And: in some languages the beginning of a new paragraph here may adequately translate the common conjunction. This begins a new statement about the heroes in David’s army, so it will be important to let the reader know that this is not a continuation of the previous episode. Contemporary English Version sets this story apart by beginning the new paragraph “One year [at harvest time] ….”

Three: the Masoretic Text reads “thirty,” but the margin of the Hebrew text, as well as the Septuagint, indicates that “three” should be read here. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the reading in the margin. These three men are not named, and it is not clear whether they are the same three men named in verses 8, 9, and 11.

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the words of the thirty chief men is not the original reading of the Hebrew. The original reading was “of the elite [or, special] troops,” as in verse 8. See the comments on this difficulty, page 1159. But a scribe changed the rare word shalishim to the more common word “thirty” (sheloshim). So the overall meaning is either “three of the heroes” or “thirty of the heroes.” And the word “heroes” refers to those soldiers who served directly under the king’s orders and carried out special assignments from the king. However, as noted at the beginning of this section, this interpretation is not common in English translations, most of which translate “three of the Thirty [chiefs]” as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

About harvest time: while some interpreters see in this a link with the previous story, which included an agricultural theme, the reason for including this detail is probably to add to the idea of thirst. This was a time of year when there was little water in the cisterns and none in the streams that dried up at harvest time. It was also very hot during this period.

The cave of Adullam: as indicated in the Good News Translation translation of 1 Sam 22.1, this was a “cave near the town of Adullam” rather than a cave belonging to a person called Adullam.

Band: while this English translation will probably make readers think of a relatively small group of fighting men, the corresponding Hebrew term is not necessarily so limited. New Jerusalem Bible has “a company,” New American Bible and Anchor Bible use the word “clan,” and Contemporary English Version says simply “the [Philistine] army.”

The valley of Rephaim: on the term Rephaim see the comments at 5.18, 22; 21.16-22. And note that Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje and Knox have “the valley of the Giants.”

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 .