smoke of sacrifices was considered to be a pleasing odor for God, who would then accept the offering.

Men: literally “the sons of a man.” This expression occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament and means simply “men” or “human beings.” It stands in contrast with the LORD, mentioned earlier in this verse.

Driven me out, that is, out of land of Israel. See also verse 20.

This day: as in verse 8 above, this may be better translated “tonight,” unless it is thought that the sun had risen by the time this exchange occurred. Or in the present context it may bear the meaning “from this time forward.” In a sense David had already been driven out for some time, so this day may also be understood in the broader sense of “at this time.” It is perhaps for this reason that Good News Translation leaves it implicit.

The heritage of the LORD: see the comment on 10.1, where the people themselves are the heritage. Here the heritage is the land of Israel (see also Psa 136.21-22). Moffatt renders this “for they have banished me this day from all contact with the Eternal’s own land.”

Go, serve other gods: Good News Translation (also Revised English Bible) restructures and does not keep these words as a direct quotation, since it is actually a quote within a quote. Other gods are, of course, the gods that non-Israelite people worship in their countries.

The last half of this verse is expressed as a hypothetical situation in New Jerusalem Bible: “since they have as effectively banished me today from sharing in Yahweh’s heritage as if they had said ‘Go and serve other gods!’ ” This translation seems to express the correct sense of the Hebrew in English.

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 .